A Night with the Father of the G-SHOCK: Kikuo Ibe

When we learnt that the G-SHOCK Full Metal series was going to have a titanium sibling, further into 2019, we at Revolution knew that we wanted to be one of the first in the world to be able to offer it for purchase on an online platform.

It was thanks to the help and patience of our friends at Casio Singapore that we were able to push through with the plan and launch the Full Titanium GMW-B5000TB for pre-order on Shop.Revolution.Watch on the 1st of November 2019 — the same day the watch became available to pre-order at storefronts across Japan. But why were we so determined to do this?

G-SHOCK Full Titanium GMW-B5000TB (Image © Revolution)

A Recap

It’s not difficult to say this: every member of the watch collecting community — at one point or another — can trace their love for watches back to a G-SHOCK. So it is not at all surprising that when in 2018, the Full Metal series of watches were announced, the world went bonkers.

At launch, the watch was made available in a gold-IP coating, as a limited edition marking the 35th anniversary of the G-SHOCK. Another limited edition (500 pieces) launched at the same time was an all-black-DLC coated version, in partnership with Japanese luggage-maker Yoshida & Co., Ltd.

The other variation was, of course, the all steel version, in silver, that still remains available to purchase. In the meantime, we seen Casio capitalize on the success on the Full Metal series with follow up creations that have provided hit after hit.

Gold IP treated Full Metal B5000 GMW-B5000TFG-9 launched at Baselworld 2018

The GMW-B5000TFC-1 made in collaboration with Yoshida & Co

G-SHOCK Full Metal 5000 GMW-B5000D-1 in stainless steel

But let’s not forget that the Full Metal series became a reality because it was Kikuo Ibe, the father of the G-SHOCK, who set out to first create an 18K solid gold square G-SHOCK, with a gold bracelet, as part of a project, named and initiated by him: the “Dream Project”. Lessons learnt in creating the 35-piece 18K Gold G-SHOCK G-D5000-9 are, no doubt, what led to Casio proceeding to create a stainless-steel version of the watch, and in large numbers. It’s also what led to exploring more creative expressions of the watch, such as 2019’s run-away success, the Aged-IP.

35 piece limited 18K Gold G-SHOCK G-D5000-9

G-SHOCK GMW-B5000V Black Aged IP (Image © Revolution)

Speaking about the “Dream Project”, Ibe-san is often quoted saying, “The history of G-SHOCK is the history of fulfilling dreams. This time, we combined the toughness of G-SHOCK with the elegance of gold — two seemingly contradictory attributes. It took five years for our dream project to achieve an ideal impact-resistant structure for gold, which is delicate yet 1.5 times heavier than stainless steel. We succeeded by refusing to compromise.” Essentially summing up Ibe-san’s personal life motto: never give up.

Where gold may have seemed contradictory, the next luxury metal that Ibe-san pursued — a definitively modern luxury metal, sought after in various industries for its strength and lightness — could very all be considered a match made in heaven. One of the toughest metals known to mankind, titanium to form one of the toughest wristwatches known to mankind — could anything be more complimentary?

G-SHOCK Full Titanium GMW-B5000TB (Image © Revolution)

A Grand Occasion

When we found out that the Full Metal series of G-SHOCK was about to take a titanium leap, late in 2019, we got conversations going with Casio in Singapore, who made various amazing things happen for us. For one, they arranged things such that Shop.Revolution.Watch would have the watch available to pre-order on the very same day as Japan. Casio Singapore also went out of their way to design a special presentation box for the sale of the watch on Shop.Revolution.Watch, which has Ibe-san’s signature and personal motto etched on the front. Casio Singapore even partnered with us to produce a special little booklet that we got to give away with every purchase made.

G-SHOCK Full Titanium GMW-B5000TB (Image © Revolution)

The culmination of all of which was that on the 1st of November, when the watch was made available for pre-order, we were sold out in no time.

The last, and most generous thing that Casio Singapore made happen for us was this: they arranged for a small dinner event that we would co-host, for those who purchased the Full Titanium GMW-B5000TB from us and for friends of Revolution, in the presence of none other than Ibe-san himself.

And so it was, on the night of the 6th of December a small number of watch -nuts gathered around the father of the G-SHOCK to hear from him about the indestructible watch he had made back in 1983 all the way into its evolution of the Full Titanium GMW-B5000TB.

Guests arriving for the G-SHOCK x Revolution dinner event on an unorthodox ride (Image © Revolution)

Founding editor, Wei Koh welcoming guests to the G-SHOCK x Revolution dinner event

An elated Kikuo Ibe, addressing the guests at the G-SHOCK x Revolution dinner event

Ibe-san showing off a working Full Metal 5000 watch head after having subjected it some trauma courtesy of a swinging hammer

Ibe-san finally unveiling what was inside a mystery box seated in the back of the hall

Guests taking their seats before dinner is served

Ibe-san joins us for dinner, of course

An intimate time commences with the father of the G-SHOCK

Mind you, in the meantime, the Titanium Camouflage G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TCM-1, has also become available to purchase. It was our pleasure to be able to showcase the second iteration of the titanium Full Metal G-SHOCK at the gathering.

The Titanium Camouflage G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TCM-1 achieves its look, first with a DLC-coating, followed by a laser engraving process applied to the case and bracelet, with the gradations of the camouflage pattern created by using dot patterns of three different sizes: small, medium, and large.

Our thanks to the Casio G-SHOCK team in Singapore, for your gracious partnership and for allowing us to share in a grand evening.

A Night with the Father of the G-SHOCK: Kikuo Ibe

A Recap

A Grand Occasion

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