G-SHOCK Full Metal GMWB5000-1 Neo Grid
A Watch Straight Out Of Tron: A Closer Look At The G-SHOCK GMWB5000CS-1 Neo Grid
This new gridtastic timepiece is constructed with a Black IP finished stainless-steel case and band with a distinctive laser-etched design.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
Tron, the futuristic 1982 movie, is a gift that keeps on giving. First, this gamer fantasy introduced CGI to pop culture. Then in 2010, the sequel Tron: Legacy brought virtual reality into the mix. Likewise earlier this year, G-SHOCK introduced the GMW-B5000CS, which was covered in a Tron-like grid. Now, the brand revisits the franchise’s iconic grid landscape with the G-SHOCK Full Metal GMWB5000CS-1 Neo Grid.
Since its debut, the Full Metal collection has been a boon to present and future G-SHOCK enthusiasts (read HERE, HERE, and HERE). Although the brand had incorporated metal elements in the past, G-SHOCK is most closely associated with tough, often colorful plastic construction. But the Full Metal collection became the first to use stainless steel for the case, bezel, caseback, and bracelet.
Using sturdy steel has allowed Casio’s designers to experiment not only with construction but also with the look of the classic G-SHOCK.
We are seriously geeking out on this timepiece because of its resemblance to the Tron movies, and it is the embodiment of something very new and different from G-SHOCK.
Info Graphic
While Tron was a modest hit when it first hit cinemas, its legacy lives on because of its fans. The story of a computer programmer who gets absorbed into a video game had lots of cheerleaders. The late Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune hailed it as "a trip, and a terrifically entertaining one at that...It's a dazzler that opens up our minds to our new tools, all in a traditional film narrative."
The appeal of Tron’s retro-futuristic style also applies to the G-SHOCK. Embracing nostalgia for what feels like a more optimistic time in our lives is comforting. And sci-fi lets us take a step outside of our past and present to envision a future of fantastic opportunities and technology.
It allows us to think outside of the box.
Both Tron and G-SHOCK have always been ahead of their time. The square design of the new G-SHOCK Neo Grid model echoes the shape of the first G-SHOCK, DW-5000C, which came out only one year after Tron, in 1983. But this time, it comes in a sexy black IP coated stainless steel outer case.
This addition to G-SHOCK’s Full Metal series is also decorated with a sleek, laser-etched exterior with full metal construction and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) case back.
Scored
While the Tron movies were visually impressive, it should also be noted that both Tron and Tron: Legacy featured amazing soundtracks by electronic music legends Wendy Carlos and Daft Punk, respectively.
And while these composers are best known for working with synthesizers, these film scores were performed by orchestras lending the music a powerful human presence.
Likewise, the GMWB5000CS-1 addresses our emotional need to feel protected with G-SHOCK’s technological expertise. It looks cool, but the screw-lock back case and its shock-resistant exterior (made up of a fine resin cushioning material inserted between the stainless-steel case and bezel then enclosed in a protective shell) provide security and toughness. And the bracelet is attached by a three-pronged mechanism to distribute the impact of shocks.
Next Wave
For all of its retro inspiration, the new GMWB5000CS-1comes loaded with G-SHOCK's most premium features. Including Bluetooth Connectivity via the G-SHOCK Connected app, Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping for self-adjusting and accurate hour/date display virtually anywhere on the globe, and a specially developed button structure that guards the button shafts against lateral shocks. It also has state-of-the-art Tough Solar Technology, making it capable of self-charging even with low sun exposure, like when you’re trapped inside a video game.
The GMWB5000CS-1 Neo Grid is also equipped with standard features like STN LCD digital display, world time (39 Cities + UTC), full auto Super Illuminator LED light, 1/100 second stopwatch, five daily alarms (with one snooze alarm), countdown timer, 12/24 hour time formats, and full auto calendar.
And if you want to dive into some virtual reality yourself, G-SHOCK has launched an exclusive landing page that will walk you through the Neo Grid’s many features, which can be viewed HERE.
The G-SHOCK GMWB5000CS-1 Neo Grid retails for $800 and is available for purchase now at select jewelers, the G-SHOCK SoHo Store, and gshock.com.
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)
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