Introducing the AWM-500, the first full metal model in the legendary G-SHOCK AW-500 series

Watch Journalist Yasuhito Shibuya's Useful Watch Industry Chat

In addition to the COVID-19 crisis, other issues have caused confusion surrounding the 2021 watch fair. These include a sudden change in the leadership of the foundation that was supposed to host "Watches & Wonders Geneva" and the new Geneva watch fair, and a Swiss government agency blocking a capital increase by Rupa Systems, led by the heir to media mogul Rupert Murdoch's family, to establish a new management structure for "Hour Universe" (formerly Baselworld). What will happen to the 2021 watch fair? This is surely one of the most pressing questions for those involved in the watch industry. Unfortunately, at this point, everything remains undecided. So, in this article, I would like to introduce the appeal of the new watches that I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to cover in depth.

The legendary analog and digital G-SHOCK

　Casio will be releasing new G-SHOCK models starting this fall and winter. Among them, the AWM-500 series, the second in the G-SHOCK Reproduction Full Metal Series, is perhaps the most appealing model for watch lovers, and one that I would like to recommend to webChronos readers.

　The original model, the AW-500, was G-SHOCK's first analog and digital model, released in 1989. Although it had a digital display above the 6 o'clock position, it primarily featured an analog display style typical of a wristwatch, and this is surely what got many people into G-SHOCK and made them fall in love with it.

　While featuring analog hands, it also meets G-SHOCK's "Triple 10" standards, which are its "absolutely essential basic specifications": shock resistance that will not break even if dropped from a height of 10 meters, durability that can be used for 10 years, and water resistance to 10 atmospheres. It has been reproduced many times as a masterpiece in the history of G-SHOCK (Note: the current standard water resistance is 20 atmospheres).

　This time, not only the full metal model but also the resin case model has been reproduced in an evolved form and is available in more modern color variations, and will continue to be sold as a standard model. The resin model also has an appeal that surpasses the original, so be sure to check it out as well. However, for webChronos readers who love luxury watches, I would like to recommend the full metal model, which will be the main focus of this column.

　The team responsible for developing and commercializing both the resin and full metal models this time is the youngest of G-SHOCK's new product development teams, consisting of three members: Junichi Izumi, leader of the First Planning Office of the Production Department, Development Promotion Division, Casio Computer Development Headquarters; Ryo Amikura of the G Design Office, Design Development Division; and Junichiro Suzuki of the First Mechanism Development Department, Mechanism Development Division.

　The starting point for development was a drawing left behind on paper in the company in 1988. When the three men set out to develop a resin reproduction, they felt a great deal of pressure at first, as this was a popular model that had been reproduced many times before.

　By the way, this reissue has a major, immediately noticeable improvement in the dial design, common to both the resin reissue and the full-metal version: the hour and minute hands, which were offset above the center of the dial due to the position of the digital display in the original, are now more evenly positioned in the center of the dial in the new version.

　As a result of this improvement, not only has the appearance been eliminated, but the time is also much easier to read.

　Furthermore, the full metal version contains many efforts and ingenuity that cannot be seen from the outside and that only the developers understand.

　For example, the case diameter of the resin replica is 47.7mm, almost the same as the original, 0.1mm larger, but the full metal version is 44.5mm, 3.1mm smaller than the original's 47.6mm diameter. This downsizing was made possible by learning from the experience gained from making the first digital model full metal, which showed that "making it full metal gives the impression of being larger."

　However, it was impossible to know how small the watch should be until it was actually made. Therefore, they created numerous prototypes of cases and bracelets with different sizes of various parts, such as the bezel, and conducted repeated studies. After much trial and error, they finally decided on the product's size.

　Another example of the major challenge that cannot be seen from the outside is reducing the weight of the "invisible parts." With metal models, the heavier the body, the more difficult it becomes to ensure shock resistance. Shock resistance was achieved in the full-metal version of the first digital model, the GMW-B5000, by sandwiching a shock-absorbing fine resin between the stainless steel bezel and case in a "full-metal shock-resistant structure." However, at the beginning of development, weight was an issue, and shock resistance became an issue. Therefore, by thoroughly eliminating the "invisible parts" of the case and bezel to reduce weight, shock resistance was finally achieved.

　Furthermore, full-metal models tend to be significantly more expensive than resin models, so it was imperative that they offer higher functionality than resin models. While the original was a quartz model that simply required a replaceable battery, this new full-metal model follows this principle and is solar-powered, eliminating the need for battery replacement. Furthermore, it has evolved into a solar-powered radio-controlled watch that receives standard radio waves from six stations around the world and automatically corrects the time accurately down to the second.

　However, this evolution was not easy. If an existing radio-controlled clock module was simply placed in a metal case, the sensitivity of the antenna for receiving standard radio waves would decrease.

　Therefore, the necessary sensitivity was ensured by increasing the size of the antenna and moving it away from the "wall" of the metal case, deliberately creating a gap.

　Furthermore, this flagship full-metal model, with an all-silver finish even on the dial, made possible by metal deposition technology, was only possible with the adoption of a light-shielding, dispersing solar cell. In other words, even the internal module has been improved.

　And what I would like to convey to watch enthusiasts, and encourage them to see for themselves, is the uncompromising meticulous craftsmanship of the bezel, case, and bracelet, which goes beyond the price. Particularly impressive is the skillful use of mirror and satin finishes in the bezel, case, and bracelet. The satin finish, which is used in multiple directions, such as vertical and circumferential, is particularly impressive.

　Even in luxury watches costing hundreds of thousands of yen, the quality and craftsmanship have improved significantly, but this quality at a price of 60,000 to 70,000 yen is simply inspiring and impressive.

　G-SHOCK is a separate entity from so-called luxury watches in terms of both concept and specifications, and due to the difference in price, it is rarely talked about among watch enthusiasts, except for high-priced models such as the MR-G and MT-G.

　However, now that it has passed its 35th anniversary, G-SHOCK is continuing to evolve at a new level as it approaches its 40th anniversary. It's definitely worth taking a look at G-SHOCK and enjoying this model, as well as the new MT-G, which has been released for the first time in two years.

　It would be a shame not to enjoy such a wonderful watch.

Shibuya Yasuhito/Shibuya Yasuhito

As an editor of a product information magazine, he began covering Geneva and Basel in 1995. As an editor and writer, he has been there 25 times since then. He is currently planning, covering, editing, and writing about not only smartwatches but also all kinds of things and events other than watches.