GAC-100 Big New Analog G-Shock

Due out sometime in September (no announcement yet for the US market) Casio’s new analog watch should stir up some action among the G-Shock fans.

Press Release – “TOKYO, August 10, 2012 — Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the release of tough new shock-resistant watches in its G-SHOCK lineup. The new GAC-100 chronograph watches feature robust designs inspired by the idea of a submarine hatch, with an analog face designed to express dynamism and strength.

“Each watch in the new GAC-100 series puts the signature toughness of a G-SHOCK into a large case with a bold new face design. The elaborate, multilayer watchface is finished with three-dimensional numeral markers and indicators that show the underlying parts to give a dynamic impression. The powerful design further distinguishes the watch by using muscular hour and minute hands and a large crown guard and side buttons.

: A rose gold model has been added to this series – click to check it out

: Click to view the extra large images of this new series.

“The new watches are packed with cutting-edge functionality. They feature a 1/20-second stopwatch and magnetic resistance on top of the shock-resistant construction. A luminous coating is applied to the hour and minute hands to ensure visibility. The series comes in three colors: the GAC-100-1A presents a solid impression with red and silver on a black base, the GAC-100-1A2 exudes a cool feel with tasteful placement of metallic blue, and the GAC-100-8A strikes a fashionable pose with its use of khaki. These big-case G-SHOCK watches offer a tough new design with an analog face with zero compromise in practicality.”

GAC-100 Specifications

Construction/Capabilities — Shock-resistant, magnetic-resistant (ISO764)

Water Resistance — 200 meters

Stopwatch — 1/20-second; capacity: 12 hrs; elapsed; split; 1st & 2nd place times

Accuracy at Normal Temperature — ±20 seconds per month

Approx. Battery Life — 3 years on SR927SW

Size of Case 55.0 × 52.7 × 16.6 mm

A friend called to let me know that I was misreporting the features on this new model and should take a new look. This is an all analog – quartz watch in a fancy G-Shock package. It does not have a lot of the features that are expected on even the least expensive units in the line. No countdown timer, world time, back-light, moon-tide graph, alarm, etc. It is a decent looking, durable plastic chrono – that’s all.

UPDATE – October 2, 2012 – Casio has announced that two of these watches (GAC100-1A and GAC100-8a) will be available in November at Macys, Bloomindales, etc for $150. What do you think of that? For some inexplicable reason Casio has changed the theme from being submarine hatch cover inspired to the blockade style. They got me stumped on that one.