The Low-Down

Casio is making new inroads into the millennial’s wardrobe with its latest collaboration with Indonesia-based streetwear fashion brand, Paradise Youth Club. Inspired by the latter’s recent Fall/Winter collection “Power Source”, the special-edition watch based on the classic DW-6900 matches Paradise Youth Club’s signature old colors and edgy graphics with a glittery silver/gray band and lime (slime) green face, drawing inspiration from contemporary life being centred around digitalization and the internet. This is a watch that will be available exclusively with the brand’s South East Asian (S.E.A.) retail partners and boutiques.

The DW-6900 was chosen for this collaboration because this iconic watch that was launched in 1995 happens to be the PYC founders’ first impression of G-SHOCK . All the features and functionality of the original DW-6900 are here: the ‘triple graph’ running seconds display above the main screen, multiple alarms, chronograph and 200 metres of water resistance. In addition to the requisite toughness of the G-SHOCK line, the DW-6900 was also the first G-SHOCK to feature EL backlighting. In the DW-6900PYU21 limited-edition model, a “Power Source” motif appears across the main screen when the backlight is turned on. The watch face has “Paradise” scrawled on it, and on the reverse, the solid caseback is engraved with the slogan, “Guide to the Paradise Highway”.

The DW-6900PYU21 comes in an attractive box that is styled after a retro CRT monitor and the commemorative tin that the watch comes in is also designed with retro-tech flair. This collab watch is available from March 2022.

Casio has also mentioned that moving forward, fans of the G-SHOCK in S.E.A. can expect to see more watches made exclusively for the region, in partnership with artists and brands from the region.

IMHO

The DW-6900 that the collaboration watch is based on is pretty iconic, worn by numerous celebrities, in innumerable colorways, that there is surely one for every day of the week and mood of the day. It is also pretty basic as far as the 6900 line goes. The newer variants have solar power and atomic timekeeping, but the DW-6900PYU21 keeps it simple with just the timekeeping, time counting and alarms. That keeps the price manageable as one of many watches to complement one’s wardrobe. There is also a certain authenticity in keeping things to the essentials, in bringing only what is vital to the center of one’s focus. This authenticity and the retro-tech vibe is most compatible with Paradise Youth Club, which is inspired by fashion, art, music and street culture.

Tech Specs

Movement: Module No. 3230, +/- 15 seconds a month, approx. 2 years’ battery life
Functions: Chronograph, multi-function alarm, countdown timer
Case: Resin, mineral glass, 53.2mm × 50.0mm × 16.3mm, weight 67g, water resistant to 200m
Strap: Resin
Price: SGD 179

Check out the watch in person if you’re in Singapore. The G-SHOCK team here will be celebrating the launch with a special pop-up at the brand’s Premium Store (B2-93) at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 24 March 2022 onwards.

More information: gshock.casio.com