The Low-Down

Part of an expansive Origin series of watches that are heavily anchored in the aesthetics and ideals of the original square-faced G-SHOCK of 1983, the GMW-B5000TVA-1 (can we convert this deca-syllable monstrosity to something like “Black Fang?”) follows from the Full Metal 5000 duo that caused quite a stir at their 2018 launch. For the first time, the dearly loved and much abused resin G-SHOCK could be had in polished or gold-plated stainless-steel case and bracelet. Heft went up twofold; but that didn’t matter, since the megawatt lustre of naked metal after 35 years of spongy, stealthy resin threw consumers into mad lust.

IMHO

Casio’s stated intention of creating “mobile gear from the virtual world” is tastefully realised in the GMW-B5000TVA-1. A first glance nearly had us mouthing “master chief” and it’s hard to think of anything more fitting on the bridge of the Space Battleship Yamato. With sapphire glass and DLC coating, the GMW-B5000TVA-1 is expected to stay pristine, and it also sheds a third of the weight of the stainless steel models. The markings on the watch are reminiscent of the “NO STEP” and “DANGER” signs stencilled all over the fuselage of a fighter jet; it gets a little chatty on the clasp, but good typography covers a multitude of sins. Just note that tech-chic carries a weighty price: GMW-B5000TVA-1 money will buy two stainless steel models with change, or a dozen of the comparably-specced resin models. Yet the steady stream of premium G-SHOCK variants in all manner of styles and the popularity of steel and titanium renditions are proof enough that Casio continues to be real life’s Fullmetal Alchemist.

Tech Specs