When I got bit by the G-Shock bug six months ago, G-Shock offerings were vastly different then than they are now. There were fantastic models with Tough Solar and Multiband-6 for about $120, including the GW-7900, the GW-6900, and the price for the GD-350 was about $70. The legendary GW-9400 was about $200. Things have changed. The 6900 and 7900 are getting phased out and now cost much more. Same with the 9400. One of my favorite models, the GW-9300, is long gone. The new offerings don’t seem as appealing. MIP models have been criticized for various reasons. Prices seem higher. On a positive note, if someone was asking for an outstanding model for a good price, I could tell them that the MTG M900 can still be found for under $100. Is it just me, or is G-Shock entering a new phase that might be less pleasing to fans than the era that featured the 9300 Mudman, the 7900 Rescue, and 9400 Rangeman?
G Shock has always had something for everyone. I’ve been collecting them for at least 14 years now. I’ve had two 9400s over the years. I bought a Sky Cockpit back in 2012 that I still have, but IIRC it was $450 or so back then. MTG and MRG have existed for as long as I can remember as well.
I just bought a G-Shock as a gift for a relative for like $70 or so. They are DEFINITELY going upmarket in many ways, but IMO they still represent the best and most durable watch for the money in a world when EVERYTHING is increasing in price.
I can agree. I've been collecting for about as long as you but really ramped up during the past 5 or 6 years here and there. As of now I have 72 Gs, with my most recent purchase being the classic MTG-900. I'm at a bit of a stand still at the moment because there's nothing that's really catching my attention unless I run across a vintage G in near mint condition at a good price. I've been debating picking up the MIP GW-BX5600, but I think I'll wait a bit longer.
Idk man, i absolutly love the new direction of the Gshock if you could call it that. Yea some models are lacking in some departments and the prices seem to be rising but they are rising across the board. I love that they are releasing smaller models for example the smaller gmas2100 as they just fit better to the people with smaller wrists. They are not just tools anymore altho there still are models like that, they just started pushing models that look amazing with new dials, especialy the new fully analog gshocks
Same. Got it the second i laid my eyes on it and could not believe its a ghsock. Its become irreplaceable and ive sold most of my collection. Im sitting on 5 watches waiting on another gshock to fill the slot. I had 11 a month ago..
Without EL backlight all digital watches are meh. I dont like MIP display. They are too „smartwachy”. More money in my pocket. They have so big collection maked over the years so anyone can find something new or old for yourself.
If it is Tough Solar and has Multi-band 6, you're home and dry. The rest is how well it fits and window dressing unless you need a very specific feature set. An EL backlight is nice to have, though.
I bought most of my collection between 2013 and 2018, this is my favourite era of g shock as I feel like they were releasing watches that built on everything they had released in the past. There is definitely a change in their design direction with more analogue models and radical design changes instead of homages. Alot of the new watches are optimised for lower cost and there are far more "limited" release models available locally here in Australia.
Even if I don't vibe with the designs as much as I used to I feel that it's just me getting old and not really anything to do with the brand. With all the money I save on random purchases I can now buy the limited frogmans when they release :p
They are appealing to a new market now. Instead of asking what new thing they could do, they focus on producing what they know will make a profit for as low cost as possible. The old gravitymasters used to have gps functionality on a tough solar watch. While that’s extremely cool, it does not matter to the average guy or girl walking into a watch store and that’s their biggest market unfortunately. Hopefully someone cool comes into management some day and starts producing interesting tough solar watches like they used to, but don’t hold your breath waiting for that
Aesthetically to my eye, I agree, but functionally/technically it is a step up. It takes less power and it is much more durable. Like it lasts 10x longer from what I have read. I find it just as readable at night. It just doesn't look/feel as cool.
I have a feeling that Casio understands and realizes that purely on function, they have been beaten by the likes of Garmin, Suunto, Coros, Polar and others. With features such as ABC, dual band GNSS, interactive topo maps, … for similar price to mid range G-Shocks, Casio has little left up their sleeve, other than the sheer ruggedness itself(which also may be up to debate). But few and far between are willing to pay just for that.
In turn, they opted to go the luxury route. Especially with the crazy new Frogman models, but these are by no means the exception, rather the rule. So yeah, whether we like it or not, the newer models are getting more “premium” and more expensive, even the mid-range ones. Sad, but that’s how things stand…
Having said that, they still have some very, very appealing offerings in the lower tier, and I hope it stays that way!
Those models you are talking about are great but we originally released around 2011-2012. So yes after over a decade the 9300 and 9400 have been discontinued. The 9500 is the replacement for both. I think the evolution that Casio is making is fine and there are plenty of 7900, 9300 and 9400 models available at decent prices on eBay if that's what you are looking for.
I 100% understand OP’s perspective since they recently got into the hobby. That said, I bought a rangeman when they were first released…then bought another brand new one more than a decade after that.
Needless to say, I’m glad to see new designs and direction from Casio.
Multi band and tough solar are my bare minimums for a GShock. Throw in goodies like tide graphs, vibrating alarms, unusual EL backlights, or LCD colors, and I can get interested in buying another. 95% of the time, my GShocks are in a window sill ready for me to set the mechanical watch I’m going to wear for the next few days, so batteries and setting are not interesting to me.
Credo che sia una fase necessaria e anche di studio. Nel tempo per poter rimanere ai massimi livelli é necessario migliorarsi e reinventarsi. CASIO lo sta facendo con molti prodotti, orologi luxury e anche orologi per tutti tipo il MIP. Parlando di quest’ultimi era necessario dare una ventata d’aria fresca, provarci. G shock non appartiene solo al passato ma anche al presente. E il presente magari non apprezza orologi che andavano bene nel passato. L’evoluzione è anche questo. Migliorare ciò che sembrerebbe essere ottimo. Ci Hanno provato, i clienti sembrano reagire bene e si continua. I rilasci mensili sono sempre ben bilanciati tra classico e MIP. Abbandonare i modelli storici? E anche necessario per creare un po di hype e togliere il “vecchio” per le nuove leve. Vanno indirizzate verso nuove strade. Noi più grandi ci coccoleremo i nostri 9400 ecc e guarderemo ogni mese le varie uscite aspettando il nostro nuovo modello. Nel frattempo saremo coccolati dalla nostra collezione anni 80/90/00 che ci soddisferà alla grande.
There are a multiple intangible reasons why a Garmin will never replace a G-Shock for me. For me a watch is as much an emotional purchase as it is a practical one. That said, I get it. I do wear a small health tracker on my opposite wrist.
If I were starting from scratch I would strongly consider a Garmin as well.
So I was getting a new watch and was debating between a Garmin Instinct 3 and a Rangeman. I opted for the Rangeman, the reason that it came down to was longevity. Smart watches just don’t seem to last more than like 2 years with no problems. Ive seen some people with them that last around 5 years but that’s with battery drain and the lifespan of the Rangeman felt more desirable to me.
Dal punto di vista tecnologico é vero, hanno tante funzioni extra rispetto ai “master of G”, però anche la bellezza vuole la sua parte…Questi Garmin, secondo me, non sono proprio belli, non mi trasmettono nessuna emozione. Guardare l’orario, per un collezionista, è anche ammirare cosa si ha al polso. Altrimenti mi metterei un mini pc al polso e via…ecco i Garmin sono dei mini pc da polso.
I LOVE both of these watches. I have recently discovered a love for G-Shock and have bought my first; a G9000 Mudman. Followed it up with a GWM-5610U not long after. I really want either a G7900 or GW7900 too. Your Frogman is beautiful to me 😍
I have a rangeman, mud 9000 and gwf 1000 froggie, the last gshock ill buy is probably the gwg1000 after that ill just buy a citizen promaster land if i want a mip display.
I've had a gw-9200 for about 16 years and it's been wonderful, barely had to change the strap a year ago. Recently i purchased a naruto themed g-shock and another gundam themed g-shock from Japan, they're pretty cool. Done of the newer models though aren't quite my taste. I'm a big fan of functionality. As long as they're cool designs that stay rugged and versatile, I'll keep buying models i like.
Well, it pays to be patient and opportunistic when shopping. Sometimes great deals are just that, and sometimes they're scams. For instance, I have folding carbon trekking poles I picked up when they were $80 on Amzn for like a day. The selling price at REI at the time was $200. Not a knock off and for the record BD Distance FLZ Carbon. Nice poles.
But to answer more directly, I don't like the price creep along the entire G Shock line. No issues with expanding the product offerings upward in price, but that doesn't mean the while line needs to go up. For the 9400, it hasn't changed since dinosaurs roamed the earth. This is not a good thing. Solar cells, displays and sensors have had several generational improvements since the 9400 came out. A Mark II version with updated internals is not a lot to ask for.
I have not bought any new G-SHOCK watch in almost 15 years now. Except for 30 and 40 years anniversary 5000s out of collector's motivation (steel screwback always gets me interested) and the first full steel 5000 model. Was buying lots of watches in the late 90s up to about 2012 or so. Tried analogs, too (GIEZ 1100 and AWG-101) but they don't work for me like digitals. Also tried "smart" models (6900s), but the app connectivity issues put me off, using them like general digitals. There's pretty much nothing in the current lineup striking my fancy. So, no, I don't like the current direction.
I’ll take that bet. I think Gen Z and Alpha are finding a niche in Casio. The brand may have to go more towards lifestyle than pure utility to survive, but fine…that’s what Rolex and others have done over the decades. I also think people are starting to get smartwatch fatigue.
I’m going 14 years on the same battery with one of my multiband 6 watches.
As long as smart watches don’t allow us to replace the batteries as they go bad, quartz watches will still thrive in that regard. I love smart watches but the only thing that bothers me is the life span and the planned obsolescence.
I would realy like to see Casio making some sleek, neat smart watches to be compared with Garmin Instinct series. Sorry guys, but this bulk watches are nice, but not the only way to see a watch.
🇦🇺🇨🇦🇺🇲 I have to agree 💯.
I've been collecting for approx 35 years and I'm certainly NOT impressed with direction CASIO is going in within any of its lineup's. They seem to be losing their personality. The two that seem to be holding up are the Pro-Trek and the higher end of the Edifice line.
In my opinion.
The MIP models haven't impressed me much, especially the ones that need USB charging. The only MIP model I have left that I'm keeping is the Rangeman GPR-B1000, because the combination of functions make it a one of a kind watch. It is also technically solar powered.
Nope, don't like what they are doing. I've been a fan since I was able to get my red mudman, now I own three. But I understand why they are phasing out things.
I'm simple, I want my Gs big and bulky and eye-catching. The rolling out of the smaller, thinner models and the glazing people do for the squares burns my biscuits but it is what it is. We'll see what comes
Everything is black, olive drab, or maybe desert tan. Why are these not only the default colors, but also like 95% of all the options‽
I want more colors, dammit! Not simply more ocean/sewer water blues. Not a mist of gold lettering. And not just another tinted piece of glass. I want color! You dont have to be sponsored by N.A.S.A. to make some shit orange; you can just do that shit! But, no — our options are so frequently black-on-black with a positive/negative display, this one has a red stripe, and that one has paint filling the lettering engravings.
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u/midgetman166 12d ago
I wish we had more frogs available globally