Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMC-B2100 Series

Quick specs Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMC-B2100 Series
Price: $ 800 | € 799 | approx. £ 620 | approx. CHF 690
Size: 51.3 x 46.3 mm
Reference:
GMC-B2100D-1A (black)
GMC-B2100AD-2A (blue)

The new Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMC-B2100 Series is what is says, a full metal G-Shock. Like most Casio’s and thus G-Shocks, it’s impossible to find the right model in your country as some products looks to be only for Japan, or Europe, or Asia, or America. Or will come earlier here, and later there.

And these Casio areas all have different websites, that are sometimes horribly organized, sometimes extremely slow and a labyrinth full of watches. Reference numbers for the same watch sometimes seem to differ between regions, and they all have the same name as your dishwasher.

Steel is more eco-friendly

It’s a miracle the brand can sell watches in the year 2024. Well, thank you for hearing us out. Now the watch. As it is a pretty cool one, following the design of the first G-Shock ever. Which is the DW-5000C from 1983, with octagonal bezel and dimpled band.

However, in a world where plastics are more and more banned, it’s good that manufacturers of (often cheap) plastic things try to transform by using recycled materials or materials that are easier to recycle. Like stainless steel.

Steel case, steel bezel, steel back, steel bracelet

The massive 51.3 x 46.3-millimeter case is from stainless steel case with circular hairline treatment on the top surface and mirror polish on the slopes. Same for the bezel. The case back looks to have brushed steel, and the bracelet seems to have the same finish as the case.

Between the case and bezel are fine resin buffering components to help absorb impacts to the movement insight, which Casio calls a module. This module shows the hours and minutes in an analogue way, together with the central seconds and a second time zone on the display at 6 o’clock. There is a date (Casio calls that a day indicator) between 4 and 5, and just above that is also a very small 24-hour hand. So, it’s a dual time and GMT. And it has about 300 cities worldwide in its system, to quickly adjust the time when travelling, although you need your paired phone for that.

One of the most no-nonsense full function watches

Which brings us to the possibilities of these watches. Yes, we have our remarks about how Casio approaches the world market when it comes to product launches, supplying customer information and their messy websites and unfathomable product names. But what they make are models that belong to the most no-nonsense full function watches on the market.

Winding, battery changing, adjust the time up to the second, it’s all either absent or takes place automatically. Just connect the watch to your phone and it does it all for you. And once in a while, leave it on the kitchen table with a bit of sunlight and it will never run out of power. Sure, you really need to study all the functions and buttons, helped by the function indicator at 12 o’clock, but the possibilities are almost endless. No wonder that even the most exquisite collectors also like the G-Shock. We do too and wear ours regularly.

The Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMC-B2100 Series has a battery life of 5 months

The dial of both models has metal effects, the hands have mirror finish, and the overall readability of the dial is just good. In the dark, switch on the bright LED light. The days of the week sub dial at the 9 o’clock position provides additional information you want. Only the chronograph, timer and alarm functions need some “programming”.

The movement of this Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMC-B2100 Series is the Casio caliber 5733, or Casio module 5733. One of the many variants they use in order to deliver more or less functions, displayed digitally or analogue, and more. Solar powered of course, with an accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month, without using the mobile link function. Now all in a metal case. A bit AP style?