G-Shock's New GMB2100 Is A Stainless Steel 'CasiOak'

July 28, 2022

Finally! The fine folks at G-Shock have just announced a series of three new watches combining two of the company's most popular and most recent collections. The brand-new GMB2100 series utilizes the octagonal bezel and ana-digi dial display of G-Shock's best-selling "CasiOak" series, and surrounds it in an all-encompassing stainless steel case and bracelet, first seen in the fan-favorite "Full Metal" line-up which debuted all the way back in 2018.? The just-announced G-Shock GMB2100D-1A "Full Metal" "CasiOak." Image, G-Shock The new GMB2100 is the most premium expression of the CasiOak identity yet, containing zero external resin elements, while setting a new record for case slimness for a G-Shock within the greater "Full Metal" line. A combination that should be the best-of-both-worlds for G-Shock lovers all over, the GMB2100 will officially go on sale next month in a pick-your-poison choice of three different case finishes: classic steel (GMB2100D-1A), black IP-coated steel (GMB2100BD-1A), and copper IP-coated steel (GMB2100GD-5A).?The standard steel variant will carry a $550 price tag at launch, while the IP-coated variants both land at $600. All three examples of the new GMB2100 series. The new Full Metal case of the GMB2100 was crafted using a three-part surface-finishing procedure that involves a circular hair-line finish on the visible top surfaces, a vertical hair-line finish on the caseband, and a reflective satin finish on the bezel. In addition to the material upgrade, the GMB2100 models feature slightly reworked case dimensions, measuring 49.8mm 44.4mm across and 12.8mm in height, which makes it slightly larger than the standard resin-case GA2100 CasiOak, but the thinnest Full Metal G-Shock of any type yet.? The G-Shock GMB2100GD-5A features a copper tone on the stainless steel case and bracelet. The GMB2100 shares the same functional and three-dimensional dial layout as the GA-B2100, an upgraded version of the resin-cased CasiOak that was announced a few months back. And like the GA-B2100, the new GMB2100 series is fully outfitted with G-Shock's higher-end suite of complications and functionality, including Bluetooth connectivity to the G-Shock Connected smartphone app and Tough Solar charging. In fact, looking back, it makes perfect strategic sense that G-Shock would want to add those more premium abilities to the original CasiOak before unveiling the top-of-the-line Full Metal example.? What We Think I own more G-Shocks than I know what to do with, including multiple examples of the original GA2100-series CasiOak and a few different Full Metal G-Shocks; in fact, the original GMWB5000D-1 Full Metal is one of the watches I wear the most while working from home.?I tell you all this as a disclaimer?C I'm already absolutely in love with the concept behind the GMB2100. A higher-end CasiOak with a case and bracelet made entirely of stainless steel? That's a hard proposition to beat.? The black IP-coated G-Shock GMB2100BD-1A So did G-Shock stick the landing? Well, I have yet to handle any of the GMB2100 examples myself, so I'll be waiting to form any real-world impressions until I'm able to buy my own once they arrive at retailers next month. My colleagues at HODINKEE Japan, however, were fortunate enough to view and photograph all three examples of the GMB2100 for their own coverage of today's announcement. Yu Sekiguchi's positive experience and write-up of the three watches, which I was able to enjoy through the friendly lens of Google Translate, has me counting the days until I can strap a GMB2100 (preferably the copper-tone GMB2100GD-5A!) on my own wrist.?After all, you can never own enough G-Shocks, right? The Basics Brand: G-ShockModel: Full Metal CasiOakReference Number: GMB2100D-1A, steel; GMB2100GD-5A, steel with copper IP-coating; GMB2100BD-1A, steel with black IP-coatingDiameter: 49.8mm 44.4mmThickness: 12.8mmCase Material: Stainless steelDial Color: Black, or grey; protected by mineral glassIndexes: Applied markersLume:?Yes, NeoBrite + Super Illuminator LEDsWater Resistance: 200 metersStrap/Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet, matches case color/coating The blackened steel caseback of the GMB2100GD-5A. Images, G-Shock The case features a slightly reworked profile, measuring 49.8mm 44.4mm 12.8mm. The Movement Caliber: Module 5691, quartzFunctions: Hours; minutes; seconds; date; day; month; AM/PM display; world time; 1/100-second stopwatch; countdown timer; up to five daily alarms; hourly time signal; hand shift function; 12/24-hour format; full auto-calendar (to 2099); button tone on/off, for muting; battery-level indicator; power-save mode; hand-shift featurePower Reserve: Tough Solar charging, featuring power-saving modeChronometer Certified: N/AAdditional Details: Accuracy is 15 seconds per month, when not using Bluetooth connectivity? Pricing & Availability Price: GMB2100D-1A, $550; GMB2100BD-1A, $600; GMB2100GD-5A, $600Availability: The watches will officially be released worldwide on August 12, 2022, via select G-Shock Authorized Retailers, G-Shock's e-commerce platform, and at G-Shock's New York boutique in SoHo. Limited Edition: N/A Live imagery first appeared on HODINKEE Japan. Shop this story The HODINKEE Shop is an Authorized Retailer of G-Shock and Casio watches; explore our full collection?here.?Learn more online at?G-Shock.