But there is certainly more scope to wear this in a business environment. The Rolex GMT-Master II is often seen as ideal “business attire” and yet it is no more graceful than this model on the wrist (certainly not the modern versions, that’s for sure). So is this model a more “grown-up” version of the resin model?
The use of the Carbon Core Guard structure allows the GA-2100 to be the slimmest G-Shock of all current models. The height and width of the watch is considered mid-size, rather than the large size of most analog G-Shock watches, and the watch wears very light and comfortably. The GA-2100 is currently the lightest analog-digital G-Shock model at 51 grams. Though the display is larger than a DW-5600, it wears very similarly, and I like to think of it as an analog-digital version of the DW-5600, but with a few more features. From an ease of conversion point of view, this is so simple it’s hard to fault it, and it’s great you can swap it back and forth so you can effectively change it to suit your mood for the day. The quality is good, and it certainly gives the GA-2100 a completely different look depending on the dial colour you use as the donor watch.
They are aimed at women but will also appeal to anyone who wants a less bulky, beach-ready watch . One of the occasional hazards of writing about watches is desperately wanting to buy any and every timepiece that excites you. A slide lever makes it easy to attach and remove the band — a very handy feature for cleaning and other maintenance.
The blackout GA A1 is still sold out everywhere, but more stock is expected in the coming months, and we will make a new post when it is available. The GA A and red GA A are also mostly sold out. Some of these models may be more readily available in some countries in regions like Southeast Asia, but beware of fakes at unauthorized shops and g shock watch online. Also, there are some online scams involving the GA A1 and other popular G-Shock models, where some e-commerce websites end up shipping a completely different model. Stick with reputable authorized retailers and avoid unknown stores. The GA-2100 series appears to be G-Shock’s most successful new model launch since the GMW-B5000.
In the grand scheme of things, the Casioak is a relatively new model for the brand. It earned its cutesy nickname because of its resemblance to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. When I say “resemblance” I mean that if you happened to walk into a poorly lit room and spot a watch on the wrist g shock protection of someone standing ten yards away, you might be able to mistake one model for the other. All jokes aside, there is certainly a whiff of inspiration about the Casioak that is, in my opinion, a self-/industry-aware nod to a gap in the market that Casio eventually got around to filling.
Two years ago I had on a mechanical watch for my season debut on the road and crashed in a roundabout at 30mph. That watch needed a re-casing, but the Casioak can take some punishment and, if too damaged, just pop on another shroud and strap set. Fashion in-jokes have a short half-life, yet this piece has stuck around, even after it became clear the similarity wasn’t intentional. The shape first appeared on the original DW5000 and we have used the motif many times ever since.” So too have many other brands over the decades.