The Low-Down

The second-most luxurious tier of G-SHOCK watches (the peak at present is the MRG line), MTG is short for Metal-Twisted G-SHOCK: one supposes that “twisted” means “not quite”, and so alludes to the hybrid watch construction that defines this range, combining the strength of steel and resilience of carbon-fibre reinforced resin to provide maximum protection for the quartz module within.

This range would also have all or most of the technical features that Casio has amassed within its walls, ranging from basic time-keeping, chronograph and alarms to solar charging, Bluetooth connectivity with one’s smartphone, and radio-controlled time keeping. Fitness tracker functions are the specialty of another range (G-SQUAD) so they are absent here and Casio has yet to stuff a video game into an MTG. Other than these two areas, MTG provides nearly all of the functionality asked of a timepiece, with a premium finish to make it look a fair bit dressier than G-SHOCK’s other mud-loving lines like the Master of G and Origin collections.

The MTG-B2000XMG gets all the above, and one of the most dramatically coloured case designs in recent times. Casio is no stranger to loud colours, sometimes loud and weird, depending on one’s preference, and we like the B2000PH’s play of violet and blue that is reminiscent of the oxidation effects on titanium exhaust tips. But the wavy, woody and trippy coloration of the MTG-B2000XMG is in a class of its own. According to Casio, the effect it was aiming for was the feel of Rainbow Mountain in Peru. A quick check with Google confirms that is indeed the case.

For Rainbow Mountain, its layers of colours come from the oxidation of assorted minerals built up over the ages through volcanic activity and tectonic movement. On the other hand, the centerpiece of the MTG-B2000XMG – its technicolor bezel – was created by using a new process of “randomly laminating carbon and colored glass fibers”. Like using a natural material, this randomness is such that no two samples of the MTG-B2000XMG are exactly alike. Ion plating is subsequently applied to other watch components, including the inside edge of the bezel, buckle, bezel screws, crown and pushers.

Beneath its psychedelic splendor, the MTG-B2000XMG is no less a premium grade G-SHOCK: it will take a beating, being resistant to shock, vibration and water up to 200 meters. As for functionality, it bristles with all the features expected of a highly evolved timepiece. No further adjustment in the foreseeable future is required since the watch will soak up the tiniest bit of solar energy and keep running for almost two and a half years on a full charge with the power-saving function ON; it takes time signals from atomic clocks several times a day (USA, UK, Germany, Japan, China) or from the smartphone, which also allows the watch to automatically factor daylight saving time and time zone.

IMHO

After decades of serving up plainly reliable and reliably plain watches, it’s great to see Casio go wild now and then, cashing its war chest on new techniques, materials and design experiments. There’s hardly a dull moment when it comes to G-SHOCKs, and in view of Casio’s mountain of achievements, even watch collectors with deep pockets cannot sneer at the manufacture without looking ugly. It’s fair to say that Casio has become a cult brand. And in our opinion, the MTG-B2000XMG is one of the most stunning references it has produced.

Tech Specs

Movement: Quartz module, radio time signal control, solar charging, 29 months power on full charge with the power-saving function ON, smartphone link via Bluetooth
Functions: World time, day, date, alarms, chronograph and countdown timer, auto daylight saving time
Case: 55.1 × 49.8 × 15.9mm, water resistant to 200 meters
Strap: Resin strap
Price: SGD 1,699