Japanese watchmaker G-Shock has built a reputation for rugged, sporty, affordable, reliable quartz watches.

Beginning with the square-shaped DW-5000C in 1983, G-Shock has offered industry-leading shock resistance (and virtually indestructible watches) — relied on by consumers and professionals around the world — ever since. Those values continue with the extension of the popular contemporary G-Shock GA-2100 collection, introduced in 2019, with its distinctive octagonal (non-square) case shape (referred to unofficially as the “CasiOak”).

In addition to being durable, Casio manufactures some of its watches with state-of-the-art timekeeping technologies such as radio-controlled atomic, GPS, and Bluetooth, which deliver incredible levels of precision that few can match. Many G-Shock watches also offer solar charging. Some even offer heart rate, blood oxygen, thermometer, altimeter, barometer, and compass measurements. The all-new G-Steel GM2110D does not have any of these bells and whistles yet still maintains the typical G-Shock accouterments, such as a stopwatch, countdown timer, alarms, world time, perpetual calendar a high-brightness double LED light, and more.

Even without high-tech features such as automatic radio-controlled or Bluetooth timekeeping to sync your watch, G-Shock watches deliver high accuracy without assistance. The new G-Steel GM2110D is a perfect example, with a precise rate of -15/+15 seconds per month. It’s worth noting that many mechanical watches strive to deliver this level of accuracy per day, let alone over a 30-day period. If you want mobile phone-level precision, down to the second, you will have to go with a Bluetooth-equipped model.

Casio’s “Tough Solar” charging is a nice feature that keeps your watch fully charged as long as it periodically receives artificial or natural sunlight, however, naturally, like Bluetooth, that convenience costs more. Powering the Japanese-made quartz module 5611 are two SR726W batteries that last up to 3 years. That means no charging is needed at all. You’ll need to replace them periodically, which is one of the easiest services a watch technician or watchmaker can do (and you can do it yourself easily). And remember, there’s a reason so many military, police, fire, and other professionals rely on G-Shocks in the field: they are rugged and reliable, even without a mobile phone signal.

Casio has advanced manufacturing processes to produce attractive semi-translucent watch dials that let in light to recharge the power on solar models. However, when manufacturing the dial on the new G-Steel GM2110D — which does not feature solar power — the designers have fewer technical restraints and can therefore create a traditional-looking dial, such as the sunburst dials seen on all five models of the GM2110D. The highly legible dial also offers prominent indices, large analog hour and minute hands, an analog day-of-the-week hand (not cluttered with numerous functions), and a digital multi-function subdial.

Introduced last month, the all-new G-Steel GM2110D collection consists of five new variations of the octagonal-shaped  2100 Series, all with stainless steel bracelets, and at prices significantly under what the Full Metal GMB2100 Series starts at. Some of the more premium features seen on watches like the Full Metal GMB2100, have been omitted, such as the Bluetooth and solar functionality (as mentioned above). However, despite Casio utilizing a less premium bracelet production technique (which I’ll discuss below), compared to the full metal, the bezel, top, and sides of the case are forged from a single block of stainless steel, like the more expensive Full Metal versions. Ultimately, the inner case is not as robust, but you’re still getting a stainless steel model for $250 less.

The bracelet is created with a folded (stamped) production method, which is generally not preferred compared to a forged solid stainless steel bracelet, however, Casio did a great job with the aesthetics and the feel of the bracelet. It’s worth noting that the end links that attach directly to the case lugs and have a firm structure (which you can see reinforced underneath with black resin), which makes the watch wear more like a watch with a longer lug-to-lug length. I thought it would be a problem, but after significant testing on my 7″ wrist, I found it to be fine.

Having to change the bracelet via link pins that are accessible only in the center of each link, is something I’ve never seen, and this will presumably make changing the bracelet more cumbersome than traditional bracelet link pins that are accessed from the exterior edges of each link. Although once you get it sized, ideally, you’ll only have to adjust between one of the three clasp micro adjustment positions, which should be done by a watch technician or watchmaker, but can be adjusted relatively easily with a pin-pusher tool. The bracelet has a deployant clasp with a push button release, and with the 3 micro adjustment slots it should give most wearers the perfect fit.

There’s a lot to like about the new GM2110 collection, and the painted lume is excellent, however, as we’ve seen on other more accessibly-priced models, Casio does not apply lume to the indices, just the hour and minute hands. It looks good, but pragmatically makes telling the time in low-light situations more reliant on the on-demand LED light, which works great but we would like to see lume applied to the indices, even on the lower-priced models.

Verdict

The G-Steel GM2110D is the latest of G-Shock’s popular, contemporary octagonal-shaped timepiece collection, available in five variations: sky blue, lime green, orange, navy blue, and silver.

The build is not as robust as the Full Metal collection, which comes with a forged solid stainless steel bracelet and a more durable case construction, however, the entire bezel and top of the case are in fact forged from a single piece of stainless steel. And while the bracelet is crafted from folded stainless steel that’s objectively not as robust as a solid stainless steel bracelet — the tapered fit, and lightweight feel (perhaps as a result of more space between the links and less steel being used), remind me of vintage steel watch bracelets (even if the watch is fundamentally contemporary) — which is to say there’s a certain charm to it.

The case thickness is fine, and the case diameter and length are well restrained, however, those with smaller wrists might find the 44.4 mm in diameter and 48 mm lug-to-lug length a tad large. As an alternative, there’s a smaller collection, marked as women’s models that are 40 mm in diameter and 45.6 mm lug-to-lug, that will fit smaller wrists best, and they can be considered unisex, though most do lean towards feminine colors. As we’ve stated before, this seems like a great opportunity to market the collection in two sizes, but for now, this is how the lines are presented.

Casio’s G-Steel GM2110D brings us back to basics with the lack of connectivity and solar, an old-school bracelet, and standard non-cluttered sunburst pattern analog-digital dials — yet delivers a resolutely contemporary, fashionable octagonal case, in your choice of five colors.

The retail price is $300.

 

SPECIFICATIONS:

G-Shock G-Steel GM2110D

Reference: GM2110D-2A – light blue, GM2110D-3A – lime green, GM2110D-4A – orange

Year: 2024

Total Weight:  144 grams (146 grams stated)

Case Material: carbon/bio-based resin/stainless steel

Case Diameter:  44.4 mm

Case Thickness: 12 mm (11.8 mm stated)

Lug-to-lug: 48 mm (49.3 mm stated)

Crown Diameter: no crown

Glass: mineral crystal (slightly armored)

Movement:  Japanese quartz module 5611

Battery: SR726W x 2

Depth Rating: 200 meters

Bracelet: 25 mm at lugs/20 mm at clasp /18 mm tapered