The Best G-Shock Watches Of 2022 — Our Top 5 Picks With Titanium Squares, Steel CasiOaks, And More
As we head toward the end of 2022, it’s time for the year-end lists. In the coming weeks, you will hear from several of our editors who will share some of their favorite releases of this year. And we are, of course, curious to find out what some of your favorites are as well. In a follow-up to the list of the best G-Shock models of all time, this week, we are focusing on the best of this year. Was 2022 a good year for G-Shock? This list of five extraordinary models is the perfect proof that G-Shock is unstoppable. The brand is constantly improving and surprises us time and time again with its awesome releases. Here is our recap of the five best of 2022 for you.
As we have said many times, we love our G-Shocks at Fratello. So when compiling a list like this one, we get a lot of different opinions. And it’s no surprise if you consider that G-Shock has released nearly 200 different models this year. And we still have almost a month and a half left, so by the end of the year, the brand will have hit the 200 mark easily. As such, picking five does not result in a definitive list. Far from it! But this list of five different models is a great way of showing the special brand that G-Shock is. On top of that, it will show our deep love for the square G-Shocks, which are still the reigning champions among the Fratello team. After all, nothing beats the original shape. But without further ado, let’s jump in!
Casio G-Shock Titanium Square MRG-B5000B-1DR and MRG-B5000D-1DR
How can we not start this list with the impressive titanium G-Shock Square MRG-B5000B-1DR and the MRG-B5000D-1DR? As Rob explained in his review, the concept of these two G-Shocks, crazy though it may be, is truly brilliant. A duo of titanium square G-Shocks that are 20 times more expensive than your regular resin Square G-Shock… Such an idea seems bonkers. But seeing them, holding them, and wearing them makes all the difference.
The watches are made from TranTixxii titanium, with multi-piece constructed bezels in a Cobarion metal alloy (roughly four times harder than pure titanium). They come with sapphire crystals and are water-resistant to 200 meters. You have the choice of the MRG-B5000B-1DR, which is the black model, or the MRG-B5000D-1DR, which is the uncoated version with a brushed/polished surface. These ultra-luxurious G-Shocks are truly something else, with the black model retailing for €4,000 and the uncoated version going for €3,500. As Rob put it, they are magnificently bonkers!
G-Shock GM-B2100 Full Metal “CasiOaks”
We are all aware of the enormous success of the octagonal G-Shock that debuted in 2019. Watch fans all over the globe quickly embraced this new style, affectionately nicknaming it the “CasiOak”. Three years after the introduction of the resin version, G-Shock introduced the full-metal versions this year. And as Lex explained in his review, these three ana-digi watches have the elusive X-factor. The first is the regular steel GM-B2100D-1A (€550), the second is the not-far-from-stealthy black ion-plated GM-B2100BD-1A (€600), and the third is the ion-plated rose-tone GM-B2100GD-1A (€600).
All three have a 44.4 × 49.8 × 12.8mm case, feature an integrated stainless steel bracelet, weigh a substantial 165 grams, are water resistant to 200 meters, and come with a wide array of functions. But as Lex also alluded to, G-Shock made the already impressive CasiOak look even more impressive with a three-step surface-finishing process, “consisting of high polishing and circular and vertical brushing to create a vibrant visual watch spectacle.”
G-Shock GLX-5600RT-4ER
One of the greatest things about working at Fratello is finding out about other writers’ enthusiasm for specific timepieces. But who would have known that Fratello’s own videographer Matthijs would write one of this year’s greatest articles? Being around Matthijs is a great joy, and his passion for the things he cares about is contagious. But in return, we managed to infect him with the watch bug, as he explained in this very personal review of his bright orange GLX-5600RT-4ER.
Not only does Matthijs’s pick show the colorful side of the brand that makes it so much fun, but it also shows that there is a G-Shock for (almost) every purpose. Matthijs was looking for a watch with a tide graph for his newfound passion for surfing. And this bright orange GLX-5600RT-4ER that is available for €99 has that feature. As a result, it did not only appeal to the functional aspect that Matthijs was looking for, but it also helped him connect to the world of watches in a personal way that he hadn’t previously. That, my friends, is the greatest compliment of this G-Shock’s functional aspect.
Image courtesy of @HorologyVibes
G-Shock GMW-B5000TVB-1ER Titanium Virtual Armor
The next watch on our list is a personal favorite. I like the colorful and quirky aspect of G-Shock a lot. It’s why I loved some of the more extravagant models like the “Blue Phoenix”, the “Rainbow Hippie”, and the “Rainbow Mountain”. I love this colorful side of the brand because it’s fun, and G-Shock is one of the few watch manufacturers that can pull it off while leaving wearers seriously impressed. In that sense, this year’s standout G-Shock release was the GMW-B5000TVB-1ER Titanium Virtual Armor, which was reviewed by our good friend, Warky. As he explained, there is no better way of describing this timepiece than simply “very cool.”
Image courtesy of @HorologyVibes
The combination of the sci-fi camouflage-like pattern with the different colors makes this titanium piece an absolute stunner. A full-titanium case, bracelet, sapphire crystal, and laser-engraved details make this a premium G-Shock. The watch measures 49.3 × 43.2 × 13mm and weighs 106 grams. The technical details are impressive, and the material and finishing are top-notch, but most of all, the colorful presence makes this a standout piece. The watch was for sale for €1,690 but sold out quickly, and I understand why. Just look at it!
G-Shock Mudmaster GWG-2000TLC-1AER
The last watch on the list is a divisive one in terms of looks and size. Simply put, G-Shock’s Mudmaster is not a watch for everyone. But what most of you agreed on with us is that it is one hell of an impressive, functional timepiece. I remember reading Nacho’s review of this beast, and one of the comments under the article stated that when you arrive at page 10 of the manual, you have already forgotten the info that was on pages 1–9. And that sums up the wide array of functions that you might not need on a day-to-day basis but that can save your life in a difficult situation. For this special Mudmaster, G-Shock teamed up with the Toyota Land Cruiser team that took part in this year’s Dakar Rally. And this is the perfect watch for the extreme conditions that participants in the Rally can face.
The watch measures a whopping 61.2 × 54.4 × 16.1mm. Despite its dimensions, it is fairly comfortable on the wrist with its light weight of 106 grams. Like all G-Shocks, it’s water-resistant to 200 meters. It also keeps time to a standard of ±15 seconds per month. On top of that, it features an alarm function (with five daily alarms and an hourly signal), an altimeter (with a measuring range of -700 to 10,000 meters), a calendar, a barometer (with a built-in air-pressure sensor that displays weather patterns), a battery-level indicator, a compass (with 60 seconds of continuous measurement to within one degree of accuracy), a countdown timer, a world timer, a hand-shift function, and display illumination. The watch is also low-temperature-resistant down to -10ºC and is radio-controlled with G-Shock’s Multi-Band 6 system.
And that’s not even all of it. For its retail price of €799, there is only one appropriate word for this one — impressive!
Image courtesy of @HorologyVibes
Final thoughts on G-Shock in 2022
As I mentioned in the intro, these are just five of the roughly 200 G-Shock models that came out in 2022. As such, it goes without saying that these selections are just the starting point of a long list of potential candidates. But the five models on this list have impressed all of us at the Fratello office, and that’s why they made the cut. But how about some other great models?
Like Thor’s Bamford × G-Shock Triple Blue DW-6900BWD or maybe one of the first series of 40th Anniversary models that came out recently? Or maybe something less extravagant but extremely comfortable like the thin G-STEEL GST-B500D? There really is no going wrong with G-Shock, and that’s why we love the brand so much. It’s also why we are very much looking forward to 2023, the 40th anniversary of the brand. But before that happens, let us know what some of your favorite G-Shock models of this year are in the comments!
