It seems to function a great deal better with other GA models. The day subdial of the GA A1 is likewise extremely tiny and almost undetectable due to its black or dark grey hues. There’s little question that the GA-2100’s resemblance has drawn a great deal of attention worldwide, giving it more exposure than other versions. While it has a noticeable bezel, it is thinner and less intrusive than those seen on previous G-Shock models. The watch now has a more conservative appearance, but the case and strap maintain distinctive G-Shock features. The GA-2100’s dial has a polished design that isn’t too crowded and is both modern and timeless.
The backlight is a dial illumination that allows you to use this watch in the dark. Over the past decade, the internet has ushered horology into pop culture. We now live in a world where Hollywood actors “talk watches” in YouTube videos, where hip hop artists rap about mechanical movements and where recherché Swiss dial names are social media hashtags. What’s more, just as luxury fashion has nuzzled up to streetwear, so too are watchmakers chasing hypebeasts through savvy collabs, striking designs and, of course, limited edition production runs. You might have to adjust the hand zero position of your subdial. Press the a button for about 6 seconds and the screen should read “SUB”.
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. For a G-Shock, it feels slender at 45mm and with a short 48.5mm lug to lug and no weight, it’s a perfect daily wearer. The bonus is the clever world time mode allowing me to keep up with the editorial team in Melbourne while being locked down here in Norway. While I love mechanical watches, this is just an understated, feather-light presence that does its job quietly.
The light is positioned near the tiny digital screen. Dubbed the ‘Casioak’ due to its octagonal similarities to a Royal Oak, it looks like something Batman would have on his wrist. And he wouldn’t be worried about damaging it while fighting crime, as it’s as rugged as any Casio G-Shock in their stable. 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.
Heir to the DW-5000 and AW-500’s conceptual design frameworks, it leveraged the latest technologies to capture the essence of their identities in a new physical form. This meant nothing short of creating a new standard-bearer for G-SHOCK, re-envisioned from the vantage point of the brand’s beginnings, now some 30 years after the AW-500’s debut. G-SHOCK have always embraced the spirit of challenge in their untiring pursuit of the ultimate toughness.
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 baby g shock 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.