An Ode To The Casio G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER

We watch collectors come up with “rules” regarding our hobby. For example, “Every watch collection should have a dress watch, a sporty piece, and a beater.” This is the imperative many of us live by. While the former two may not be the cornerstones of my collection, at least not intentionally, I do have a beater — not in the classical sense, though. I don’t wear a watch at home while sleeping, gardening, or changing the oil in my ’72 Porsche 911 (that I don’t own). However, I have a special piece that accompanies me almost every time I hop on a plane, which I do often, or jump in the car to drive however many hundreds of kilometers. Meet my beloved Casio G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER.

Listeners of the Fratello On Air podcast have heard me mention this watch numerous times. It’s time to give it props for being a terrific travel companion.

Miles & More watches

Our love story started around COVID-19, when traveling was not an option, so spending airline miles was necessary. As the worldwide virus was at its peak and we were all under house arrest, I received a Miles & More catalog in the mail. For those unfamiliar with it, Miles & More is the frequent flyer program by Lufthansa. Since my miles balance was limited, I skipped through the pages offering me the latest and greatest from Rimowa or Bose and landed on watches. While browsing the pages, I came across a selection of Casio timepieces. I quickly decided I needed one since I had never owned a G-Shock. The catalog offered one such model, the then-new G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER. Not bad at all.

After doing the calculation and paying the extra €40 on top of my miles, I got an email welcoming me as the newest owner of one of Casio’s finest models. The delivery only took a week, and while the packaging was underwhelming, I was thrilled with my purchase. The watch had everything I wanted— a classic G-Shock look, a light, and the iconic features of almost every digital quartz watch. I need to admit here that I have not used the countdown timer or stopwatch function to this day. What intrigued me about the GW-B5600-2ER, though, were two things. The first was its negative display, which people tend to love or hate; I happen to love it. The second was its Bluetooth connectivity. This lets the watch connect to the Casio Watches app so the wearer can access various functions and settings from a smartphone.

Planes, trains, and automobiles

Before I built a watch collection over a decade ago, my go-to watch was a Tissot PRC-200. Since the watch was quartz, it was a perfect daily companion. As my collection grew, though, I felt an ever-increasing need for a grab-and-go piece — particularly, a digital quartz watch that was light and inexpensive but still had a huge cool factor. Over the following months, I wore the G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER more often when I was traveling. Previously, I have used all my watches for this purpose. In one of the Fratello On Air episodes, I told the story of how I used my vintage Doxa Sub 300T Aqua Lung to travel, not realizing how sensitive its lume was. So, the vintage piece was out of the rotation, and the Casio was in.

In the last few years, just like my Rimowa suitcase, the Casio G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER has been on numerous trips with me worldwide. I wore it while driving over a thousand kilometers to my home country. It was in the seat pocket of several airplanes during intercontinental flights. The watch also came in handy when I had to measure the delay Deutsche Bahn (the German train system) picked up over my trips to Berlin, Geneva, or other places. The G-Shock is among the first few things I neatly lay on the table the night before my departures, a habit I picked up over the years.

What’s not to love about the GW-B5600-2ER?

While it may not be the most modern, most excellent, or trendiest watch, it is my trusted companion. Unlike others, I also don’t feel the need to add more G-Shocks to my collection. This GW-B5600-2ER is my one-and-done piece. I don’t want to go through the list of features the watch offers; for this, you can visit the Casio website. Yet, if you asked me to highlight some of its features, these would be my top three.

The first one isn’t a big surprise, but it’s the 200m water resistance rating. This past August, I spent a few unforgettable days in Italy around the Cinque Terre. We visited a different city each day and eventually ended up in the sea. Needless to say, the GW-B5600-2ER handled the water brilliantly.

The second noteworthy feature is the G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER’s solar-powered movement. There is no need to worry about batteries; just wear it when the Sun shines, and it will be charged enough for your next adventure.

Lastly, with the Bluetooth connection, you can easily set the watch to the local time wherever you are. As someone who often flies over different time zones, I find this feature so convenient. Once I land and my phone sets to the local time zones, I’ll connect my watch to the phone, and boom, the time zone automatically changes. The app also lets you see the charging level in case you want to give your watch more juice.

Gerard’s GW-B5600 with a modded positive display

Parting words

For those of you who do not own a G-Shock yet, I suggest you get one for yourself. Also, with the holidays approaching, it is the perfect gift for any watch lover. The G-Shock catalog is replete with inexpensive and fun models. Not to mention, the G-Shock “Square” is an icon, just like the Submariner, the Speedmaster, or the Navitimer.

And as for my fellow G-Shock owners, you have made the right choice. Cherish your Casios, and wear them with pride. Oh, and the next time you see a G-Shock on a fellow traveler’s wrist at the airport, don’t forget to compliment the wearer on the watch. I may be standing next to you at the conveyor belt.