Exploring the watches that started G-Shock
This collection is dedicated to the iconic square-shaped G-Shock models from Casio — the watches that started it all.
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Launched in 1983, Casio G-Shock evolved from the world's toughest watch into a global streetwear icon.
Kikuo Ibe, inventor of G-SHOCK, holding a watch that is now part of my collection.
Discover the story behind DW5000.com.
1981: The Shattered Gift
Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe dropped and broke a precious mechanical watch given to him by his father. Devastated, he vowed to design a watch that would never break.
The "Triple 10" Target
He formed a three-member group called Project Team Tough, aiming for:Surviving a 10-meter drop.10-bar water resistance.10-year battery life.
The Breakthrough
After building and testing over 200 prototypes by dropping them from a third-story window, Ibe saw children playing with a rubber ball. He noticed the core of the bouncing ball remained completely unaffected. This inspired the hollow structure design, where the internal timekeeping module "floats" inside a protective resin shell to absorb shock.
1983: The Launch
The first-ever G-Shock, the DW-5000C, debuted on April 12, 1983. While it created the legendary shock-resistant blueprint, it initially struggled to gain sales traction in Japan.
Kikuo Ibe is a Japanese engineer best known as the "Father of G-Shock".After accidentally breaking a treasured watch given to him by his father in 1981, Ibe embarked on an ambitious mission to create a virtually indestructible timepiece, eventually launching the revolutionary, shock-resistant watch in 1983.
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DW-5000SA-1 with a silver charm.
About DW5000.comDW5000.com is an independent archive and personal collection project dedicated to the original Casio G-Shock square and the models that followed its legendary debut in 1983.The purpose of this website is twofold: to document and preserve accurate information about vintage G-Shock square models, and to present my own collection in a structured and accessible way.
This includes production variations, technical details, original accessories, historical background, and real examples from my personal archive.My name is Kai, a G-Shock collector based in Norway, and I created DW5000.com out of a long-standing passion for these watches.
Over the years, I have spent countless hours collecting, researching, comparing original examples, and studying the history of the square G-Shock.
This website is the result of that ongoing journey.DW5000.com is continuously updated as new information, original documentation, previously unknown variations, and additions to my own collection emerge. While accuracy is a priority, I also welcome input from fellow collectors who share the same interest in preserving the history of these iconic timepieces.Whether you are a long-time collector, researching a recent acquisition, or simply interested in the history of the original G-Shock—or browsing through my collection—I hope you find this site useful and enjoyable.Thank you for visiting DW5000.com and for helping keep the legacy of the original square G-Shock alive.
Work in progress....