Over the past few years, Casio has turned the upscale G-Shock Full Metal sub-line into a showcase for increasingly exotic finishing techniques and colorways. 2021’s G-Shock “Virtual Armor” took the Full Metal family beyond the use of novel colors into a new frontier of sci-fi inspired technical detail with the use of laser-engraved accents throughout the design, which the brand expanded upon further in 2022 with the “Virtual Armor II”. For 2023, Casio ups the visual complexity of the G-Shock Full Metal series yet again with an intricate, multi-layer engraving system inspired by the quartz movement at its heart. The new Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC “Circuit Camouflage” blends a proprietary new titanium alloy case material with a wild, ornate circuit board-inspired engraving pattern to deliver one of the most visually arresting takes on the classic octagonal G-Shock silhouette to date.

At 43.2mm-wide, the octagonal “5600”-style case of the Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC offers identical dimensions to previous iterations of the G-Shock Full Metal family. The overall form should be familiar to fans of the brand as well, with classic G-Shock hallmarks like the case side ridges, the distinctive hooded lug divots, the quartet of pushers, and the raised smooth octagonal bezel all present and accounted for. That’s where the similarities to previous G-Shock Full Metal offerings end, however. Rendered in proprietary ultra-hard, easily polishable TranTixxii titanium alloy developed in partnership with Nippon Steel Corporation, this case actually walks back some of the embellishment of the previous “Virtual Armor” designs in favor of preserving the simpler classic G-Shock look. Gone are the unique oval lug cutouts of the “Virtual Armor” line, replaced by traditional G-Shock style dimples that do not fully drill through the case surface. However, the GMWB5000TCC delivers what might well be Casio’s most complex G-Shock Full Metal design yet through its four-stage finishing process. First, the entire bare titanium alloy case and bracelet are fully polished. After this, the first round of laser engraving is performed, followed by a layer of inky black ion plating. Lastly, another round of laser engraving burns through selected areas of plating, allowing for an intricate web of highlights, midtones, and shadows in a monochrome color palette. The “Circuit Camouflage” pattern itself extends throughout the case and onto the bracelet, with an intriguing maze of lines and squares that mirror the circuit boards inside the watch’s movement. It’s an interesting celebration of the digital heart of the G-Shock series, and one that adds streetwear-ready visual flair to the familiar design while embracing a technology that many watch brands are quick to downplay. Like all G-Shock models, the GMWB5000TCC is impressively robust, with the line’s legendary shock resistance and a full 200 meters of water resistance.

While the case of the Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC may push the boundaries of mainline G-Shock finishing, the dial is far closer to the brand’s traditional fare. With the exception of an arguably more premium-looking inverted LCD display, the digital dial offers the same vast suite of complications and functionality that has become synonymous with the G-Shock series over the years. However, the inner bezel does continue the case’s stylized circuit board pattern, which offers a sleek feeling of continuity in images.

Casio powers the G-Shock GMWB5000TCC with its in-house Module 3459 solar-powered quartz movement. The Module 3459 is the backbone of Casio’s higher-end digital G-Shock models, and it provides a massive array of complications including a 1/100 second split-seconds chronograph, a 24-hour countdown timer, a world timer, a perpetual calendar, and five customizable daily alarms. With the brand’s Multi-Band 6 radio-controlled atomic time correction six times per day, the Module 3459 is more or less perfectly accurate in the vast majority of situations. Even without access to the time correction signal the movement offers a solid accuracy of +15/-15 seconds per month. In addition, the Module 3459 provides a solid 22 months of battery life on a full solar charge.

Like all G-Shock Full Metal offerings, the Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC’s bracelet is a natural extension of the case design. In this case, that means the bracelet offers the same TranTixxii alloy material, the same four-stage finishing process, and a continuation of the same dynamic, intricate circuit board pattern engraved across each of the broad dimpled links. This holistic visual approach should make for a bold statement on the wrist, but if previous titanium G-Shock Full Metal models are any indication this will likely also offer an exceedingly light and comfortable wearing experience.

With a striking, high-tech finishing process, durable construction, and a novel texture that pays tribute to the proudly digital heart of the G-Shock series, the new Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC takes the Full Metal collection to new technical frontiers in style. The Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC is available now through select authorized dealers, the G-Shock SoHo Store, and the brand’s e-commerce platform. MSRP for the Casio G-Shock GMWB5000TCC stands at $1,800 USD as of press time. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.