CASIO G-Shock GW-5000U-1JF [20 ATM Water Resistant Solar Radio Wave GW-5000 Series] Shipped from Japan

I have a small collection of moderately nice watches. I purchased this G-Shock nearly five years ago and it was the last watch I ever purchased and likely will be unless some calamity befalls it. This is the ultimate timepiece in my opinion. Formerly, my work required accurate time keeping and that was the reason I went down the path of the square G-Shocks. After landing on this incredibly solid and unpretentious beast my search was over. This watch does absolutely everything you could possibly need a watch to do while omitting all of the bullshit. Accurate time, date, day of the week, nightly radio sync to the atomics, solar power, stop watch, countdown timers, time zones, alarms and a light. Does it know what I ate for breakfast? Thankfully not. Can it track my movements or record my heart rate? Thankfully not. I'm confident that this watch will never sell me or my data down the river. Because it isn't collecting any. This watch is more accurate than the lower end G-Shocks and I know this by having been out of range of the atomic clocks for months. If the apocalypse happens, you're only going to gain a few seconds a year. The rubber on this watch is also higher quality than the other G-Shocks, more comfortable, softer feel and seemingly more durable. My lower end G-Shocks took more damage from chemicals splashes than this one has. It's easy to clean with soap and a scrub brush and is of course water resistant. I also love that I don't look like a douchebag with more money than sense, a temporarily embarrassed millionaire trying to get into the billionaire club. This is a working man's watch, one that works flawlessly and is made to stand the test of time. I've traveled to some very seedy areas of the globe with this watch on my wrist, never feeling like I would be targeted because it's so no-frills and non-flashy. All of my friends have seen this watch on my wrist daily for the past five years and I'm sure that any of them would be shocked to see the price tag but none of them are the wiser. Is this watch worth the price tag? Absolutely, 100% yes. This truly is the last watch I'll ever buy. In fact, five years in, I'm honestly thinking of selling all my other watches. All they do is collect dust now.

I was initially turned onto this watch by a YouTube review that seemingly popped up at random on my feed. Being a modest G-Shock fan (owning half a dozen already over the many years), I gave the review a look-see. The video was very well done, and practically a travel log. That alone was not enough to persuade me, as I have an education in marketing, so ads that "sell the sizzle and not the steak" do little to garner my interest in a product. Here's what did, though, and the reason I bought something that so pricy, yet understated. The 5000U is pattered in the classic square-face design of the G-Shocks of old, but is sufficiently modern for my tastes. No, it doesn't connect via Bluetooth to your phone like the 7000 series, nor does it have the crisp TIFF display like the H1000, nor does it show tide and moon info like the Rescue or Frogman series, nor does it display your altitude and bearing like a Rangeman. No, the 5000U offers Multichannel 6 radio atomic time keeping, solar tough charging, and the usual assortment of features you'd expect on a digital G-Shock, including a 20-Bar water resistance. So what makes it so special? What justifies it being $100+ more expensive than the average G-Shock with the same features? The answer to those questions are Construction and Understated Style. Most G-Shock watches are made with a plastic core. While still very durable and more than tough enough to be run over by a commercial truck, the 5000U was made with a steel core making it even more so durrable. What's more, being made in Japan, the 5000U features a steel screw-down back to the casing, as opposed to being a thin sheet of metal attached with for tiny screws. Not only is this indicative of quality the likes of which you only see in premium luxury watches (which are decidedly NOT G-Shock tough), but the feature greatly improves the watch's durability while adding only a sliver of thickness. The steel core is wrapped in an outter shell and band of silicone. Not only does this lend to the subtle appearance of the watch, but makes the 5000U remarkably comfortable to wear all day long. Truly, I tell you, this is the most comfortable G-Shock I've ever worn, it may well be the most comfortable watch I've ever owned! While it's true that the person sitting next to you may never guess this degree of superior craftsmanship is sitting on your wrist, nor will anyone be impressed with its flashy bling -- that's sort of the point! The 5000U bears a deliberately understated style of its own. Not standing out like a gaudy peacock should be considered a selling point, not a detractor. Wearing a 5000U gives you an air of mature modesty, yet you still retain the confidence and knowledge you possess a superior timekeeper. The skeeby, sketchy guy next to you by the bus stop or subway won't look at your watch and wonder how much he can get for it at the hock shop. It doesn't mark you was a person with a surplus of cash in your wallet. And the 5000U doesn't make you worry about scuffing up your pretty, overpriced piece of timekeeping jewelry, thus freeing you to be the devil-may-care man that you truly are... potentially, anyhow. True to it's G-Shock heritage, this is a watch for men who want some more dependable, through thick and thin. Something practical, accurate, and devil-dog tough; yet made with superior craftsmanship and care. If I had a complaint about the 5000U, it would be that the buttons are on the small side. Pressing the light button in the dark could be quicker and easier task with either bigger buttons or a dedicated light button. Even so, I have large hands, and once you get a feel for the controls, it's not enough of an inconvenience to warrant switching to another watch.

This is the premium Casio G-Shock in this line, the best you can get based on the original. I chose this one for these basic reasons. Made in Japan, all of Casio's higher end watches are made in Japan. Enclosed metal case. Stainless steel screw back. Softer more comfortable rubber band. Less color on the face, even more stealth. LED light, better than the less expensive versions. Mulit Band 6 and Tough Solar. I have 6 watches, this is one of the least expensive and right now is my favorite daily wearer. Very comfortable, lightweight, 100% accurate which I like very much. It has been automatically been synching with the atomic clock in Denver every morning just after midnight. How cool is that! I know that might depend where you live and your line of sight to Denver. I live just outside Milwaukee and it only failed me one night when we had a storm. No problem, if you want, you can synch it anytime manually. I’m 100% satisfied with this purchase through Amazon, seller, Japan Treasure Factory, was fantastic. Watch was extremely well packaged and arrived sooner than expected. Highly recommended! Last thing, this watch will not get noticed for what it really is. You will not get many or any comments from people, looks basically like the $50 version. However, YOU will know that you are wearing a VERY special watch. Thanks for reading this, I hope it helps in your decision.

I’m a big Casio fan and have a few in my collection. Several are “squares”, but for some reason I never bought a GW-5000U until now. After enjoying the comfort of a recently purchased GW-M5610U, I decided to order the 5000U, too. It arrived and is exactly like all the other reviews say, “Perfect for me”. I’ve only had it off my wrist to change the strap. The original strap is better than those on my other squares, but nowhere near the same caliber as the watch (pun intended). I bought a Barton Elite Silicone Watch Band and now have my forever daily wear watch. I just wish Barton would have made the strap 2mm wider to accommodate the lug width closer. Anyway, it is the most trouble-free watch ever, looks good, feels GREAT with the Barton band, and is almost indestructible. For me, it’s the perfect watch. If you’re looking for the best daily wear watch, this is it.

This is THE premium classic G-Shock, arguably the perfect square G-shock in form and function. I recommend it IF price is a second concern to quality. The feature set on this watch (5000 series) is near identical to the 5610 series, and visually similar to the low end 5610. Those cheaper models fulfill the functions and visual appearance, but the case and strap quality set the bar on this watch. At a MSRP of $300 that’s about the highest I’d consider paying for this model, anything higher than that and the metal models or special editions of other plastic models become competitive. The reason to get this watch is the refined simplicity of it. It’s not metal, its really high-quality plastic. It has the broadest basic features one could need. I’ll expand on two that I appreciate, multi band 6 is radio synchronized clock setting (as a user you don’t have to do anything, it’s all pre-programmed). This sets the precision of the watch to match “internet time” within a second. My use case is conference calls which generally start exactly on time. I can be away from my desk and know my watch is the “right” time down to the second. The second feature is world time, initially I thought this was a superfluous feature but it’s actually been very handy. The ability to show local time and home time on the same screen makes travel and communication much easier. This is the highest end gshock before Bluetooth and other complications get thrown in the mix. I personally have zero desire to have a Bluetooth gshock and actively avoid it on other models. At this price point I’m happy, I wish the display featured sapphire glass which would have made this edition perfect in my eyes. Casio reserves that for their luxury models and those start at well over $1000 so it’s unlikely it’ll make it to this model.

This is the one. The mother of all G-Shock squares. The most refined version using the best materials available. Sadly, with the direction that Casio is taking with Bluetooth fitness models, this might be the last great G-Shock that retains all of the features of classic G-Shocks, yet none of the frills that take away from it. Positives - Stainless steel case back and case body that ensure it will be a strong as it can be. Bomb proof. - The dynamic duo of Multiband 6 and Tough Solar ensuring the pinnacle of accuracy and the longevity of completely self-sufficient solar recharge. I have another Tough Solar watch that is still working after 10 years! I'm not sure how much longer it will live but it has already far exceeded expectations. These are the pillars of G-Shock. Anything less is a compromise. - Rubber strap. Whatever rubber compound they're using to make this strap has a more premium, supple feel. I assume it is much more costly to manufacture as most other G-Shock watches use resin, which is fine but feels a little cheaper and stiffer. I'm not aware of any other G-Shock that uses this rubber formulation Negatives - The buttons are stiffer to press. I don't know why it is, but they are noticeably more difficult to press. This makes it very difficult for people with really big fingers to press as it requires you to get a nail in that cavity to properly operate. - The additional caseback width does change the fit of the strap a bit compared to regular G-Shocks. This may be good or bad for you depending on your fit on the regular strap. For me it produced a bit of a tighter fit.

If your thinking of purchasing a Casio gshok then do yourself a favor and buy the Japanese market ones such as this 5000 model, better more supple rubber for the watch instead of the uncomfortable plastic resin they use for the bands on the 5610 US market models, round screw in case back that’s DLC plated, even the buckle and buttons are DLC plated, if you have a nickel allergy like I do this watch will not cause a skin reaction, mature grey and white printing on face instead of the ugly crayon colors on the us 5610 model, more weight to watch and case back being a little taller helps wrist presence, screen is clearer and doesn’t have the slight greenish tint that the 5610 us model has. Only con is the price at twice or more the price of the inferior 5610 this should be the one you buy, no disappoints, only superior Japanese quality, best tip when buying Japanese watches (Casio, citizen, seiko, orient) always research their Japanese market watches first as the Japanese watch buying consumer market is very demanding of quality first and foremost so you will always get the highest quality watch for the money and even some features, colors and models that aren’t offered on models meant for the US market. If you want Casio’s classy analog watch face equivalent to this watch look up casio’s model line called Oceanus, they are poor man’s grand seiko watches imho, the s100 and t200 in particular are nice.

Still glad I got this watch but am a bit disappointed with some of its features. I like the size but the digital display is a little smaller than I expected. Not saying my 68 year old eyes strain to read it but it could be easier. The biggest surprise was how hard the 4 buttons are to operate - VERY stiff and not much exposed to get a finger on. The fingertip - forget it. Must get a fingernail on it. I'm sure this is to prevent unintended activation but seems like there could have been some middle ground here. The chirp accompanying button functions is very faint and erratic. Sometimes it sounds and sometimes not on the identical function. The major pluses make me still happy overall with this watch: atomic time accurate to the second , the solar power and it appears and feels extremely rugged. Update: despite the above I have upgraded my rating to 4 stars because after a week's use, I really like this watch. Don't need the beeps anyway and I use the buttons only infrequently.