ⓘ Casio – modified
Two more blue sapphire G-Shocks were listed on Casio Japan this morning – with this new collection, they cover a huge amount of money. The MRG-B5000SA-2JR costs ¥880,000, about $5,590. The GMW-B5000SB-1A2JF costs ¥110,000, about $700. Both carry lab-grown blue sapphires and both came with the same announcement as the ¥11,000,000 MRG-D5000. We’ve already covered both of these watches in leaks.
Take the MR-G first. It’s called Super Blue, named after the ice cave in Iceland’s largest glacier, and is limited to 500 serial-numbered pieces for December. The bezel features two two-carat sapphires, faceted to catch light from any angle, and Casio has been deliberately lab-grown, claiming that natural stones rarely achieve the desired blue. Blue is also present everywhere: AIP on the bezel, IP on the suspension parts, and a blue deposition on the sapphire crystal itself.
Below is the MRG-B5000, so the top bezel is Cobarion and the case and pushers are Ti64 titanium. It measures 49.4 × 43.2 × 12.9mm and weighs 103g, and the multi-guard structure has been specially redesigned to protect the stones. The caseback features the MR-G 30th logo and serial number.
GMW makes something smaller for a fraction of the money. Four round brilliant-cut sapphires sit in the bezel dimples, each supported from behind by a steel pedestal and rubber pad, with a hole drilled so that light reaches the stone. Casio pairs these with a black IP bezel, negative display, and a black urethane strap, so blue is the only color on the watch. The case is stainless steel, 49.3×43.2×13 mm, 98 g, coming in November.
Furthermore, there is another key difference: the MR-G has sapphire crystal; GMW obtains inorganic glass.
Buy Casio GMW-B5000-D1 on Amazon.
Most of my time is spent writing, and somehow, it still hasn’t stopped being fun. My work mostly revolves around everyday technology, games, watches, DIY modding, and occasional pieces on the chaos of tech politics when companies and governments collide. I try to keep things simple and honest, without sounding like a product brochure. I have a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and an associate’s degree in English studies from the College of New Caledonia in British Columbia, Canada. Away from articles and deadlines, life is usually focused on making music, taking photos, or trying to finish games that should have been completed months ago.
