Casio’s G-Shock was born in the Eighties from a quest to construct an “unbreakable” watch. Combining rugged utility with affordability, it advanced from a area of interest Japanese innovation into a world icon embraced by streetwear aficionados, hip-hop artists, excessive sports activities athletes, and troopers alike. Over 4 many years later, the G-Shock remains to be one in every of the most celebrated watches on the market.
In 1981, Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe got down to create a watch that would endure the harshest remedy. He fashioned “Team Tough” with a daring “Triple 10” purpose: a watch that would survive a 10-meter drop, have 10-bar (100m) water resistance, and a 10-year battery life. After testing over 200 prototypes, Casio launched the first G-Shock, the DW-5000C, in April 1983. It was a chunky digital watch with 200m water resistance and unmatched shock resistance.
A U.S. TV industrial from 1984 ignited its recognition in the market. In the advert, the DW-5200 G-Shock was used as a hockey puck to show its unbreakable sturdiness. By the late Eighties, G-Shock had caught on with police, firefighters, and the army. In 1989, Casio expanded the lin with the launch of the AW-500, the first analog-digital G-Shock.
The Nineties reworked G-Shock from a utilitarian instrument into a streetwear assertion. Skaters, surfers, and hip-hop artists adopted G-Shocks as a part of their model. The chunky type turned a staple on the wrists of these driving youth tradition.
Casio stored the momentum going with specialty fashions like the “Master of G” sequence, which included the Frogman (1993) for divers and the Mudman (1995) for off-road use. The Baby-G line, launched in 1994, focused ladies with smaller, extra colourful variants. That identical 12 months, Keanu Reeves wore a DW-5600C in Speedcementing the timepiece’s popular culture prominence.
In the 2000s, G-Shock continued to advance technologically with the addition of photo voltaic panels, radio sign synced atomic timekeeping, compasses, and thermometers.
G-Shocks additionally turned more and more trendy with analog-digital hybrid designs, full-metal variations, and sleeker silhouettes. In 2019, the GA-2100, nicknamed the “Casioak”, turned a breakout hit, combining G-Shock toughness with a slim, octagonal design paying homage to luxurious watches.
Throughout the twenty first century, G-Shock turned a staple accent for cultural icons. On the September 2007 cowl of Complex, Ye sported a sizzling pink mannequin and Pharrell obtained his iced out by Jacob the Jeweler. The model additionally collaborated with artists comparable to the Wu-Tang Clan, A$AP Ferg, and Kid Cudi on limited-edition releases, additional solidifying its place in streetwear.
G-Shock has launched numerous collaborations over the years. The first got here in 1997 with Stussy on the DW-6900. A 12 months later, G-Shock teamed up with BAPE, a partnership that continues right this moment. These collabs helped set up the model as a canvas for streetwear’s most influential voices. This is a legacy that has continued with manufacturers like Kith and Supreme.
One of the newest designers to collaborate on the iconic watch is Jae Tips. In 2023, he introduced his vibrant aesthetic to the GA-2100. He returned in 2025 with a second collab, the DW6900JT25-2, which bought out at ComplexCon final month. Inspired by the iconic “Triple Graph” format of the 6900 sequence, the collab incorporates Jae Tips’ signature flower motifs and daring shade palette inside a basic G-Shock physique. The newest G-Shock x Jae Tips collaboration will restock on Complex on Nov. 7.