Silver & Gold: G-SHOCK’s Latest G-STEEL Fine Metallic Models Become Even More Affordable

Fans of G-SHOCK’s full metal lineup, lean in. The brand has finally launched an equally shiny and cool alternative at a fraction of the price. This is the G-STEEL Fine Metallic Series.

The all-new additions to the brand’s expansive catalog feature six styles that reimagine two of G-SHOCK’s most iconic silhouettes: the GM5600 and the GM2100. The lineup also includes gold and silver colorways, but that’s not all.

The G-STEEL Fine Metallic Series also introduces the brand’s “Tough Silicone Band,” which features a protective urethane sheet finished with vapor deposition, resulting in a soft, comfortable, lightweight strap that looks nearly indistinguishable from the metal bezels.

Let’s dig into all the shimmering details.

G-SHOCK first began giving its watches the full metal treatment back in the ‘90s, when the brand launched the MRG-100 as part of Casio’s premium MR-G line in 1996.
 

The goal of the MRG-100 was to retain all the properties that people had come to expect of a G-SHOCK while swapping the signature rubber case for stainless steel. So, what are some of the key elements that make a G-SHOCK a G-SHOCK?

First and foremost is G-SHOCK’s trademark case design in which the timekeeping module is essentially suspended inside the outer case with only a few points of contact in order for said case to offer the ultimate shock absorption. Of course, rendering this case in rubber naturally lent itself to serving as a giant shock absorber, so accomplishing the same thing but with metal was a new feat.

Into the new millennium, the brand continued to evolve in several important ways, both in terms of its technology and design capabilities. Then, in 2018, G-SHOCK marked its 35th anniversary. In fitting celebration, the brand wanted to launch something big, and it did just that with its first truly full metal timepiece of the modern era: the “Full Metal” 5000 Series.
 

These watches didn’t just come equipped with a metal case, bezel, caseback, and bracelet. These 5000 series models also came equipped with features for the modern watch market like Bluetooth connectivity so you could pair time, adjust time zone to 300+ cities, record longitude/latitude, and set reminders and calendar appointments via a smartphone app.

Still, the model retained the beloved original profile of G-SHOCK watches while offering an all-new weight and a $600 price tag, which was (and is) roughly three times the cost of the average G-SHOCK.

Now, with the brand-new G-STEEL Fine Metallic Series, fans of the full metal look can achieve that same look with less heft and an even more accessible price point.

At its most basic level, the new G-STEEL Fine Metallic Series builds upon the foundations of two popular G-SHOCK profiles: the GM5600 and GM2100.

The exclusively digital GM5600 is a descendant of one of the earliest and most beloved G-SHOCK silhouettes, the DW-5600, which was first released in 1987, just four years after the company’s founding. This is the trademark square case you immediately picture when you think of G-SHOCK.
 

Alternatively, the GM2100 is a successor to a much newer model: the ana-digi GA2100, also known as the “CasiOak." This model launched in 2019 and immediately caught people’s attention with its unique octagonal bezel, which gave it its affectionate nickname for its resemblance to Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak model.

Both shapes are highly versatile and look killer on almost any wrist.
 

A decade in the making, this cutting-edge G-STEEL Fine Metallic collection offers six new models, three in each silhouette and its attendant display. However, the case shape and display aren’t the only key details that set this series apart. Another design element worth looking at across this collection is the dials. With each of the references, you get two dial options. Both offer entirely monochromatic looks (in either gold or silver), with the dial matching the color of the metal bezel. Alternatively, there’s a slightly edgier, contrasting black dial option within each reference – the GM2100 in gold and GM5600 in silver.
 

Both references feature a glass-fiber-reinforced resin case. Meanwhile, the addition of the shock-resistant metal bezel creates an elevated and more polished look. Plus, separate hairlines and mirror finishes applied to various surfaces add depth and interest.
 

Moreover, both references offer the option of either silver or gold, depending on your metal of choice. Still, the real showpiece of the new G-STEEL Fine Metallic Series is G-SHOCK’s introduction of an entirely new strap.

The watchmaker’s new “Tough Silicone Band” is the product of ten years of tireless research and development. The result is an ultra-flexible, comfortable, and strong material that wears beautifully on the wrist.
 

Thanks to a process of vapor deposition, the “Tough Silicone Band” pairs perfectly with the metal bezel of each watch, whether executed in gold or silver. Additionally, a protective urethane sheet applied to the strap increases abrasion resistance while maintaining its shiny metal-like appearance.
 

These new bands prove G-SHOCK really considered both form and function. They’re designed to give the appearance of links and screws, presenting as a bracelet rather than a strap, which drives home the illusion of a full metal timepiece.

All six versions of the new G-STEEL Fine Metallic Series are available today. The gold GM5600YMG-9 is $280. Meanwhile, the silver GM5600YM-8A8 with a matching silver dial and the silver GM5600YM-8 with a contrasting black dial are each slightly lower, at $240.
 

Finally, the silver GM2100YM-8A costs $260, while the two gold versions of the GM2100 – the GM2100YMG9A9, which has a matching gold dial, and the GM2100YMG-9A, which has a contrasting black dial – are the most expensive, at $300 each. For more information, visit the G-SHOCK website.