Just over 40 years ago, Casio introduced a watch that would thoroughly alter the horological landscape: The Casio G-SHOCK. A digital watch in a stainless steel case shrouded in resin, it was perhaps the most durable watch ever made. The brainchild of now legendary watch engineer Kikuo Ibe, the original Casio G-SHOCK DW5000-C was designed to withstand even the most grueling use, and an early commercial showing it used as a hockey puck helped to catapult it to popularity. In the intervening years, of course, the G-SHOCK has evolved from a single model to entire family, with a wide range of model lines offering everything from the basic square of the 5000 Series to the titanium MR-G FROGMAN — not to mention innumerable special editions and collaborations. To honor the forebear of every G-SHOCK, Casio has decided to reissue the original design, with subtle updates, in the Casio G-SHOCK DW5000R-1A Origin Revival.

The new Casio G-SHOCK DW5000R-1A starts at the start: Casio’s Yamagata, the “mother factory” of G-SHOCK watches, and where the original model was made. There it is produced by the brand’s master craftsmen to faithfully recreate the classic design. That includes a stainless steel case; while most modern G-SHOCKs have a resin core around their module, this stays true to the original, which had a stainless steel case with a foam cradle where the quartz module was secure. The new G-SHOCK DW5000R-1A features that same construction, with a stainless steel case clad in the family’s iconic black resin. To accommodate modern tastes, the case size has been slightly increased from 41.6mm to 42.3mm, but the proportions have been maintained throughout, with a 13.1mm thickness and 48.9mm lug-to-lug.

Of particular note is the resin strap, which has been reproduced down to the very last detail, from its dimples to its raised blocks around the holes, to its pin buckle. A discerning eye will also note the flat bezel. It should be noted that as part of Casio’s continued efforts to reduce its environmental impact, both the strap and case cladding are now made from bio-based resin. The watch maintains its mineral crystal and 200m water resistance, and a screw-lock caseback, contrasting with most modern G-SHOCKs which have casebacks secured by small screws. The caseback, like the case, is stainless steel and fully polished, with engraved text recreating the look of the original.

While the proportions have been tweaked and the materials updated, what hasn’t been changed much at all is the dial or the watch’s functions. The black, white, yellow, and red scheme is maintained in an almost 1:1 iteration of the 1983 original, with an LCD screen framed in white, surrounded by the signature brick pattern, and finally banded with a red border. A keen eye will notice some minor changes to the text around the display (like “20Bar” instead of “200M”), but the digital quartz Module 3576 within provides the same functions as the original: stopwatch, alarm, timer, automatic calendar, and backlight. One upgrade has been made, and that’s to the backlight, which is now a bright white LED backlight for superior visibility compared to the DW5000C.

Over 40 years have passed since Casio released the first G-SHOCK, and the new Casio G-SHOCK DW5000R-1A Origin Revival shows that even in its simplest form, the G-SHOCK remains a formidable watch. Pared down to the essentials offered by the DW5000C, this new recreation offers new and seasoned G-SHOCK lovers an opportunity to own perhaps the closest thing to the first G-SHOCK ever made. The Casio G-SHOCK DW5000R-1A Origin Revival is priced at $200 USD. For more information, please visit the G-SHOCK website.