In my early days as a self-proclaimed watch enthusiast, I quickly focused exclusively on mechanical watches, considering quartz watches were less interesting. Time has passed and I now wear a digital - quartz - watch. How did this happen?
Reminiscence
If someone asked me what was my first watch, I said "Festina". I remember well this small quartz watch, playing with its rotating bezel, which hasn't really changed today. However, now that I am writing these lines, I realize that I was wrong.
My very first watch was a Casio. I don't know what happened to this watch. Did I sell it? No. Did I lose it? Maybe. All I know is that I don't have it anymore, and it is a shame.
After a quick search, I found back the model I wore as a child. I remember loving the colors: blue, red, white and gold that made this watch sporty. More than the aesthetics, I remember how I felt with this Casio on my wrist: some pride. Subconsciously, I knew that it was an ideal partner for all adventures, those of a ten year old child at least. I also felt pride because I was wearing a "grown-up" watch.
Back to the Origin
As I wrote earlier, when I fall in love with mechanical watches, I no longer planned to buy quartz watches again because I thought I had taken it to the next level. This was a quite reductive vision that I fortunately let go now. Most of all, considering my history with the Casio W-64, it was like ignoring the origin of my passion.
However, a few years ago, came out the desire of wearing a watch without fear of mistreating it, a watch with no other pretension than that of being used for what it has been built. I have been guided unconsciously to Casio's "cross-country" brand: G-Shock. I was worried that the G-Shock watches were too big for my wrist but I discovered the Origin range, the smallest but equally reliable range, in particular the DW-5600BB-1ER.
The DW-5600BB-1ER has many useful features: obviously the time, stopwatch function, timer that can automatically restart (which really useful for training session for instance), a daily alarm (time setting only) or an alarm for a specific day and time (month, day and time setting) and an automatic calendar ! When you use the timer or the stopwatch function, you are still able to read the time because the watch shows it at the top of the dial. Some may consider it as a gimmick. On the contrary, it is very convenient. You do not need to go back on the main screen and lose the vision on the stop watch or timer to know the time.
Each time you press a push button, except the backlight one, a tiny sound can be heard, which becomes higher pitched when you are back on the time. This reminds me when I was playing with my Casio W-64's buttons. The pushers are well protected by the case shape, some would say too protected. I have to admit that it can be quite difficult to use the buttons, in particular the reset one (top left) which is deeper embedded in the case. Too short nails are not recommended !
Like many G-Shock watches, the DW-5600BB-1ER is made of resin. This resin is one of the many features that makes this watch tough. The resin strap is built in a way that enable the watch to stand up. Most of all, it protects the case back in case on fall.
Thanks to its resin body, the DW-5600BB-1ER is also light, so light that it is forgetting about very quickly on the wrist. Its light weight enables it to balance quite everywhere.
According to G-Shock, the mineral glass is tough and scratch resistant, maybe not as resistant as sapphire glass. However, the glass of my DW-5600BB-1ER is clean as new thanks to fact that this glass is embedded deep enough in the case. If you are still worried about this glass, you can set "bull bars" on it. I do not have these but I have to admit they add even more charism. The glass do not have anti reflective coating. as a consequence, taking shots of this watch is challenging!
As you may notice, the dial is black and all the informations are white, or bright as you prefer. Usually, it is the opposite. This particularity makes the DW-5600BB-1ER easier to wear, more dressed up, dare I say.
The DW-5600BB-1ER has more than just functionalities to offer. It also has a great story to tell.
Affordable piece of history
Buying a G-shock is far away from buying a mechanical watch of a century-old Swiss manufacture. However, for less than a hundred euros, you can wear a watch with a quite unique history.
At the beginning of the 1980s, Mr. Kikuo Ibe, leading watch designer for CASIO, destroyed the watch his father offered to him by letting it fell on the ground. Not wishing to live this situation again, he founded a project team with just three members whose goal was to build an indestructible watch. The Triple 10 concept was born. They wanted to create a watch able to resist to a fall of 10 meters, to support a pressure of 10 bars and to run for 10 years. Despite of many tests, M. Ibe and his teams were facing difficulties to reach their goal.
The legend holds that it was by observing children playing in a park that the anti choc system was born. Mr. Ibe noticed that "The internal workings of a bouncing rubber ball remain completely unaffected by impact". This observation led to his team developing a watch with a hollow design in which the interior module of the watch is stored in a manner akin to floating.
Since then, G-Shock developed many demanding reliability tests. The brand has filmed many convincing and entertaining experiments. We can see that G-shock watches can handle shocks and vibrations, crushing, deep dives and even a 44km free fall from the stratosphere.
Tested and approved
I tested my watch in different situations, more humbly obviously. This watch is comfortable everywhere. You can wear it in an urban and sporty environment, for instance at a skate park.
With the DW-5600BB, you can hike in the forest, on muddy terrain. It does not fear heavy rain and immersions thanks to its 200 meters water resistance.
In 2019, I had the chance to sled on the shores of Tergensee, at Rottach-Egern, in the South of Germany. Make no mistake about "sled". In Germany, sledding is as serious as skying. It has dedicated hills. It is fast, technical and quite scary sometimes. In this frozen and risky slopes, my G-Shock did the job.
After two years of ownership, I really trust my G-Shock and I am not the only one. The brand can boast of being flight-qualified for NASA space travel with its models DW-5600 C/E, DW-5900, DW-6600 and DW-6900 models.
G-Shock is referenced for many armed forces or police thanks to its resistance but also to its many functions. Among the many collaborations, G-Shock worked with the British Army to build a watch that could accompany its soldiers in the most difficult situations. This partnership gave rise of the impressive GG-B100BA-1AER.
Yes, it should.
With this experience, I learnt that what matters is what the watch can bring to its wearer: design, functionality, emotions, memories and pleasure.
A quartz watch, and specifically a G-Shock, can provide all of this. So yes, G-Shock can have a place in any watch enthusiast collection.
This is especially true for the DW-5600BB-1ER wich is one of the most versatile G-Shock watches, although you may have some difficulty in matching it with a suit or dress. If you are looking for a humble but legit watch, with a history of its own and approved by many demanding professions, then visit a G-Shock boutique.
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