One watch, one test – When the G-Shock sees red

I have been writing for BonneGueule for three years and despite several selections on divers, military watches, dress models... I have never dedicated an article to a quartz watch.

You know, I have a passion for traditional tocantes, I am even very committed to this return to mechanical watches: for their history, for their charm, for the idea of ​​keeping beautiful objects made to live with for decades. us and be passed on, I hope, to future generations.

If I fully assume a clear preference for mechanical watches, do you also know that I also have a collection of vintage electric and quartz watches? Certainly a little more modest in comparison. However, I often look for vintage models that date from the early days of battery-powered watches.

Unlike many contemporary quartz movements , some represent an interest, both in the movement and in the search for technical solutions to make them more resistant to shocks. It is true, in the very vast quartz watch market, you have to know how to distinguish the wheat from the chaff, but some references are worth looking into and this is the case of the G-Shock.

The G-Shock point

It would be easy to copy for the umpteenth time the storytelling on the birth of the G-Shock in the early 80s and the work of Kikuo Ibe and his “tough team” responsible for creating a watch waterproof to 100 meters, resistant to a fall 10 meters and a battery life of 10 years. But you know me, I'm going to go well beyond and put the G-Shock in the context that determined its birth.

At the beginning of the 1980s, mechanical watches were (very) undermined by the mass arrival of quartz watches during the previous decade. My own father lived through this era in which it became has- been to wear a mechanical watch and the trend was to have a quartz watch.

Seiko and Citizen are spreading on wrists and even traditional brands, heirs of century-old know-how in mechanical watchmaking, are forced to urgently redirect their production towards quartz models in the hope of surviving this surge. . Quartz then unquestionably dominates the market.

How to resist him? Prices are slashed, demand suddenly shifts in favor of these watches. Except there's a catch. Quartz watches are not that sturdy . A quartz movement itself presents structural fragility in relation to shocks whereas traditional mechanical watches already have anti-shock systems. .

As a result, you will understand that there was a slight resistance from certain soldiers, particularly to immediately adopt the quartz watch to replace their solid and proven mechanical watches, as I recall in this article on military watches .

Admit that the idea of ​​a pocket ball to tell the time would have been nice if not aesthetic, but in this image there is the main idea which will allow quartz watches to finally resist shocks – Source: G-Shock

As quartz watches become more widespread, incidents begin to happen as well. The quartz movement does not deal very well with shocks, an experience experienced by field workers and manual workers such as technicians for example. It is in this context that the G-Shock was born.

Casio specializes in electronic instruments and the challenge was met. But what makes the G-Shock so special?

G-Shock: an anti-shock system before being a range of watches

The specificity of G-Shock watches is above all the anti-shock system which allows the quartz movement to withstand violent shocks . To use an image, imagine that you drop a ceramic on a marble floor, both materials are renowned for their hardness but this hardness also involves a major disadvantage: if it does not deform, the ceramic can break.

The hardness of an object does not necessarily imply its resistance to all hazards and, where applicable, violent shocks. So in this case, how can a quartz watch survive a fall on a hard surface? The quartz movement being quite fragile compared to shock, Kikuo Ibe took up the concept of a rubber ball. In the middle of a flexible membrane, the movement inside the watch “floats” in a way in a protective cushion which absorbs shocks. This is the solution that allows G-Shocks to be renowned for their resistance.

I asked G-Shock about the structure of the GM2100 with each of its major components. The second part from the bottom is an element of the anti-shock system: it is a flexible membrane which absorbs shocks and which is interposed between the steel case base and the movement (as well as the battery). Source: G-Shock

But are durability and affordability everything in a watch? I think there are other parameters and design is one of them. Wearing a functional item is one thing, enjoying looking at it while using it is entirely different.

1. The feeling on the wrist

The GM2100 is worn here with a cotton overshirt from the NN07 brand. Despite its generous dimensions on paper, you can see that the case does not extend beyond my wrist.

I'll tell you a secret: Benoît and David were surprised to see me arrive with a G-Shock on my wrist at the BonneGueule offices. It’s true that I had never worn one before to go to the editorial office. But what was going through my head?

Well quite simply I find that this G-Shock is different compared to those that I had seen and handled previously. When people told me about G-Shock, I had some apprehensions because it is a traditionally quite marked style . Yes, G-Shock allows you to acquire a tool watch for a very affordable budget + BUT I admit in all honesty that I was not a very fan of some of the designs proposed . And then I discovered the GM2100.

The GM2100 is the heir to another model which had previously caught my attention with its design: the GA-2100 and in particular the metal models, I saw the beginnings of a small stylistic break. But with the GM2100, I was seduced by its design. The latter certainly combines modernism – with G-Shock we are traditionally very far from the classic style watches that I like – but also a shape and color codes that appealed to me.

Here, the GM2100 is worn with a red wool sweater from the NN07 brand. The color recall is easy but I like to combine them and counterbalance the whole with a jacket or coat in a more subdued color.

The shape of the bezel is octagonal. Other watches from the past have adopted this shape: some will systematically evoke the Royal Oak from Audermars Piguet in a completely different price range but the latter did not have a monopoly on this shape either. A Zenith model from the very early 1970s – nicknamed the Bolt – adopted not a bezel but an octagonal-shaped case. That being said, I like the shape of the GM2100, it gives the impression of solidity specific to the G-Shock and it has a particular twist.

How can you not notice this red dial first of all? The dial catches the eye all the more as it stands out compared to the rest of the watch: the case is made of steel – reinforced with carbon fiber which also brings lightness to the whole – with a coating Black PVD which gives it a more sober touch + .

When it's colder, the watch also goes well with a quilted Barbour

And besides, if we look at the dial, we can see another specificity: an analog AND digital display . So other watches obviously offer it like the Breitling Emergency or Aerospace . It's quite interesting because you have a classic analog dial to read the time AND a special window between 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock to navigate and use the different functionalities and also to consult the date or time digitally with an option lighting by pressing the button at the top right.

All the elements of the dial are also the same shade of red, like the hands but the latter receive an application of Neobrite . After doing a little test, compared to the SuperLuminova, I can see that the Neobrite “recharges” more quickly than the SuperLuminova in the light but the luminescence seems to last less long. However, you have lighting for part of the dial thanks to an LED.

The glass is mineral and flat and, for this price range, that doesn't surprise me. G-Shock offers sapphire crystals on their premium ranges and the prices are higher than that of the GM2100.

2. Good dimensions, good sealing, great lightness

The GM2100 is not a professional model per se, I would say it combines lifestyle elements with some professional features, but with 200 meters of water resistance you can obviously swim and dive in complete peace of mind without any problems. make a professional diving instrument .

As you can see, after removing the bracelet, the watch is certainly not small but the lugs are very short

The dimensions of the G-Shock are generous on paper: with 44.4mm in diameter, I can see the comments coming saying "it's way too big for my wrist": but be careful, the lugs are very very short and the The size of the bezel in relation to the dial gives a different impression when worn compared to other watches with a diameter of 44mm.

The watch is also not small on the wrist, but compared to my wrist of 17-17.5mm, the watch does not stick out. So unless you have a wrist below 16mm, I don't think this is a problem. The G-Shock style tends more towards a little oversized compared to more traditional watches.

As always, I would advise you to try it in a store and I would particularly recommend the store at 5 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie in Paris, which has staff who are passionate about the brand and very competent, particularly at the technical level, and this would allow you to familiarize yourself with the (very) different G-Shock models.

With 11.8mm thickness, we remain within the standards of technical watches as for example many divers to give a comparison. It is rather the shape of the case which gives a thicker impression. You can also notice in the photo the shape of the mineral glass which is flat

Despite these dimensions, the watch is not excessively thick with 11.8mm thickness and above all it remains very light with a weight of 75g. As said previously, the fact that it combines carbon fiber below the metal part makes it possible to significantly reduce the weight of the watch compared to a completely metal model.

Apart from the GM2100 but in 40.4mm

As I did for the Rado Captain Cook in the selection of divers for the summer , by mentioning another model with a smaller diameter during a review, in the case where the 44.4mm red model of the GM2100 definitely does not suit your wrist, I asked the brand to also provide – for comparison – the 40.4mm model. It is not available with a red dial like its big sister but in black . Verdict?

The GM2100 in a smaller format and in black

As we see in the photo, this model is, in my opinion, much smaller compared to the red model. There are some slight differences at the dial at 9 o'clock but for the most part, this watch has the same features except in a smaller format.

Compared to my wrist, although I find it more sober, I still prefer the 44.4mm red model: a question of presence but also for the twist with a more daring color. I also notice a difference between the two models in terms of the bracelet: although both are made of resin, that of the 40.4mm model seems a little more flexible to me compared to that of the “large” model. I nevertheless present it as an option for those who on trial would prefer this smaller diameter.

And for comparison: the two models side by side: they are both set but one is in Paris time (UTC + 2) and the other in London time (UTC + 1): it simply select the desired city and the watch sets automatically without the need to do so with a crown

3. A watch with many features

For those who have already had a G-Shock, they will be on familiar ground. The GM2100 is no exception and offers many features including:

• A 24-hour stopwatch with precision to the hundredth of a second: classic function and used on my side for certain training sessions
• A countdown that you can program in advance if, for example, you need an audible notification to remind you of an important element of your schedule.
• Possibility of programming 5 daily alarms if your schedule for the day is timed or if you need several alarms to get up in the morning
• The calendar and automatic time: obviously, unlike a mechanical watch which needs to be set manually , simply follow the user manual to be able to program your watch so that it automatically sets to the correct date and time in the time zone of your choice. As such, there is a world time feature to display the time with 29 different time zones corresponding to 29 major cities.

4. And the bracelet? The choice of resin

I am not used to wearing resin bracelets for a long time. Also, I wondered what I would feel with a bracelet like this on my wrist for 2 weeks. I am rather positively surprised by that of the GM2100. It is less flexible than a rubber strap but it is not excessively rigid either.

The bracelet of the GM2100 stands out well in this photo: it is black in color with a very slight pattern. I find it correct for my part but I would like to have the possibility of having other bracelets from the brand to vary the combinations

Ultimately, in terms of technical bracelets, I personally prefer sailcloth and similar bracelets, rubber or nylon (premium type) but the G-Shock bracelet is not unpleasant on the wrist either. It is functional and sober, nothing more.

I like to twist watches with their straps and now I'm a little sad because I can't really do it with the GM2100 : it's not a problem to change the strap because G-Shock recently included easy quick releases to remove to change bracelet. The difficulty comes from the fact that you only need straps from the brand to adapt them to the watch .

Another point, unfortunately, the G-Shock online store does not offer in its offer to sell its bracelets separately. There are different bracelets from G-Shock: rubber bracelets, some also made of textile or even metal but, unfortunately, you have to buy the bracelet with the corresponding model and then make the switch.

Also, I would like to recommend that the brand offer its bracelets for sale one day for its customers. The importance of the bracelet has only grown in recent years, customers are no longer satisfied with the original bracelets but want to personalize their tocantes. This observation is valid for a watch costing several thousand or tens of thousands of euros but also for a watch costing a few hundred euros.

We nevertheless remain on a product offered at a very affordable price so I do not expect to automatically have premium bracelets, there are other ranges from G-Shock for that. On the other hand, there is one element on which I will be even more uncompromising: I will actually test the resistance of the watch to see what it has in its stomach.

Time for the real test: to the end of our limits

G-Shock GM2100 worn over a Nike long-sleeve sports top, RDX training gloves, ready for shock training!

After describing the features of the GM2100 Red, it's time to take it to the next level. Instead of just doing a traditional review, we might as well take G-Shock at its word on the effectiveness of their anti-shock system and actually put it through a test with real and numerous violent shocks over a period of 15 days. And that's good, I have a special test to give him. And for that you have to confide something personal.

1. HIIT, Cross Training, Combat and Tabata

I am a fan of intensive training: between five and six training sessions per week, including three HIIT type training sessions. minimum, the others being made up of muscle strengthening carried out with body weight as with TRX, running and military Close Combat training. High-intensity interval training requires good physical condition and excellent cardio to be able to practice it and especially at a high level. More precisely, I practice Tabata type workouts.

Tabata is actually a variation of HIIT from Japan: it involves performing 20 seconds of intensive exercises such as burpees, push-ups, jump squats or plyo lunges. for example followed by a short 10 second break for recovery and to set up for the next exercise. And this 8 times to perform 1 Tabata or 4min.

Then, simply add the number of Tabata that you are able to handle: generally the workouts last between 20 and 30 minutes in total. A little less as a beginner, more for veterans. To be even more precise, I practice Tabata including Combat by mixing – according to the coach's instructions – speed jabs, kicks or free fight facing the bag .

Traditionally, Tabata is done in 20 seconds - 10 seconds but many variations are available and it is possible to do 30-10, 50-10 or even completely eliminate the recovery time.

Quick warm-up before training. Generally, it is recommended to use bands or glove liners underneath the gloves to limit friction with the skin. Here I use simple training gloves – just personal preference. The watch for the glove test is worn more on the forearm and never hindered my movements.

So yes, the G-Shock GM2100 will undergo these intensive training sessions at the same time as my body, i.e. six Tabata Combat training sessions in two weeks, not to mention six other training sessions which nevertheless include running, TRX, some bodybuilding and technical exercises. for the fight. The goal is obviously to test the watch's ability to withstand repeated, rapid and violent shocks.

2. Two weeks of training later: the verdict

So, has the GM2100, which is not a model designed specifically for sports, survived?

The watch accompanied me without any problem during my intensive training sessions. Despite the number of shocks and rapid and violent sequences of exercises, the watch had no damage, the time keeping is impeccable, all the watch's functionalities are operational.

Although not a sport type, this GM2100 remains a G-Shock and it holds up perfectly in all the situations it has encountered. It's a watch that surprised me because I clearly observe G-Shock's desire to develop its ranges outside the traditional sphere of sports or professional watches to arrive at a balanced watch by mixing lifestyle and technicality.

Without pretending to discover the G-Shock for the first time, I am pleasantly surprised by this model which amazes me with its mixture of modernism and versatility in terms of its use. And for a very contained budget.

The watch is light and during training, honestly I quickly forgot that I had it on my wrist to concentrate on the exercises.

Style-wise, I see several options for this watch. Like adopting the codes of street culture in the choice of your outfit, but for my part I will not hesitate to do twists and everything goes: workwear, a workwear mix like work jacket combined with a tie and a shirt more classic too. Of course, I don't think the watch is suitable for a totally formal outfit but apart from that, for sports, for running or having a drink with friends, this red G-Shock puts its dose of originality in an outfit with its red dial. And at a very modest price.

See you soon for the next test, I’ll run back to my training 😉

WE love :

• A large diameter on paper but – frankly – by integrating all the parameters (opening of the dial, real dimension of the case by integrating the lugs), the watch turns out to be suitable for a wrist of 17-17.5mm. Another illustration of the difference between the real feeling when wearing and the diameter of the watch on paper
• Originality of this red dial that I really like: a red that is not at all aggressive and yet gives a twist to the watch
• The metal case is surprisingly light because it mixes carbon fiber: the watch turns out to be light (72g) , aided by a resin strap
• A very lifestyle watch with this versatility, being able to use it both for going out and for intensive training - if you like a style that is still quite modern in terms of the design of the watch
• The mix of digital and analog display for reading the time
• Other dial colors are available: navy blue, steel and green

We like less:

• The Neobrite luminescent material appears, in my opinion, to be a bit weak over time.
• One regret regarding the bracelets: the brand does not offer other bracelets to purchase separately to further personalize your G-Shock by adopting other bracelets than the one supplied with the model purchased.

Technical characteristics :

The red model:

• Reference: GM-2100B-4AER
• 44.4mm diameter
• 11.8mm thick
• Steel and carbon fiber housing
• Mineral glass
• Quartz movement
• Stack three years
• Waterproof 200m
• Price: 219 euros
• Available on the online store

The black model:

• Reference: GM-S2100B-8AER
• 40.4mm diameter
• 11mm thick
• Steel and carbon fiber housing
• Mineral glass
• Quartz movement
• Stack three years
• Waterproof 200m
• Price: 199 euros
• Available on the online store