FAQ

G-Central G-Shock FAQ

(Please note that G-Central is an independent fan site and does not officially represent G-Shock or Casio.)

General G-Shock Questions:
What is the G-Shock watch?
Is the G-Shock watch waterproof?
How long has G-Shock been around and who invented it?
What makes G-Shock watches special?
Why are G-Shock watches so popular?
Do Navy SEALs and special forces use G-Shock?
Can women wear G-Shock?
Should I buy a solar G-Shock?
What is atomic timekeeping?
Can I use a G-Shock for scuba diving?
Why are some G-Shock watches so expensive?
What is the difference between model XX-XXX-XX and XX-XXX-XXJF (or XX-XXX-XXDR, XX-XXX-XXCR, XX-XXX-XXER)?

Brick and Mortar G-Shock:
Where can I buy G-Shock watches at brick and mortar stores?
Where can I buy a G-Shock in Japan?

New Releases:
When are new G-Shock watches released?
Where can I download G-Shock instruction manuals in English?
How can I avoid buying a fake G-Shock?

G-Shock Warranty and Repair:
Will my G-Shock be under warranty if I buy it from Amazon or eBay?
Where can I get my broken G-Shock serviced and repaired?

G-Central Questions:
Does G-Central sell G-Shock watches?
What country is G-Central intended for?
Is G-Central.com affiliated with Casio?
How can I contact G-Central?
How can I support G-Central?

What is G-Shock?

G-Shock is a sports watch brand that is owned and manufactured by Casio Computer Company, Ltd.

Is the G-Shock watch waterproof?

All current G-Shock watches are water-resistant to 200 meters (or 20 BAR). They are suitable for swimming, water sports, and recreational diving. (“G-Shock Mini” watches, which are sometimes still sold in Japan, are water-resistant to 100 meters.)

How long has G-Shock been around and who invented it?

The first G-Shock was introduced in 1983. It was created by a team of engineers led by Kikuo Ibe, who made it his personal mission to design an unbreakable watch. Ibe’s motto is “Never give up.”

What makes G-Shock watches special?

G-Shock watches are known for their shock resistance, 200-meter water resistance, quartz accuracy, long battery life, digital functions, and rugged styling. Also, G-Shock continues to innovate with new technological features and new models added on a regular basis.

Why are G-Shock watches so popular?

There are many reasons. One is utility, which includes durability. People with demanding jobs and an active lifestyle want a watch that won’t break under pressure, performs reliably, and doesn’t get easily banged up. They may also use common G-Shock functions like the stopwatch, countdown timer, and alarms, or more advanced functions like environmental sensors (altimeter-barometer, compass, thermometer). They may need a water-resistant watch, and G-Shock is very reliable in that area. Second is convenience. Some people may not really need such a tough watch or special functions but find features like solar charging, world time, and automatic time-syncing to be very convenient. G-Shock is designed to be a maintenance-free watch. Third is fashion. G-Shock watches are available in a variety of shapes and colors, and even the basic black models have an attractive, rugged look. Though not its original intention, G-Shock became very popular in streetwear fashion in the 1990s and 2000s. G-Shock embraced and expanded that audience by collaborating with popular streetwear brands to release limited edition watches. Individual expression and the exclusivity with limited edition releases also factor into the fashion aspect. Fourth is history. G-Shock has been around for decades and has released a huge amount of watches, making it one of the world’s most recognizable and trusted brands. Most people are aware of its reputation for toughness and reliability. For many people, it is a combination of all these factors. Because it offers such a large selection of versatile, fashionable, and high quality watches, G-Shock has a universal appeal that is not restricted by age, social status, or nationality.

Do Navy SEALs and special forces use G-Shock?

Yes, many do. There was a time when Navy SEALs were issued the G-Shock DW-6600. In the U.S., G-Shock is not an official military issue watch but many service members use it. There is evidence that military units around the world have purchased and distributed G-Shock watches to their members. G-Shock watches are commonly available to purchase at PX stores on military bases. G-Shock is also very popular with law enforcement and emergency rescue personnel.

Can women wear G-Shock watches?

Yes, smaller G-Shock watches like the DW-5600 will fit women’s wrists, and women can even wear the larger models if they want to. Those with smaller wrists should look into the G-Shock S Series and G-Shock’s sister brand Baby-G.

Should I buy a solar G-Shock?

If the idea of possibly going over 10 years without having to change the rechargeable battery appeals to you, then yes, you should buy a G-Shock with the Tough Solar feature.

What is atomic timekeeping?

“Atomic timekeeping” when referring to G-Shock watches means the inclusion of the Multi-Band 6 automatic time adjustment feature. The somewhat misleading term (when applied to watches and G-Shocks) is used because atomic clocks (see link for the technical explanation of “atomic,” it does not mean “nuclear”) are used as a standard for the time distribution transmitters that broadcast the Multi-Band 6 radio signals. With Multi-Band 6, the watch automatically syncs itself daily through the reception of these radio signals that are broadcast by six stations worldwide. Basically, it is syncing the atomic clock time via radio transmission. This allows the watch to be as accurate as possible on a daily basis, assuming one is within range of a transmitter. (Not all countries and cities are within range.) The Multi-Band 6 feature is also referred to as “Wave Ceptor” and “Radio-Controlled,” and, as the Multi-Band 6 feature is usually paired with the Tough Solar feature, “Solar Radio.”

Can I use a G-Shock for scuba diving?

Yes, although Casio’s official water resistance chart might suggest otherwise, G-Shock watches can handle recreational scuba diving. Many people scuba dive with them, and you shouldn’t have any problems unless you are diving extremely deep. Casio says not to press the buttons on watches underwater, except for “Diver’s Watch 200M” models like the Frogman line. If you are going to dive to extreme depths regularly or just want the best rated water resistance on a G-Shock, then you should consider the Frogman series, which is the only G-Shock line that is ISO Diver certified for 200 meters, with buttons that are tested to work underwater. G-Shock tests new models with a machine that simulates water pressure at a 200-meter depth. Casio has also produced videos of real world 200-meter depth tests with the affordable DW-5600 and the high-end MRG-G1000.

Why are some G-Shock watches so expensive now?

G-Shock has been expanding its audience and market with more expensive timepieces, several of which are considered luxury models that cost around $1,000 or more. Several factors contribute to the higher prices of these high-end G-Shock watches: the use of premium materials, the inclusion of advanced features that require more engineering and electronics, more complex designs, a more advanced and labor-intensive manufacturing processes, production in Japan (versus the mass-produced models made in Thailand and China), and smaller production runs at Yamagata Casio’s Premium Production Line.

What is the difference between model XX-XXX-XX and XX-XXX-XXJF (or XX-XXX-XXCR, XX-XXX-XXDR, XX-XXX-XXER)?

Assuming all the characters before the last two extended ones in the example are the same, it is the exact same watch with the same features, and those last two characters refer to the market that the watch is meant to be sold in. “JF” stands for Japan. “JR” is (usually) for limited releases in Japan. “CR” and “DR” are for export outside Japan. “ER” is for Europe. While the watch itself is the same, it may come with different packaging and an instruction booklet in a different language, depending on where it is sold.

Where can I buy G-Shock watches at brick and mortar stores?

See locator.casio.com.

When are new G-Shock watches released?

New G-Shock watches are released on a monthly basis. Casio usually releases new G-Shock models at the start of every month in Japan. These are usually unique color variations of existing series or special limited editions and collaboration models. There are also some completely new G-Shock series introduced throughout the year. Japan is usually the first country to announce and distribute the new releases to retailers, followed by other Asian countries and then the U.S. and Europe, up to a month or so after the Japanese release. However, recently we have seen see other countries releasing some new models at the same time as Japan, and even before Japan in some cases. In our articles, we mainly focus on new releases in Japan, Asia, and the U.S. New releases for the Asia region are usually also released in the Oceania region (including Australia and New Zealand). However, there may be some differences between regions, and some releases may only be released in certain countries. (Releases in Europe often differ from the U.S.) We suggest following your country’s official G-Shock site for additional release information.

Where can I download G-Shock instruction manuals in English?

English G-Shock instruction manuals are available from Casio here. We have also compiled a list by model code here.

How can I avoid buying a fake G-Shock?

Do a lot of research before making a purchase and familiarize yourself with all the G-Shock models that you are interested in. If you know what the real model looks like, a fake G-Shock is usually easy to spot, but there are now a lot of higher-quality fakes that may require closer examination. They may look real from afar, but they will look somewhat off up close, with the lettering and logos, LCD display, case back, and other components looking different and not as refined compared to a real G-Shock. Stick to trusted and highly rated sellers, and buy from sources that have a good return policy. Beware of prices that look too good to be true. If you receive a fake watch, be sure to demand a return and refund, and report the seller to the platform you bought it on. In particular, beware DW-6900 A Bathing Ape (BAPE) collaborations, popular DW-5600 models like the DW-5600BB-1, the GA-2100 series, and unauthorized “collaborations,” which may use real G-Shock watches that are modified and then tried to pass off as official releases. (Update: Fakes are now rampant on shopping apps in Asia, such as Lazada and Shopee. The official Casio shops can be found on these apps, but there are also many sellers offering fakes of popular G-Shock models. The fakes are usually obvious based on the the extremely low prices, but we urge you to use caution when buying from unfamiliar sellers on these apps.)

Will a G-Shock be under warranty if I buy it from Amazon or eBay?

Casio G-Shock watches come with a warranty card that is meant to be stamped by an authorized Casio dealer for the 1-year warranty. This card is often not stamped at all, but this is not a problem if the watch was sold by an authorized Casio reseller and you have a receipt that identifies the seller. Watches that are sold directly by “Amazon.com” (and not a third-party seller, as is a case with many of the most affordable models on Amazon) include a 1-year Casio warranty. If it is an unknown third-party seller on Amazon, you should assume there is no Casio warranty included, but there may be some exceptions (see “Amazon Sellers who are Authorized Casio G-Shock Dealers“). Sellers on Amazon who are authorized Casio dealers include AZFINETIME, Altivo Timepieces, Watch Trendz, “Watches com,” and Amazon.com.

Support staff at Casio America told us that new watches purchased on eBay from an authorized reseller with “Buy It Now” are covered by a Casio warranty. Note that this applies to watches purchased from U.S. sellers by customers residing in the U.S., and exported and imported watches may not be covered.

Where can I get my broken G-Shock serviced and repaired?

For North America, visit Casio’s service page here (casiosupport.zendesk.com) for information on contacting an authorized Casio service center. For other countries, visit world.casio.com.

Does G-Central sell G-Shock watches?

No, G-Central is just a fan site covering news and new releases and does not sell any G-Shock watches or parts. G-Central curates a collection of G-Shock watches available on Amazon at amazon.com/shop/gcentralhq (affiliate link), but G-Central is not the seller of these watches.

What country is G-Central intended for?

G-Central reports on G-Shock news and releases from around the world and is aimed at an international English-speaking audience. The site can be automatically translated into different languages with the Google Chrome web browser. For monthly new releases, we mainly focus on Japan, the Asia region, and the United States. We know that many of our readers are in other countries, and we also cover regional news and releases. Since it is impractical for us to report detailed release information for every country where G-Shock is sold, we suggest following your country’s official G-Shock site for additional information. G-Central is meant to supplement the official G-Shock websites and not to replace them.

Is G-Central.com affiliated with Casio or G-Shock?

No, G-Central is independently owned and operated and is not an official partner, representative, or affiliate of Casio, G-Shock, or any of its subsidiaries.

How can I contact G-Central?

Our email address is [email protected]

How can I support G-Central?

Please see How to Support G-Central.

Thank you for reading our FAQ. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.