G-Shock GMC-B2100 Full Metal and Full Analog ‘Chronograph’ series officially announced

Casio officially announced the G-Shock GMC-B2100 series featuring a full metal structure combined with a full analog display. In Japan, the GMC-B2100AD-2AJF with ice blue dial (107,800 yen) and the GMC-B2100D-1AJF with black dial (104,500 yen) will be released on October 18, 2024, with pre-orders now available. The GMC-B2100AD-2A and GMC-B2100D-1A were also announced for an international release, but it is not known if Western countries will be releasing it at the same time as Japan (which sometimes happens but not frequently). (Update: An October 5th cyberattack on the Casio network has reportedly led to the release of the GMC-B2100 series being delayed, with a new date to be announced later.)

The GMC-B2100AD-2A and GMC-B2100D-1A are “Chronograph” editions featuring a full analog dial with three hands and date and day display, dual time, stopwatch, timer, alarm, and LED light. These watches are powered by Tough Solar featuring a power saving function and are also equipped with Bluetooth connectivity which provides additional functions via the Casio Watches smartphone app. As expected from a G-shock, these watches are fully shock-resistant and water-resistant to 200 meters.

Comparing the Structure and Size to GM-B2100

Although it does use resin parts to aid in shock resistance, the GMC-B2100 is designated as a Full Metal series due to its stainless steel interior case, bezel, and band.

The GMC-B2100 measures 51.3 x 46.3 x 12.4 millimeters and weighs 171 grams, which is overall a little larger and heavier, yet slightly thinner, than the GM-B2100 (full metal with hybrid analog-digital display), and we expect it to wear a bit larger than the GM-B2100. The increased size appears to be due to not only the crown on the right side but also to a larger case and dial to accommodate the subdials.

The stainless steel case back is the modern G-Shock type held in place by four screws, instead of the traditional single-piece screw lock back of the GM-B2100.

The octagonal crown is a screw-lock type that screws down into a locked position, which should ease any fears of it opening inadvertently while underwater.

Based on Casio’s catalog photos and assuming that they are to scale, the GMC-B2100 appears to have a larger dial than the GM-B2100 (below right), but we should probably see some real world comparisons before making that conclusion.

GMC-B2100 versus GM-B2100 Functions

Due to its full analog design, the GMC-B2100 lacks a more precise stopwatch compared to the 1/100-second increments of the GM-B2100 for its first hour, and measures elapsed time in 1-second increments. The GMC-B2100 timer has a max setting of 24 hours, but it is settable only in hours and minutes and not seconds. The GM-B2100 stopwatch is settable in seconds but has a limit of 60 minutes.

The GMC-B2100 does not have the hand shift function that temporarily moves the hands to a position where they are not blocking other displays. Also, the GMC-B2100 lacks an hourly time signal and has only one daily alarm with no snooze option.

Bluetooth functionality with the connected Casio Watches smartphone app is similar to the GM-B2100 but without the Reminder function.

The GMC-B2100 has dual time with home time swapping but does not have a built-in world time function. World time is available through the Casio Watches app (using Bluetooth), where the dual time display can be set based on around 300 world time cities on the app, and the home time can subsequently be swapped with the dual time. Using the app also allows for summer time (DST) to be turned on or off or set automatically.

Unlike the GM-B2100, the app does not have a Reminder function for the GMC-B2100. The Casio product page for the GMC-B2100 states that one of the Bluetooth functions is the “Flight Log,” and this is the same as the Time & Place log of the GM-B2100 which records the longitude and latitude of the current location along with the date and time with the press of a watch button. Doing this also performs a time sync. The points can then be viewed on a map in the Casio Watches app. (This function is referred to as “Time & Place” in the GMC-B2100 instruction manual.)

Other Bluetooth functions are the same as the GM-B2100 and include auto time adjustment, alarm and timer settings, and phone finder. Using Bluetooth is optional, and the watch can be set up and operated as a standalone watch, including adjusting the alarm and timer settings.

The LED light of the GMC-B2100 has a duration of about 1.5 seconds and is not adjustable.

Comparing the Full Analog Display to GST-B100 and MTG-B3000

The newly designed full analog display of the GMC-B2100 is unique, and we’ll compare it to the full analog displays of the other metallic series that are the closest in price. Overall, the analog style of the GMC-B2100 is closer in its functions to the GST-B100 than it is to the MTG-B3000 or the top-end MR-G models.

The GMC-B2100 does not have the flywheel-like battery level indicator of the GST-B100 (located near 9 o’clock), and instead combines the battery level indicator with the function mode indicator near 12 o’clock, with a dedicated day of week indicator near 9 o’clock. The battery level indicator of the GST-B100 is also used by some other functions such as the stopwatch and timer (where its movements are synchronized with the minutes in those modes or with Dual Time minutes in calendar mode) but is not really an essential part of those functions. It also indicates the alarm status in alarm mode. The GMC-B2100 alarm status is indicated in alarm mode by the second hand and “On/Off” indicators on the dial.

What the GMC-B2100 shares with the GST-B100 and MTG-B3000 is the dual time subdial with two hands for hours and minutes along with the A.M./P.M. indicator. In stopwatch and timer modes, the second hand from the main timekeeping dial indicates seconds, and the minute and hour hands from the dual time subdial indicate the minutes and hours. Zero to eleven hours is indicated by A.M., and twelve to twenty-three is indicated by P.M.

What the GMC-B2100 dial lacks compared to more expensive MT-G and MR-G models is the 24-hour subdial, which displays the current time with a single hand in a 24-hour format. This makes it easier to reference the current time in 24-hour mode and also acts an an A.M./P.M indicator for the current time, but it’s arguably not essential. It also shows the current time in other modes such as stopwatch and timer, but so do the main hour and minute hands of the GMC-B2100.

While similar in functions to other full analog series, we appreciate that the GMC-B2100 dial is not an obvious copy of another G-Shock series and is straightforward in its design and layout, giving it the look of a classic watch.

Lack of Multi-Band 6

The lack of Multi-Band 6 (which automatically adjusts the time by receiving dedicated radio signals with time information) may seem like a major drawback for a G-Shock at this price level, but for many users who do not live or travel within range of the transmitters, it may not matter. There are six transmitters around the world, and they are located in Japan (2), China, Europe, United Kingdom, and North America. (It should be noted that not every area in those regions is within range.) Those who are not within range (or who are obstructed from the signals) can still use the Bluetooth smartphone link feature and set up the watch with the Casio Watches smartphone app for automatic time adjustment with an internet time server. Multi-Band 6 would have been a nice addition considering the price increase over the GM-B2100, but as with the GM-B2100, it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for most people.

Is the GMC-B2100 worth $800?

Compared to the GM2100D ($550) and similarly-styled but resin-cased GM2110D ($300), the expected U.S. price of $800 seems a bit steep, and that’s basically a $250 premium over the GMB2100 for a full analog display. When it comes to other full analog and metallic G-Shock watches, the GSTB100 is $440 but is larger in size, and the MTGB3000D-1A (with stainless steel band) is closer in size but is $1,050. Compared to the GST-B100, the GMC-B2100 has a full stainless steel structure, and it’s not unfair to say that it has a distinct style advantage. (The GST-B100 was launched in 2017.) Unique features of the MTGB3000D-1A include Multi-Band 6 and the 24-hour subdial, along with Triple G Resist (with additional protection against vibration and centrifugal gravity), a sapphire crystal, a carbon reinforced case, thinner size, and lighter weight. The MTG-B3000 may have the edge on paper, but it’s simply not an octagonal 2100 (also known as a “CasiOak”), which has been the most in-demand G-Shock line of the 2020s. The price of the GMC-B2100 seems fair when compared to other G-Shock watches, and those looking for a watch in the over $500 range shouldn’t be put off by the price, as it is a unique watch in the G-Shock lineup. At $800, the Mudmaster GWG-B1000 is arguably the better G-Shock, but that doesn’t make it the better watch for everyone. The GMC-B2100 offers a traditional full analog style that can function as a GADA (go anywhere do anything) watch and does so at a lower price than most other comparable G-Shock watches.

The GMC-B2100 is the type of watch that should be appreciated for its unique style and overall quality. The watch offers the classic good looks of a traditional watch without sacrificing its G-Shock identity, and it offers additional features not found on mechanical or typical quartz analog watches. With the GMC-B2100, you will never have to continuously adjust the date and time, keep it wound or change the battery every few years, or take it off during recreation. Even without all the bells and whistles, the GMC-B2100 is the type of watch that people may buy solely for the way it looks, and that can be the best reason of all.

Update: The GMCB2100AD-2A and GMCB2100D-1A will be $800 each in the U.S. Casio America announced that the two models will be released on October 25, 2024.

See full GMC-B2100 specifications and GM-B2100 comparison in our Specs Catalog

GMC-B2100 Page at Casio.com

G-Shock GMC-B2100AD-2A

:

G-Shock GMC-B2100D-1A