While it is hardly the last word in restraint, an all-gold Casio G-Shock is easily some of the best fun to be had with a wristwatch. Casio is adamant that the new “GMB2100GD-9A inherits the legacy of the first-ever G-SHOCK, the DW-5000,” and although that is certainly true for the octagonal bezel and dimpled band design, it is a bit of a stretch to say on an ana-digi G-Shock with traditional hour and minute hands. The first “analog” G-Shock arrived 6 years after the DW-5000C, in 1989, with the AW-500.
Specifications
Brand: Casio G-Shock
Model: GMB2100GD-9A
Dimensions: 49.8 × 44.4 × 12.8 millimeters
Water Resistance: 200 meters
Case Material: Stainless steel with IP-gold plating
Crystal/Lens: Mineral glass
Movement: G-Shock Module 5691
Power Reserve: Tough Solar-powered
Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel with IP-gold plating
Price & Availability: $600, available now
Setting G-Shock history aside, the GMB2100GD-9A will be a fantastic watch to behold — we feel safe in saying that, so long as you like very heavy, very shiny, and quite large watches. The ABTW team has been fond of all-gold (plated) G-Shock watches ever since we went hands-on with the first-ever, the GMWB5000D1, back in 2018. Oh, and if all this sheen and weight and expense were somehow still not enough for you, a G-Shock exists in an actual solid 18k-gold. That one costs $70,000, weighs 304.4 grams (10.7 ounces), and we presented that and its over-the-top packaging with live images here.
Cutting back to the new-for-2023 G-Shock GMB2100GD-9A watch, it is a yellow-gold rendition of the GMB2100GD that, in its -5A guise, had been available for some time in a rose-gold hue. Casio is proud of the work it put into the finishing of the metal that lies under the IP coating: A circular hairline finish has been applied to the bezel’s top surface, and the angled surfaces are polished to a mirror finish, while a lengthwise hairline finish has been applied to raised areas of the case sides. The stainless steel bezel has been “repeatedly and meticulously forged, cut, and polished,” including certain sections that end up being covered by other parts of the case to ensure a fit that is superior to what you might have become used to in other, less expensive G-Shock watches.
The 165-gram package (measured with all links in place) encapsulates the G-Shock Module 5691, a “Tough Solar” movement that packs most all the goodies one would expect from a Casio, including a 1/100-second stopwatch, 38-timezone world time, five daily alarms, and a Super Illuminator with two LEDs. Bluetooth connectivity with a smartphone running the necessary app is also available for easier modulation of the many displays and features of the G-Shock GMB2100GD-9A.
The stainless steel case measures 49.8 × 44.4 × 12.8 millimeters, and that actually makes it thinner than many 7750-equipped mechanical chronographs out there. Water resistance is rated at 200 meters, as one would expect, and the tech sheet also specifies that this watch is “shock resistant.” Regarding how well the IP-gold plating and the mineral glass on the front react to excessive wear, we have heard and, indeed, experienced, mixed results, so test that at your own discretion.
An all-gold G-Shock had to happen, and we are thrilled to see it is still alive and well five years after its long overdue debut. Heavy on the wrist and on the eyes, these watches are to be seen in the metal to be fully appreciated — and trying them on before a purchase is highly recommended, anyway. Price for the G-Shock GMB2100GD-9A watch is $600, a lot of money for a G-Shock, but not a lot for an all-gold(-looking) watch crafted to a much higher standard than most of the gold-plated competition in this segment. You can learn more at the brand’s website.
