This shock and water-resistant watch features a stunning crystal clear case and band, while the white and black face creates some nice contrast. G-Shock’s usual suite of features, including a world clock, optional 24-hour time, and many more, are all here and accounted for, creating a rugged watch that will complement any look. 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. This digital display is integrated discreetly and blends in well with the dial. In addition, the watch has a world timer that allows you to change time zones with just a few button presses.
Though the display is larger than a DW-5600, it wears very similarly, and I like to think of it as an analog-digital version of the DW-5600, but with a few more features. 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. While it is definitely a distinctive bezel, it is a smaller and less obtrusive one than other G-Shock models. This gives the watch a more conservative look, while still retaining signature G-Shock elements with the case and band. The dial of the GA-2100 offers a refined style that isn’t too busy and looks both contemporary and timeless.
Something people have commented on is the thinness of this watch compared to other Gs and this is evident when you flip the watch to the side. I can only assume they have managed to retain the ruggedness of what makes a G-SHOCK a G-SHOCK while reducing the dimensions through the use of what is called Carbon Core Quad. A side effect of this is that for some reason the watch doesn’t sit properly on wrist sometimes, with the lugs and strap not quite having the same snug fit to the wrist, even when pulled almost uncomfortably tight. The watch is powered with a battery having a capacity of, of battery life! Firstly the watch has a very hard casing and is highly shock-resistant due to its core guard structure.
For me, this is the appeal of my bright red G-Shock GA-2100. See, when it comes to watches that I’m actually willing to throw down cold hard cash for, I tend more toward the conservative. Spare dials, classic designs, and diameters that wear easy. Lume the hour markers as well as the hands or make the LED cast better light across the hands too. The trip to town turned into a mini watch meetup where TheTickTockCollector, HalfWatchTuesday co-creator Jumping Jalapeno and WatchDeclan were assembled in Mappin and Webb. After playing with some high end pieces we set off to see Simon and cross his palm with silver.
The watch comes presented on a black integrated resin strap which of course goes very well with the design of the watch. A nice feature is that it has a quick-release mechanism that allows you to remove the straps with ease. The hands have luminescence applied to them to help with legibility in the dark, and this is a good thing since it also means you save battery as you won’t have to turn on the light every time you just want to read the time. A downside is that the hour markers do not have lume on them, but still, the color of them matches the luminescence rather well. In traditional G-Shock fashion, the watch has text printed on the bezel in order to help you know which functions are for what.
The twelve indices around the dial’s perimeter are in a slightly lighter shade than the dial’s base, and they’re raised, giving the dial a bit of depth and lending an extra touch of legibility. Also critical to the enjoyment of the case is a relatively new technology now making its way into G-Shocks of all kinds, the Carbon Core Guard. Basically, this is a thin layer of strong and light carbon fiber that reinforces the traditional resin case. The result is that G-Shock can build a case with a thinner layer of plastic material while still offering the same protection G-Shock is known for. If this case making technique is allowed to expand and trickle into other G-Shock lines the possibilities are nearly endless. This watch can be had for $100 from a certain large online retailer.