I do not suppose I really want to elaborate on the assertion that when you want an actual beater watch, then get a G-Shock. Because the first G-Shock was launched in 1983, the model has develop into the go-to selection for anybody after an almost indestructible watch.
I’ve owned two G-Shocks over the previous few years, one was a 5600 variant, and the opposite was a 5610, each with a unfavorable show. Which is among the causes I feel I ended up promoting each watches in the long run. While I preferred the stealthy look of a black G-Shock with a unfavorable show, the truth is that they’re tougher to learn. The opposite motive was that, though I do know each watches have been very powerful, they have been too mild for me, and due to this fact they felt a bit low-cost. I do know that it is a fallacy to equal weight with high quality, however nonetheless, there’s one thing reassuring a couple of watch with a little bit of heft to it.
After these two temporary flirtations with G-Shock, I believed that it simply wasn’t a model for me. However, a couple of months in the past I got here throughout the GW-5000U, a G-Shock mannequin that appeared to repair the issues I might had with different G-Shocks. The GW-5000 is the direct descendant of the primary ever G-Shock, the DW-5000C, and in 2021 the mannequin acquired an improve with a brand new module, which is denoted by the addition of the U to the mannequin quantity. It is also not a mannequin that is truly out there within the UK, and I needed to do a little bit of searching to supply one from a retailer in Europe for round £200-250.
What Separates The 5000 From The 5610?
As you possibly can see it is just about the identical basic sq. G-Shock design you get with the 5610, however there are a few minor variations. The primary distinction is that the GW-5000U encompasses a metal internal core, with a screw-down case again, whereas the 5610 solely has a carbon core with a metal again plate held down by 4 screws. Which means that the GW-5000U is sort of heavier than the 5610, weighing 74g in comparison with 52g. The strap on the GW-5000U can be softer, which additional helps it to really feel extra premium than the 5610. Lastly, not that it actually issues, however the GW-5000U is made in Japan, and the 5610 is produced in Thailand.
How The Casio G-Shock GW-5000U Wears
On the face of issues, the GW-5000U sounds relatively giant, with a 43mm vast case, a 49mm size, and a thickness of 13.5mm. Nonetheless, the long-lasting sq. G-Shock case is surprisingly wearable. Positive, it is obtained a robust presence on my skinny 6.25-inch wrist, nevertheless it would not overwhelm it. Plus, as I simply talked about, it has a high-quality polyurethane band that makes the watch very comfy to put on.
In fact, along with its wearability, the GW-5000U can be as sturdy as you’d anticipate from something bearing the G-Shock identify. Along with its famend shock safety, the watch is waterproof to 200m and fees off solar energy. This final characteristic is a must have in my e book, because it eliminates the minor inconvenience of getting your watch unexpectedly cease each couple of years when the battery runs out.
The Legibility Of The Casio G-Shock GW-5000U
For legibility in the dead of night, the GW-5000U has a white LED backlight. That is activated by urgent the top-right button, however there’s additionally a neat perform the place when you take a look at the watch in the dead of night the watch routinely senses the motion of your wrist and switches the sunshine on. You are additionally capable of regulate the size of time the sunshine is on to both 1.5 or 3 seconds. I do know that there are those that will miss the basic electro-luminescent backlight seen on the older generations of G-Shock, however personally, I feel the LED mild offers wonderful distinction and legibility, so it is not a nasty improve in my view.
Talking of legibility, the newest modules characteristic the clearest show seen on a G-Shock Sq. but, however that does not cease the GW-5000U from affected by the identical drawback all digital watches have, and that is the viewing angle for the show. By which I imply, that you could’t learn the show from a large angle, and that it’s worthwhile to take a look at it sq. on for it to be at its most crisp. That is the one space the place I feel an analogue watch has a bonus, because it’s a lot simpler to inform the time from an indirect angle. It is a minor level within the grand scheme of issues, however one which I feel is price noting if legibility is your predominant concern.
A much bigger drawback for me is that the GW-5000U makes use of a mineral crystal. While the mannequin is not at a value level the place I anticipate a watch to at all times have a sapphire crystal, it is an improve I actually want Casio would make to this mannequin. Although the raised case of the G-Shock does supply some safety to the crystal, mineral crystal merely scratches too simply. In actual fact, I even managed to foolishly scratch it while filming exterior for this evaluation.
You Can By no means Have Too Many Options
Identical to the newest 5610 mannequin, the GW-M5610U, the GW-5000U is provided with Casio’s 3495 module, which has extra options than you possibly can shake a stick at. I will not listing each little characteristic the module has, just because I do not need this evaluation to only be me itemizing specs and options. Nonetheless, to offer you a broad define of what the watch can do along with telling the time, it has:
- Radio-controlled timekeeping
- A day/date indicator
- World time in 48 cities throughout 31 time zones
- A stopwatch
- A countdown timer
- As much as 5 alarms
- An influence-saving mode
On condition that the watch can achieve this a lot, it is fairly exhausting to argue that this is not the proper selection of watch to take with you into the good outdoor. In actual fact, the one motive I can provide you with to not select a G-Shock is that I can not join with it on the identical emotional degree as an analogue watch. And that is as a result of there is a sure old style appeal to utilizing a mechanical watch as a software that basically appeals to me. Maybe it is as a result of they are a reminder of a “golden age” of software watches when the primary iterations of iconic watches just like the Submariner or Speedmaster have been made to truly be utilized in antagonistic situations, relatively than to don the wrists of desk jockeys like myself .
Nonetheless, while I feel it is necessary to embrace these emotional connections with our watches, I feel it is also necessary to recollect to choose the correct software for the job. As a result of, while I will at all times be interested in the romantic thought of taking my mechanical software watches out on an journey, the straightforward reality is that this G-Shock is a way more sensible and reasonably priced watch to tackle these journeys.
Ultimate Ideas
So, when you’re after a correct beater watch, you already know that you could’t go flawed with a G-Shock. Although whether or not or not it is best to select this GW-5000U is one other matter. As a result of, while it is an ideal watch, it would price you within the area of £250, which is considerably greater than a brand new 5610, which may be purchased for round £100. On condition that each fashions use the identical module, it actually comes down as to if or not you are prepared to pay 2.5 instances extra for the small enhancements the GW-5000U presents over the 5610. Personally, I might say, that when you’ re after a G-Shock purely for its performance, then stick to the 5610. The GW-5000U is extra for these after a barely nicer G-Shock sq. merely for its personal sake.
However while the GW-5000U could be a debatable worth proposition at greatest, it is nonetheless a really good G-Shock, with a basic, understated design paired with a rock-solid construct. Which is why it would stay my go-to beater for a very long time but.
You possibly can learn extra in regards to the GW-5000U, and the historical past of G-Shock, on the G-Shock web site right here.