The low budget G-Shock CasiOak watch that has become a favorite of the trend-savvy.
You know you’ve fallen down the watchmaking rabbit hole when you spend your evenings reading about watches on Reddit. And if you’re following that subreddit (guilty), you’ll know that one of the hottest watches of the moment is also, for once, one of the most affordable. It is, of course, the so called Casioak, the G-Shock GA-2100 watch. Or as this model is known on the internet, the “CasioakOak”.
That nickname should give you a clue as to why it’s so popular. Sure, G-Shock has had a cult following for a long time. Its collaborations with musicians (like Gorillaz ) urban fashion titans (BAPE) and movies ( Transformers ) have pushed the brand firmly into the world of limited-edition, high resale value fashion. But like Bamford London’s recent G-Shock , CasiOak is positioned in the part of the Venn diagram where “over-the-top beasts” overlap with “classics.”
Most obvious is the resemblance to the famous Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The CasiOak bezel has an octagonal rim that in its proportions and smoothness inevitably evokes the AP icon. You also can’t help but notice the integrated Royal Oak bracelet in the way the CasiOak strap attaches to its case. But this G-Shock watch also has a number of features that tap into the broader notions of good taste prevalent in the watch world. It’s slim, for example: at 11.8mm, it’s the thinnest G-Shock currently makes. It’s also a predominantly analog piece, with two hands and a physical day indicator.
However, you’ll notice there’s no crown. Instead, once you set the local time digitally, the hands adjust themselves. That in itself is a nice touch, and it’s these less traditional features that give this piece fizz. It’s not a cheap Royal Oak wannabe, it’s unmistakably a G-Shock watch, and it works as a watch on its own terms. If you were in high school in the 1990s, you’ll remember classmates slamming their G-Shock watch on the floor with to demonstrate its indestructibility. We’ve been wearing the CasiOak this past fortnight and it has the same toughness.
It also has a number of digital complications, including a timer, stopwatch, world time, calendar and LED light. The latter could be brighter, especially as the most popular version of this piece is the all-black ‘1A1ER’. It’s not as hard to read as some reviewers have suggested (and indeed, if you’re buying an all-black watch, what would you expect besides being all-black?), But a light that illuminates more of the dial would be welcome. . This is a minor drawback in a watch that is otherwise a pleasure to wear. Put it on and you’ll agree: it’s ridiculously comfortable.
Not only is it remarkably affordable for a watch that enjoys such intense exaggeration, it’s also remarkably affordable for a G-Shock watch. At less than 190$, it’s at the most affordable price point for the entire brand. Frankly, for that kind of money, if you want to see what all the fuss is about, it’s almost hard to justify not buying it. At least, if you can get your hands on one.