The first G-Shock -- Story of the development of the Casio Icon

Did you ever wonder how the G-Shock was developed???...what the "G" means???...well, I found this at a pretty cool site:

The G-Shock Origin: DW-5000


The first G-Shock released was the DW-5000C-1A in April of 1983.




The Story of How Kikuo Ibe Developed the G-Shock Watch


In 1981, the Casio project team came up with the idea of "Triple Ten", that is, to build an ultimate watch which has 10 years life, water resistance up to 10 atmosphere, and endures the shock even when dropped to the ground from 10 meters height. To develop a watch endure the shock of free fall caused by gravity -- that was their concept. The name of the product "G-SHOCK" fully reflects the concept.
"Watches are thin and fragile --- that was the common sense. I wanted to challenge it". The man led the project team of G-SHOCK's development said, looking back the beginning.

The title of "G" means --- The shock from fall can be the hardest shock for human being. The energy of shoot at hockey game could be, how strong it may be, dispersed by the bent of stick or the position of the person who receive it. However, the energy of fall won't be dispersed and can be ultimate damaging energy. "The resolution of the damaging energy" is the concept of "G". "G" has the ability. It doesn't mean that "G" is unbreakable regardless of the place and height it would be dropped, but "G" will work as long as the owner lives. That is the "G".

In 1983 the very first G-SHOCK was marketed under the product name "DW-5000C." Over 30 versions of the original form factor G-SHOCK have appeared on the market since; low-temperature proof models, mud-proof watches highly resistant to mud or dirt, versions with built-in temperature sensors, pressure sensors and other support features, a diver's watch and more.

Indeed, the saga of the G-SHOCK can be said to comprise an ongoing series of revolutions which have truly shaken up the world of watches again and again.



Developing a legend - The Concept


G-Shock is the ultimate tough watch. It was born from a developer's dream of "creating a watch that never breaks." Guided by a "Triple 10" development concept, the design teams sought a watch with 10-meter free-fall endurance, 10-bar water resistance and a 10-year battery life.

At a time when it was commonly believed that watches were breakable items, G-Shock's development represented a challenge to common sense. The number of experimental prototypes built for endurance testing reached over 200. And the structural development and parts improvement took approximately two years. After a long, hard process of trial and error, G-Shock was finally launched. A shock resistant structure that overturned conventional thinking about watches was realized thorough breakthrough thinking, including the ideas of a hollow- structured case, all-directional protective covering and the use of cushioning material to protect critical parts.

These were the fruits of technological development that insisted on "toughness" and a revolution in watch design. Since its launched, G-Shock has continued to evolve for 25 long years, carrying on the toughness of spirit and uncompromising passion that led its developers to persist in their unshakable belief.


Origninal content can be found here --->>> http://mygshock.com/wiki/G-Shock_History#The_G-Shock_Origin:_DW-5000

You are right Mark, that is a COOL site right there !
SO much history, and SO many different models too.
The meaning of what the "G" stands for makes the
watch that much cooler also !..Shocking info !
Thx !

VERY cool history lesson on the G! Mark!

Thanks!

I'll tell you what...they sure hit a home run on the durablility! As you guys know, these things can take a real beating!!

It is a real success story..for Casio...
Back in 2004 the wife and I went into Osaka to find a G Shock very small store specializing in Gs. The lady owner told me she had been selling them for many years and that 2004 was another wave trend of the Gs....
Advance to now 2010 and the G Shock is very much alive and extremely popular in Japan STILL. I see them everywhere on everybody!
The watch trend here has been going strong now for several years since 2008 with major Ad campaigns in stores for the Casio and Citizen watches. Prices have escalated too, of course. But the G Shock continues to be a best seller! Amazing!
As Seiko, Citizen go upstream with larger, blingier models, the G Shocks simply add more current colors with slight technical variations at AFFORDABLE pricings, their secret IMO.

It seems to me that G-Shocks are popular everywhere. Well, maybe not so much in places like Monaco, but I see them all the time on the wrists of folks who own some very high-class watches.

Personally, I wouldn't consider a watch collection complete with out one.

Great info Mark. Haven't really ventured into the G-Shock world. Had one that was very small and gave it away. Own a Casio Pathfinder now and it works for me! I would really love to see the G-Shock's in person to see if I could find something that I would like.

andrema wrote:

Did you ever wonder how the G-Shock was developed???...what the "G" means???...well, I found this at a pretty cool site:

The G-Shock Origin: DW-5000


The first G-Shock released was the DW-5000C-1A in April of 1983.




The Story of How Kikuo Ibe Developed the G-Shock Watch


In 1981, the Casio project team came up with the idea of "Triple Ten", that is, to build an ultimate watch which has 10 years life, water resistance up to 10 atmosphere, and endures the shock even when dropped to the ground from 10 meters height. To develop a watch endure the shock of free fall caused by gravity -- that was their concept. The name of the product "G-SHOCK" fully reflects the concept.
"Watches are thin and fragile --- that was the common sense. I wanted to challenge it". The man led the project team of G-SHOCK's development said, looking back the beginning.

The title of "G" means --- The shock from fall can be the hardest shock for human being. The energy of shoot at hockey game could be, how strong it may be, dispersed by the bent of stick or the position of the person who receive it. However, the energy of fall won't be dispersed and can be ultimate damaging energy. "The resolution of the damaging energy" is the concept of "G". "G" has the ability. It doesn't mean that "G" is unbreakable regardless of the place and height it would be dropped, but "G" will work as long as the owner lives. That is the "G".

In 1983 the very first G-SHOCK was marketed under the product name "DW-5000C." Over 30 versions of the original form factor G-SHOCK have appeared on the market since; low-temperature proof models, mud-proof watches highly resistant to mud or dirt, versions with built-in temperature sensors, pressure sensors and other support features, a diver's watch and more.

Indeed, the saga of the G-SHOCK can be said to comprise an ongoing series of revolutions which have truly shaken up the world of watches again and again.



Developing a legend - The Concept


G-Shock is the ultimate tough watch. It was born from a developer's dream of "creating a watch that never breaks." Guided by a "Triple 10" development concept, the design teams sought a watch with 10-meter free-fall endurance, 10-bar water resistance and a 10-year battery life.

At a time when it was commonly believed that watches were breakable items, G-Shock's development represented a challenge to common sense. The number of experimental prototypes built for endurance testing reached over 200. And the structural development and parts improvement took approximately two years. After a long, hard process of trial and error, G-Shock was finally launched. A shock resistant structure that overturned conventional thinking about watches was realized thorough breakthrough thinking, including the ideas of a hollow- structured case, all-directional protective covering and the use of cushioning material to protect critical parts.

These were the fruits of technological development that insisted on "toughness" and a revolution in watch design. Since its launched, G-Shock has continued to evolve for 25 long years, carrying on the toughness of spirit and uncompromising passion that led its developers to persist in their unshakable belief.

Origninal content can be found here --->>> http://mygshock.com/wiki/G-Shock_History#The_G-Shock_Origin:_DW-5000

Great history about how G-shock was evolved,thanks for sharing.