A few years ago, I noticed an aftermarket case available for Casio G-Shock watches that was entirely transparent. I adored the idea and noticed that Casio didn’t seem to actually make entirely transparent watches themselves — although they had clearish watches they’d made in the past. I purchased one of those aftermarket cases just to see what the quality was, as I had some reservations about it. Sure enough, the clear plastic turned yellow after a few months. It seems Casio was thinking the same thing as me and, since then, we’ve see a number of various “jelly” G-Shock models released. Casio actually does have some of the entirely transparent G-Shocks around, but they also like playing with fun colors, which, when combined with the translucent cases, makes for a beautiful and fun effect.
According to Casio, these DW5600SB “jelly” watches have colors that are inspired by 1990s fashion. If you are a G-Shock fan, it’s important to know that Casio is currently focused on two very different types of G-Shock collections. One is the “classic” style G-Shock watches (like the DW5600), which represent iconic shapes and are released in various fashionable iterations that also come with really affordable prices. The other side of the G-Shock spectrum is the more modern watches that come with Casio’s most advanced technology, movements, materials, and designs. These more modern G-Shock watches tend to have understandable prices, but Casio actually makes the most fashionable of its timepieces as part of its classic G-Shock collection. I say all this because it can be confusing to navigate the world of G-Shock models without understanding a bit about how they segment their collections.
Aesthetically, Casio G-Shock watches have never looked better, and I would consider that their design team is on a real roll. The squarish DW5600-style case is a true icon and looks amazing in all-metal or the translucent resin. Today, I look at the Casio G-Shock DW5600SB-2 in blue, the DW5600SB-3 in green, and the DW5600SB-4 in red. The resin case is slightly shiny and has a nice, smooth texture.
Very light at just 53 grams, the DW5600SB is about 43mm-wide and entirely comfortable. It has the classic 3229 movement module which has a two-year battery life and includes all the traditional digital features people associate with G-Shock timepieces. The “skeletonized” look of the watch that allows you to see the electronics module within the case makes the DW5600SB collection all the more visually engaging. More modern features such as connectivity and solar charging are reserved for the pricier G-Shock pieces. Depending on DW5600SB model, the screen is either traditional or “negative,” which makes it appear darker. I like how the bezel area around the screen is light on the text which helps it blend in with the color of the case a bit better.
You really can’t have just one G-Shock (or even just a few if you are a watch-lover), and at least one “clear skeleton series” (jelly) piece should be among them. If you want a sensible model that has the lovely shape of the iconic DW5600, then one of these Casio G-Shock DW5600SB pieces is the way to go. Price is just $110 USD each. Learn more at the G-Shock website here.
