Casio turns back time with the G-Shock that started it all

It’s been 41 years since Casio debuted the very first G-Shock digital watch, and its latest timepiece is the brand’s most faithful recreation to date. The new G-Shock DW-5000R is visually near-identical to the original DW-5000C launched in 1983 — right down to the length, and dimple positioning on the watch strap.

The rugged appeal of the original DW-5000C carries plenty of nostalgic charm, but it was a novel concept when it first launched. Its creator, Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, was inspired to make a damage-resistant timepiece after his mechanical watch shattered on the ground when it fell off his wrist. The resulting G-Shock design was intended to have “triple 10” resistance — meaning a battery life of ten years, water resistance of 10 bar, and capable of surviving a 10-meter drop. G-Shock went on to become one of most iconic watch brands in the world with a strong association with streetwear culture.

In a press release, Casio says the DW-5000R is a “higher level of reproduction” than some of its previous reissues sold in limited quantities — suggesting it might be a permanent fixture in the G-Shock lineup. There are a few minor differences, however: the case size has slightly increased to 42.3mm from 41.6mm, the buttons are shorter than the original, and the “water resist” figure reads “20 BAR” instead of “200M,” for example.

Some specifications have received a modern update, such as a new LED backlight and the use of “biomass plastic” on the bezel and band to reduce environmental impact. Otherwise, the case is still made from stainless steel and it has all the same features you’d expect, including a stopwatch timer, a multi-functional alarm, and a calendar display.

A more detailed side-to-side comparison between the recreation and the original can be found on Casio’s Japanese website.

The G-Shock DW-5000R will be available in Japan on December 13th, priced at 33,000 yen (about $217). We’ve asked Casio about global availability and US pricing and will update if we hear back.