What We Know
You're looking at the newest technology from G-Shock, though what is so new might be hard to spot at first. These are metal G-Shocks, but not in the way you might be thinking. A new series called the "Fine Metallic Series" just dropped with six offerings across the rectangular GM-5600YM and octagonal GM2100YM "Casio-Oak" lines. With steel bezels (some with gold-toned coating), they give a hint of the experience you might get with the higher-priced Full Metal series, but they debut a new "Tough Silicone" band in place of metal bracelets, technology that took a decade of development.
Under the stainless steel bezels (featuring a mix of brushed and polished finishes) is the expected glass-fiber-reinforced resin case for the models. The bracelet was designed for flexibility, comfort, and strength while maintaining the silver or gold finish underneath. That's achieved with a protective urethane sheet over the vapor-deposited colored finish, which increases abrasion resistance. In short, there's less risk of scratching the finish off of your silicone band.
The rectangular series comes in two steel-toned options, one with a matching steel display and the other with a black dial and a gold-on-gold release. The "Casioak" releases have two gold options (gold-on-gold and gold with black dial) and one steel (with a brushed steel dial). Shock resistance is standard, as is a 200m water resistance. There's also a 1/100-second stopwatch, countdown timer, backlights, and various features like alarms and world-time that are only found on the GM5600 series. The watches range from $240 to $300 depending on model and color and are available now.
What We Think
I'm a big fan of metal G-Shocks—from steel to titanium. I own three of them, and I'm eyeing a fourth. I can even get behind the idea that the high-end MRG series is a good value, even if it feels like a lot of money for a G-Shock. Luckily, these watches are a perfect blend of the metal bezel and the resin-style band, which makes the watch a bit more comfortable and wearable.
I've learned that metal G-Shocks (and I assume the Tough Silicone band will suffer from the same issue) work much better for me when not in high-polish finishes. These watches can get LOUD, maybe even more so in a steel finish than gold – as counterintuitive as that sounds – but maybe that's your speed more than mine. Or perhaps you're just feeling nostalgic for the 90s vibes these watches give off.
The Basics
Brand: Casio G-SHOCK
Model: Fine Metallic Series
Reference Number: GM-5600YMG-9, GM5600YM-8, GM-5600YM-8A8 (Rectangular); GM2100YMG-9A, GM2100YMG9A9, GM2100YM-8A (Octagonal)
Diameter: 49.6mm × 43.2mm (Rectangular); 49.3mm × 44.4mm (Octagonal)
Thickness: 12.9 mm (Rectangular); 11.8 mm (Octagonal)
Case Material: Resin and Stainless steel
Dial Color: Black, steel, or gold, depending on the model
Indexes: Digital display (Rectangular); Ani-digi display (Octagonal)
Lume: LED backlight
Water Resistance: 200m
Strap/Bracelet: Tough Silicone
The Movement
Caliber: Quartz movement
Functions: A full suite of G-Shock features, varying between models, can be seen for the rectangular GM-5600YM or octagonal GM2100YM series on the G-Shock website.
Pricing & Availability
Price: $240 (steel rectangular), $280 (gold-toned rectangular); $260 (steel octagonal), $300 (gold-toned octagonal)
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No
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