This meant nothing short of creating a new standard-bearer for G-SHOCK, re-envisioned from the vintage point of the brand’s beginnings, now some 30 years after the AW500’s debut. G-SHOCK has always embraced the spirit of challenge in it’s untiring pursuit baby g shock of the ultimate toughness. It was 1982 when the resolve to build a watch that would never break produced the very first G-SHOCK — the DW5000. Not much later, in 1989, the AW500 arrived, offering the same shock resistance but in an analog watch.
In general, it has a more refined appearance than previous analog-digital G-Shock versions in the same price bracket. An octagonal bezel derived from the iconic design of the DW-5000. A commitment to delivering the slimmest, most compact form, but with all the strength of its predecessors intact — a feat achieved with the Carbon Core Guard structure as well as a new and improved module design. Inheritance of the origin to its roots while advancing further still, the GA-2100 beautifully complements today’s lifestyles. Shock-Resistant Structure and 200m Water Resistance. The shock-resistant structure protects the watch.
The carbon-reinforced stainless steel GM-2100 case is 44.4mm wide, 11,8mm thick, and 49.3mm from lug-to-lug. Behind that mineral crystal, you will find an LED light, luminous hour and minute hands and markers, a pointer day indicator, and a digital screen. That digital screen features a 1/100 stopwatch function , a 12/24-hour display, a timer (up to 24-hours), a world timer function, an automatic calendar, and an alarm function . You can move the hands out of the way of the digital display with a simple push of a button. Delivered on a resin strap with a metal buckle, the watch is water-resistant to 200 meters and gives the impression of being so.
And that is just one more reason that, as I type, one hand is currently hovering over the “Buy Now” button. And given that it is priced at $99, I think I’m going to stop writing now and stop hovering. The GA-2100 line g shock protection comes in a thoroughly fashion-conscious color scheme. The G-2100’s water resistance is rated to 200 meters. Casio’s traditional four-screw stainless steel caseback is engraved with the Carbon Core Guard logo.
Should Casio introduce other colors, you’ll be able to mix and match the straps. Most probably, in my mind, it was the way the more standard “round” case sat on my wrist in addition to how interesting and intuitively arranged the display is. At first glance, I didn’t like the Casioak style, but I do find it all the more wearable than the many novelties I’ve had pass through my hands from Casio this year. After resisting the urge to leap on a novelty that didn’t convince me out of the gate, I eventually caved and bought an artist-modified Casioak skeleton for myself.
Enter the Casio G-SHOCK GA-2100 or “Casioak” as it has come to be known. This very wearable G-SHOCK was a huge hit last year, and it didn’t take long for the modding community to fill in a pretty apparent gap in the Casioak line up. The GA-2100 series of watches was such a hit at points last year that supply couldn’t keep up, and these were trading hands for well over the RRP of £99.
Complaints must be sure to describe as accurate and detailed as possible, what is wrong with the product. I truly believe one of the best partners in exploration and adventure is a fine watch. Over 30 years of collecting, my fascination with the technical capabilities of both vintage and modern timepieces has never abated and it is a privilege to be able to share this passion through writing. If it is more important to flash the brand name in a smaller, lighter package then the CasiOaks may be just the watch for you. I was excited to review two new G-Shocks and have left the process feeling rather let down by Casio. Had they rebranded the GA and GMA models as the G-Shock-X or some other alternate name I would have been fine, accepting them as G’s in name only.
The blackout GA A1 is still sold out everywhere, but more stock is expected in the coming months, and we will make a new post when it is available. The GA A and red GA A are also mostly sold out. Some of these models may be more readily available in some countries in regions like Southeast Asia, but beware of fakes at unauthorized shops and online. Also, there are some online scams involving the GA A1 and other popular G-Shock models, where some e-commerce websites end up shipping a completely different model. Stick with reputable authorized retailers and avoid unknown stores. The GA-2100 series appears to be G-Shock’s most successful new model launch since the GMW-B5000.
The case is 11.8mm high and the lug to lug is 48mm making this one of the most wearable contemporary G-Shocks out there. It’s even slim enough to fit under my glove snowboarding. The Casio GA-2100 is a stunning baby g shock watch with an affordable price tag of about $100. Buying a GA-2100, whether as everyday wear or for weekends and leisure, is within most people’s budgets and does not demand a significant financial sacrifice.
The 45mm GA A1ER “Stealth” model has been designed to present a full blackout dial picture and the slightly smaller 43mm GMA-S2100-1AER which is also predominantly black but with polished rose gold indices and hands. Light, comfortable, very high eye appeal for the money, main hands surprisingly readable, other features not so much and I like how it doesn’t scream G Shock in design, size and case wording. Those with narrower wrists don’t even think about the watch not fitting properly or seeming overly wide, which is a common issue with bigger G-Shock watches. Even though the display is bigger than the DW-5600, it wears similarly. It’s really an analog-digital version of the earlier DW-5600 with a few more functions.