Casio has calculated that it sold its 100 millionth G-Shock watch in August.
The landmark timepiece was an MRG-G1000B-1A4 model from the upmarket MR-G series.
To commemorate the milestone, a special ceremony was held at the Yamagata Casio factory in Japan, where the model was fitted with a special back case engraved with the number “100,000,000.”
The scale of the achievement in selling 100 million units since the G-Shock was first introduced in 1983 is hard to visualise.
Apple has sold one billion iPhones in the ten years since it launched, so Casio has a way to go before closing that gap.
Patek Philippe sells around 72,000 watches per year today. If the company had managed that every year since 1983, it would have sold only 2.5 million watches compared to G-Shock’s 100 million.
The job of creating G-Shock began in 1981 when the calculator company wanted to create a rugged watch that would not break even if dropped.
After over 200 prototypes, a hollow watch case structure was finally devised that supported the core module at certain points. This became the DW-5000C, the first G-Shock watch model, which launched in 1983.
With the release of this watch, G-Shock changed the perception that wristwatches are inherently fragile and susceptible to shocks, and established the rugged watch category.
History of Key G-SHOCK Models
|
Year |
Model |
Features |
|
1983 |
DW-5000C |
First G-SHOCK shock-resistant watch |
|
1985 |
DW-5500C |
Square-shaped face with dust/dirt-proof construction |
|
1987 |
DW-5600C |
Best-selling model and successor to the square-shaped DW-5000 |
|
1989 |
AW-500 |
Adopted a combination of analog and digital display |
|
1990 |
DW-5900C/DW-6000 |
First hit model in Japan, employing a new face design |
|
1992 |
DW-6100 |
First model with a temperature sensor |
|
1993 |
DW-6300 |
First Frogman diving model, water resistant to a depth of 200 meters |
|
1994 |
“Dolphin & Whale |
First model supporting environmental protection |
|
1996 |
G Presents Lover’s Collection |
Pair of G-SHOCK and BABY-G watches (his and hers) |
|
1996 |
MRG-1 |
First of the MR-G series |
|
1996 |
MRG-100 |
Full-metal casing with shock-resistant construction |
|
1998 |
DW-9300 |
First Tough Solar G-SHOCK with solar-powered system |
|
2000 |
GW-100 |
First G-SHOCK watch with radio-controlled timekeeping |
|
2002 |
GW-300 |
First solar-powered radio-controlled G-SHOCK |
|
2008 |
GW-9200 |
First model with Multi-Band 6 technology for automatic time calibration using standard radio waves from six transmitters worldwide |
|
2008 |
GS-1200 |
First model with Tough Movement, a slim, analog, radio-controlled, solar-powered movement |
|
2010 |
GW-3000 |
Pilot’s watch resistant to centrifugal gravitational force |
|
2012 |
GW-4000 |
First G-SHOCK with TRIPLE G RESIST, featuring resistance to shock, centrifugal force, and vibration |
|
2012 |
GB-6900 |
First model able to link up with the wearer’s smartphone |
|
2012 |
GW-A1000 |
First model with Smart Access system, enabling smooth operation of a wide range of functions |
|
2014 |
GPW-1000 |
First G-SHOCK that receives both GPS signals and radio wave time-calibration signals transmitted from six stations worldwide |
|
2017 |
GPW-2000 |
First model with the Connected Engine 3-Way module that receives both radio wave and GPS time-calibration signals, while also connecting to time servers by pairing with a smartphone |
What does Apple iPhone sold number has to do with Casio watch or any other watches? I hope Apple didn’t pay you for the siding. Journalist at its best! My God!
Hey just be happy they posted this for free and quit your bitching. On a happy note I just received a mint Vintage MR-G-1 in the mail from Tokyo . Got it in a bid auction on E bay for a song. Love it!