My Casio G-Shock Journey

As Casio G Shock celebrates its 30th birthday this year, I take a walk down the memory lane and look back on my own history with G Shocks, which would be exactly 15 years this year. Half the life of G Shock itself. Read about the G Shock 30th anniversary collection HERE

I received my first G Shock from my dad for my 18th birthday. To me at the time, that was a really big deal. Up till that time, all the watches I’d worn were either gifts with purchase, or cheapies bought from markets/given to me. You could say that it was the first properly branded and manufactured watch that I’d had. Thinking back now, I should’ve taken better care of it... but oh well...

It was a watch I wore day in day out, and as such it did take quite a beating, short of running over it with a car. But I was really amazed at the battery life. It just didn’t want to die. Although I did turn off the lume to conserve battery since I didn’t use it all that much after the novelty wore off, and I didn’t mind turning it back on for the odd occasion that I do need it. I did notice, however, that it tends to gain a bit of time over a long period of... err… time. But I just left it as it occasionally led me to think that I was really late when I was only just  late. But then I got used to the buffer time and would allow myself to deduct the minutes off the shown time so having a watch 5 minutes fast ultimately didn’t do anything at all.

It was the watch I wore almost exclusively for about 5 years or so until I started selling watches after uni and started to get into ‘real’ watches. That G Shock was retired after the “upgrade” to a Swatch Irony chrono.

I still have it – but apparently it had copped too much abuse and it wasn’t really worth ‘fixing’. IE, needed more than just a battery change.

My next G Shock was a hand-me-down from my cousin. The strap was completely worn out (it had a cloth strap for some reason) and you really couldn’t wear it. The watch still worked after a battery change, so I took the strap off, worked out the dimension needed for a new strap, and I customised a strap for it. Easily done and it served duty for those occasions that I didn’t want to wear a watch that I didn’t want to ruin, but the wrist time was limited. Plus, I’m not sure if the new battery fitted was an inferior battery or something else was draining power at a heightened rate, the battery didn’t last all that long (much less than expected from a G Shock anyways) so I didn’t bother with it afterwards. Plus I’d become somewhat of a watch snob and wouldn’t wear anything without a “Swiss Made” tag... *shakes head*

Luckily that snobbery was short lived and my next G Shock came soon after, and sort of re-kickstarted my G Shock renaissance. My wife and I were on our honeymoon and we wanted something to commemorate the honeymoon (other than photos). We wanted something relatively affordable but something that would be a “pair of” and we ventured upon the G Shock booth in a department store. The price was right and we bought a “pair” of white G Shocks. It wasn’t quite a his-and-hers but they were both white. Good enough. This one received plenty of wear and a year later, on our 1st anniversary it was the perfect excuse for me to get another.

Well, after that I didn’t really need excuses to buy G Shocks since compared to the usual Swiss watches I lust after, these were much, much lighter on the wallet, (usually a fraction of the cost of a strap of a high-end Swiss watch) and incurs less of a wrath from the finance minister. Plus she actually likes them on me too.

The next one was simply because I liked it. Loved the look of it. But the one that followed has a special meaning attached to it (stretched the meaning may be) but meaningful nonetheless. It’s meant to be our 2nd anniversary present/Christmas present. But rather than a G shock she got a Fossil watch (which she really loves and has now taken over wrist duty from her Longines. Fancy that.) My part of the ‘present’ is part of the G Shock 30th anniversary collection.

Now I’m on the lookout for solar powered G Shocks after discovering they’re also not as pricey as I’d thought (cheaper than a pair of retro Jordans)... Hmm...

One-on-one with a Sydney watch collector Part 2

Exclusive one-on-one interview with a Sydney Watch Collector Pt 2
Previous part is here

TST: There are a numerous collectors out there who swears by mechanical movements only, and would not touch a quartz watch with a 10 foot pole. Where do you stand on quartz?

SWC: I'm one of those non-discriminatory watch fanatics. I have absolutely nothing against quartz watches. I do have issues with brands charging ridiculous money for quartz. I'm sure your readers will know perfectly well that in terms of accuracy, nothing beats quartz. But there's quartz, and there's quartz. Some quartz movements are nothing short of amazing as well, believe it or not. For example, Citizen has this super quartz watch with a thermocompensated movement that is accurate to +/- 5 seconds a YEAR! These movements are also hand assembled and what not. The brilliant Seiko Spring Drive brings together the best of mechanical and quartz technology, so to lump all quartz watches into one category is a bit unfair. For me personally, I have numerous quartz watches- Sometimes it's just really convenient to pick up a watch and go- I have a few Casio G-Shocks, and a number of Swatches that are quartz.

TST: But most of your watches are mechanical, correct?

SWC: Yes.

TST: Why is that?

SWC: I really admire the craftsmanship that's gone into a movement. You have all these really tiny springs and cogs and wheels, all working together in such a tight tolerance, and it's able to do this day in, day out, with no problems for years on end, whilst keeping pretty accurate time! And it's all mechanical! I find that so amazing. And then there's these high complication watches with 4-500 parts within the movement, all crammed into such a tiny space, it's simply mind blowing! To be honest I'm surprised these things don't break down more often!

TST: So out of all your watches which one is your favourite?

SWC: I love all my children equally.

TST: Fine. There must be some that you tend to pick up to wear more often than others?

SWC: I go through phases. For example, right now I'm wearing my G-Shocks quite often. They're not the high end solar powered radio linked super G shocks, but the more basic ones you can get. I think they're just such great value for money though, I mean you're getting an extremely tough watch, with perpetual calendar, world time zone, stop watch and timer, alarm and what have you- all for about $200. Plus the battery life on these are amazing! I think one of my G-Shocks must have lasted at least 5 years, and that is with constant use and abuse, and who knows how long the battery's been in the watch before I had it!

TST: The G Shock is very casual. What would be your current pick if you had to 'suit up'?

SWC: I have a Tissot Le Locle, which is really nice, very dressy and elegant, great proportions and perfectly balanced design- I really love this watch. Such great value for money as well. It'll easily pass for watches costing 10 times more, and it'll keep just as good a time, since it's powered by a reliable ETA 2824 'workhorse' movement. It's also relatively thin, so it'll fit under the cuff no problems. What I would do, is put a decent alligator strap on it. The calf with fake alligator grain strap it comes with does NOT do it justice.

On the other end of the scale, is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master World Geo. The dial is probably a little too busy for a dress watch, but it's all useful busy, not busy for the sake of being busy. The world time is a really useful function for me, as I do need to speak to people in other countries at times, and at one glance I can see exactly what time it is in any of the 24 time zones.

TST: Just to play Devil's advocate - doesn't your phone tell you that?

SWC: Yeah but what's the fun in that? But it is a good question. Everything has a time on it these days and a smart phone can tell you pretty much anything that your watch can possibly tell you, so why bother with a watch? Some wear watches as their jewelly, some as status symbol, to show off, but I like to think I'm part of a secret society - in that only people in the know will truly appreciate what you have on the wrist. There is a sense of excitement when you see someone with a true classic, or something that's quite obscure or underappreciated, you know that they also share this 'secret'. And I suppose...  the secret handshake is that knowing nod,  the subtle acknowledgement.

TST: From what you've just said, I'm guessing you don't really like the so-called "mainstream" watches?

SWC: Yeah... you could say that. I mean, a classic is still a classic, and I have a number of classics, such as the Omega Speedmaster "moon watch" I mean, the design on this has not changed for more than 50 years and it's as fresh today as it was 50 years ago, and I will most likely get a Rolex Submariner or a Sea Dweller just because. But I do prefer to have something that not many others have.


TST: Such as...?

SWC: Ok.. I'll pick the more obscure ones-


1. 70s (I think) Seiko Manual. Got this on the cheap. All I needed to do was to get it serviced and put a strap on. It's just so different and funky!

2. Fortis IQ watch Rolf Sachs. The case and movement is nothing special, but I really liked the dial! All the 'chalk' part glows at night too- even the smudges. When I first saw a picture of this, I knew immediately I had to have it...

3. Nike Triax Chrono - This I also got on the cheap - seems like it didn't sell very well, and I'm not surprised. The customer that would buy a Nike watch would probably pick a digital over this one. I love the organic shape and the fact that it's an analogue chronograph! It's so not Nike and that's part of the charm.

4. Omega Speedmaster Split Second- This one is so ugly that it's got such character. Completely unbalanced, and extremely thick and chunky, again, not a watch that sold well. This one sat in the dealer for a very long time till I brought it home. Obviously rare since I've had a couple of half decent watch retailers asking me if it was fake cuz they ain't never seen one. I don't have it any more and I think given the chance I'll most likely buy it back.

The third and final part of this interview will be up shortly!