Rich blacks, lots of dial detail and an ana-digi display make this a joy to look at. But this joy is only achievable in lower light situations to those who have a good level of eyesight, or possibly their own set of night vision goggles like the Dark Knight himself. The whole dial is protected by a mineral crystal which has no obvious AR coating and probably will scratch in time but still affords 200m of water resistance. However, at the opposite end of the scale, there was a sub-£100 release which caught all of us off guard and became one of the unexpected stand-out hits of last year. The Casio G-Shock GA-2100 Octagon Series and its derivatives – colloquially known as the CasiOaks.
The all-black sombre elegance of the GA A1ER, the classic Casioak, pairs well even with a nice olive green shirt and tailored chinos. The hidden benefit of slim wrists, is the ability to get even quite chunky watches under a nice cuff and, for me, these types of style contrasts rule. OK, so the business meeting changed to another bloody Teams video chat , but no one knew, as the sharp shirt remained. To even consider a G-Shock with a shirt says much about the blacked-out g shock watch versatility of this darkest reference, and while not exactly svelte, the lightweight build makes it a joy to wear. The office is not the office anymore, and while we might long for suiting up again to impress colleagues with our sharp taste in tailoring, this is not the time. The now discontinued two/tone grey G-Shock GA-2100ET-8A matches damn well with some grey cotton sweatpants, strategically worn with a more formal navy merino knit for those Zoom meetings.
Much of this is thanks to the fact that its slim size allows it to wear comfortably on the wrist despite its big diameter. The GA A is a fresh take on the Casio G-Shock and one that has exploded in popularity amongst watch enthusiasts since it was released. It’s easy to see how people find charm in this watch, regardless if you are a fan of the G-Shock design or not. The watch looks extremely rugged and sporty, but at the same time, Casio has successfully given it a sleek and elegant look. And with its performance and durability, this watch, just like the other G-Shock watches, is incredibly durable.
The GA-2100 form factor resembles the first G-Shock DW-5000C, but with a pronounced octagonal shape and more streamlined corners – this way the Japanese pay tribute to the glorious past of the high-impact direction. An additional window shows the current day of the week, and more detailed information about the date can be viewed on the digital display. The set of features here is only basic , but they are enough for most everyday tasks. The name G-SHOCK has become a byword for independence and pushing the limits. Guided by a “Triple 10” development concept, the design teams sought a watch with 10-meter free-fall endurance, 10-bar water resistance and a 10-year battery life. This led to a shock resistant structure that includes a hollow-structured case, all-directional protective covering and the use of cushioning material to protect critical parts.
From your initial contact to after you have your new watch on the wrist. Our number one goal is to make you so satisfied with your purchase that we get the honour of helping you with your next watch purchase. We will guide you through your whole experience g shock protection with us. The watch is made to take a beating and can handle shocks and bangs without any issues. The performance is exceptional, the design is modern and clean, and despite its large size, it wears exceptionally comfortably on the wrist.
The on-board illumination button triggers both a back light for the digital screen and a LED for the analog display. When it comes to durable watches packed with cool style, Casio’s G-SHOCK sets the benchmark – and this GA-2100 version shows exactly why. It’s made using the label’s Core Guard technology – meaning it provides superior shock resistance through use of carbon fibre – and comes with the black octagonal bezel for the retro look. Allowing you to customise the look, it comes fitted with an interchangeable strap, and to finish, it’s water resistant for up to 200 metres. At 9 o’clock, it also has an analog day display that displays the day of the week. Lastly, we have a digital display presented between about 3 and 6 o’clock.
But with this said, no one buys the Casioak as a tool. The lack of weight and mass can be attributed to the use of Casio’s propriety Carbon Core Guard which surrounds the movement and claims to offer full protection. The watches have been designed to allow the carbon composite shell to be visible and this really adds to the ultra-modern look. The dials share a common design and are uncomplicated with the lower right quarter given over to a digital timekeeping unit and the area around the nine-hour showing the day via a pointer. The analogue hands on both models are large and lume coated. There is no doubt that the similarity has garnered the GA-2100 a lot of attention online, which gave it more publicity than other recent models.
It’s also a predominantly analogue piece, with two hands and a physical day indicator. The strap is fit for purpose and it has a quick release, but it isn’t easy to find an alternative aftermarket strap for this model. The only gripe with these is that they kept the buttons silver – this is the only non-stealth aspect of the watch. This timepiece is dedicated to expressing your coolness scale at a level higher than your friends. It is a stealth watch, made to look like you belong in a Bourne movie and you enjoy brooding while sipping neat whisky on the rocks.
Under a macro lens you can see that the hands’ finish is a bit spotty. The flaws aren’t visible to the unaided eye at a normal distance. Check the Home City and the daylight saving time setting. That’s where the Casio G-Shock GA-2100 CasiOak comes in.