Whoa... I See You G-Shock! Oh You Fancy Huh?

[TXSTYLE]

This is certainly unique with exotic materials (COBARION) and a unique color scheme. There are only 300 being made with a price of @ $8,000.

G-Shock MRG 2019 Basel Edition Gassan

https://www.casio-watches.com/basel/...g-g2000ga.html

[overcoil]

I’d been following that watch for about 3 or 4 months. And I think they’re unavailable - guess they were all sold ?

I like the look. The price is obviously ridiculous, but in the $8000 price range (new) even the Swiss and German offerings aren’t nearly as outrageous and probably overpriced.

[TXSTYLE]

This MRG line as a whole looks damn good:




And this Hammer Tone Limited Edition from 2018 is nice as well:

The MRG-G2000HA is a massive 49.8mm in diameter, 16.9mm in height and weighs 152g. On the wrist, it is surprisingly light for its proportions.

The watch is a “Tough Solar” G-Shock, which means it’s charged via sunlight and powered by Casio’s proprietary Connected Engine 3-Way, which keeps accurate time anywhere in the world via GPS, terrestrial radio waves, or a Bluetooth connection to a paired smartphone.

It also boasts a glut of other features including automatic correction of the position of the hands, a chronograph and countdown timer, an alarm function, a calendar correct to 2099, day and date display. And time can be displayed in 39 time zones.

[lsturbointeg]

Looks cool...not so much about the price

[GuidoK]

It still looks like a 200 dollar watch to me...

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

I’d been following that watch for about 3 or 4 months. And I think they’re unavailable - guess they were all sold ?

I like the look. The price is obviously ridiculous, but in the $8000 price range (new) even the Swiss and German offerings aren’t nearly as outrageous and probably overpriced.

I went back and looked at the email I was sent. Apparently they have One in stock: https://www.watches.com/g-shock-mrg-...eid=f5c092b23d

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

It still looks like a 200 dollar watch to me...

Same here. If I'm going to drop $8k on a timepiece, it isn't going to be a casio.

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by Now_Rudi

Same here. If I'm going to drop $8k on a timepiece, it isn't going to be a casio.

Oh no doubt! But I appreciate "unique and limited pieces". Even if it's not for me.

[King Rudi]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

Oh no doubt! But I appreciate "unique and limited pieces". Even if it's not for me.

I'm not disagreeing with you there. If a person wants to sell me something quickly, tell me how few of them there are available to public. Exclusivity is my Kryptonite.

[Maynard]

That comes with a full sized VW nose-trim piece on a huge gold chain, right?

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by Maynard

That comes with a full sized VW nose-trim piece on a huge gold chain, right?

More like a pair of Samurai Swords to chop down the haters...

[lsturbointeg]

Do you know what I'd rather spend $8k on?

[Nivarox]

I would rather have a Grand Seiko for it .I think digital display G Shock models are nicer to me

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

More like a pair of Samurai Swords to chop down the haters...

Not a hater, but this is a very bold and distinctive style. I actually miss the old days of extremist styles (now it is just tattoos and piercings, which get kind of cringe-worthy as they get extreme). And despite coming from plebian roots, it probably has more metallurgy and finish details than in a typical $8K Rolex, even looks like they are going for wabi-sabi with that band.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Maynard

it probably has more metallurgy and finish details than in a typical $8K Rolex

I wonder about that.
I looked at what materials are used, and they're not particular expensive.
Exotic materials arent necessariy expensive. For example I also don't see a special movement (at least they dont show it), so the detailing on that is also unsure. With a Rolex, a significant portion goes in that too.
The color and 'recrystalized' titanium are both oven based processes I think (AIP is a pvd process, which is inexpensive)

The only thing I see, that could cost a lot of money, is those stripes made onto the centersegments of the bracelets. They are done by hand (if they write that those are done by hand, everything else probably isn't )
If thats the case, do we have here a ~$500 watch and a ~$7500 bracelet?

And it shows a bit in the website. All they write about is the cobarion bezel (cobarion is not an expensive metal and I doubt its more expensive than a ceramic bezel), and the surface treatments it underwent (and the hand finishing of the stripes on the bracelet).
Nothing is said about the movement, which makes this horologically about as interesting as a michael kors watch (ok, any other casio watch).
All watchmakers that are both renouned and sell expensive watches (way north of $5k) write about their movements.

[Grumpy Old Man]

So I can guarantee that it keeps better time than a Rolex, but it's still a Casio and it might be a limited production Casio, but it's still a Casio. They will sell, and who knows may go up in value because there are people out there who will collect anything and pay for it.

What would you rather have an entry level Porsche or a limited run Kia Rio?

Not my cup of tea.

[TheWatchGuy]

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/so...ld-g-d5000-9jr

Better g shock

[MKSixer]

Interesting but surely the Volkswagen Phaeton of watches. It's expensive and well appointed but still a Volkswagen.

[duder13]

This watch is an interesting proposition. Most mechanical watch brands entered the world of Veblen goods after the quartz crisis, where their price became completely disconnected from actual cost to make, and higher prices now mean "better." Now that quartz watch companies are going to enter their own crisis with the rise of smartwatches, I guess it's time for them to also go the Veblen route and raise the perception of their brands.

It wasn't THAT long ago that a Rolex Submariner was considered simply a tough dive watch that was a bit more expensive than many of its rivals, rather than a luxury good meant to show wealth. A G-Shock is kind of the Submariner of the '80s and '90s, so maybe it'll eventually go the same route with the younger generations.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by duder13

It wasn't THAT long ago that a Rolex Submariner was considered simply a tough dive watch that was a bit more expensive than many of its rivals, rather than a luxury good meant to show wealth.

Rolex always has been a brand that stood for luxury with comon people.
I remember in the early 90's (all time low time for mechanical watches) asking my parents to bring back a cheap fake rolex from one of their businesstrips to the east, to show off at a costumeparty or so (I wanted to go as sheik I think...)
A submariner also was expensive back in those days, and quite a step up from brands like breitling, tag, etc etc.
It definately wasnt just a tough dive watch.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Rolex always has been a brand that stood for luxury with comon people.
I remember in the early 90's (all time low time for mechanical watches) asking my parents to bring back a cheap fake rolex from one of their businesstrips to the east, to show off at a costumeparty or so (I wanted to go as sheik I think...)
A submariner also was expensive back in those days, and quite a step up from brands like breitling, tag, etc etc.
It definately wasnt just a tough dive watch.

‘90s??? I’m talking about the ‘50s and ‘60s. The quartz crisis came in the ‘70s and forced mechanical watchmakers to pivot.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by duder13

‘90s??? I’m talking about the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Ok. you wrote "not that long ago".
I dont know how old you are but the 50's was way before I was born and pretty much consider long ago.
If you dont consider 60-some odd years ago 'long ago', what do you consider 'long ago'?