Casio G-Shock: The Watch Built to Survive Anything

The Casio G-Shock created a new kind of watch: one engineered first and foremost to survive. Launched in 1983 with the DW-5000C, it has grown from a single square digital watch into a sub-brand spanning digital, analogue-digital, diving, outdoor and full-metal luxury models, and remains the core of Casio's watch business.

Kikuo Ibe and the "Triple 10"

The G-Shock began with a broken watch. Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe dropped a mechanical watch he had been given by his father, and it shattered. In 1981 he formed "Project Team Tough", a team of three, with a goal known as the Triple 10 : a watch that could survive a 10-metre fall, resist water to 10 bar (100 metres) and run for 10 years on a battery. The team built and destroyed more than 200 prototypes. The breakthrough reportedly came when Ibe watched a child bouncing a rubber ball and realised the module could "float" inside a shock-absorbing structure, cushioned from impacts.

1983: The DW-5000C

The first G-Shock, the DW-5000C , launched in 1983, its name standing for "gravitational shock". Its square resin case, wide protective bezel and floating module defined the look that G-Shock still uses today. In 1987 it evolved into the DW-5600C , and the "square" 5000/5600 family has remained in production ever since; a DW-5600 famously appeared on Keanu Reeves's wrist in Speed (1994). See our full guide to the square G-Shock 5600, from the DW-5600E to the solar GW-M5610 and full-metal GMW-B5000.

Frogman, MR-G and the Master of G

G-Shock expanded into specialist tools. The Frogman DW-6300 of 1993 was the first G-Shock diver's watch certified to the ISO 6425 standard, and the Frogman has remained the line's flagship diver. In 1996 Ibe and a young team created the MR-G , a metal G-Shock smart enough to wear with a suit. The "Master of G" series added land, sea and air specialists such as the Mudmaster and the triple-sensor Rangeman.

Full Metal and the Modern G-Shock

Today's G-Shocks often combine Tough Solar charging, Multi-Band 6 radio sync and Bluetooth phone links. The square shape went upscale in 2018 with the full-metal 5000-series ( GMW-B5000), a steel version of the 1983 original that kept the shock-resistant construction. The thin, octagonal GA-2100 "CasiOak" of 2019 became the line's biggest enthusiast hit in decades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who invented the G-Shock?
Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, whose three-person Project Team Tough began work in 1981 and launched the first G-Shock in 1983.

What was the first G-Shock?
The DW-5000C, launched in 1983, with a square resin case and a shock-absorbing 'floating' module.

What does the 'Triple 10' mean?
The original design goal: survive a 10-metre drop, resist water to 10 bar (100m) and run 10 years on a battery.

What is the G-Shock Frogman?
G-Shock's diver line; the 1993 DW-6300 Frogman was the first G-Shock certified to the ISO 6425 diver's standard.

What is the difference between the DW-5000 and DW-5600?
The DW-5600C of 1987 is the evolution of the 1983 DW-5000C; both belong to the 'square' family that remains in production.

Related Reading

• Casio: Brand History
• G-Shock 5600: The Square G-Shock
• G-Shock GA-2100 'CasiOak'
• Timex Ironman: The 1980s Rival