Credits: Article and images by @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/08/18/casio-g-shock-ga-2100-casioak-review-is-it-still-worth-buying/
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Model Comparison
There are now several different ‘CasiOak’ on offer – the standard GA-2100, slightly smaller GMA-S2100, solar GA-B2100 and full metal GM-B2100. The retail price for the standard model is $99 compared to the solar at $150 and steel from $550. The reality is, go for whatever model you like the look of.
Casio G-Shock Metal CasiOak
I know that a lot of people are a fan of the solar-powered aspect of G-Shocks and with that in mind, it is only marginally more expensive than the standard model. That extra £30 will get you the Tough Solar technology from G-Shock and Bluetooth connectivity, which means the time is kept up to date with your phone. Some nice additions for not much more.
Casio G-Shock Full Metal GM-B2100
Then we get to the full metal version which is a jump up in price by some margin. I get it. People wanted a metal ‘CasiOak’ so it resembled a Royal Oak as much as possible. There are many mod kits out there that were used as a quick fix to achieve this without Casio getting involved, but Casio listened to their consumers and produced a full metal version. The watch is ultimately the same as the solar models apart from the case and bracelet material.
If this is something that appeals to you, then great. However, for me, I don’t fully understand it. Considering the watch is the same as the solar version, you are paying a 3x premium for the metal finishing.
I don’t have the numbers, but I highly doubt that the metal case material used is worth that, even if there are some additional finishing touches. Furthermore, spending upwards on $500 on a watch suddenly becomes a more serious purchase when you compare it to $100. There is more consideration that needs to take place and within that consideration, the competition must be a part of that equation.
At $550, the competition is strong, to say the least, and I couldn’t see myself picking the metal ‘CasiOak’ over a Tissot PRX and the standard ‘CasiOak’ for example.
Again, this is my opinion, but what makes the resin watch so appealing is the affordable price point. It is fun and offers great value for money, especially when you consider the standard ‘CasiOak’ can be found from online retailers with regular discounts bringing the price down to around the £70 mark.
Conclusion
The question that needed answering was whether the ‘CasiOak’ is still worth buying today or is it just hype. Unquestionably, the answer is yes, it should be on your radar, and it is a very solid watch, especially at the price. The ‘CasiOak’ brings together the core of what defines a G-Shock but in a more manageable, modern and simple package.
In doing so, they have made a very capable watch that has an extra dose of versatility. It has shown that the hype was not for nothing. Is it the best watch under $100? I believe so. I have a few Swatches in my collection and the presence the ‘CasiOak’ has on the wrist far exceeds them.
Casio G-Shock CasiOak
There are of course other watches in this range from Citizen and Casio for example, but the ‘CasiOak’ has got the recipe for a great watch spot on. This makes it hard to compete against, and don’t forget the range has progressed and there is now a broad set of color options, sizes and even materials.
If you are looking for something affordable and fun, yet still capable, the ‘CasiOak’ should be on your list.
For more information, please visit https://gshock.casio.com/us/products/analog-digital/ga-2100/
Quick Facts Casio G-Shock GA-2100
Functions: World time: 31 time zones (48 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off
Countdown timer Measuring unit: 1 second Countdown range: 24 hours Countdown start time setting range: 1 second to 24 hours (1-second increments, 1-minute increments and 1-hour increments)
1/100-second stopwatch Measuring capacity: 00’00”00~59’59”99 (for the first 60 minutes) 1:00’00~23:59’59 (after 60 minutes) Measuring unit: 1/100 second (for the first 60 minutes) 1 second (after 60 minutes) Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
5 daily alarms
Hourly time signal
Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
12/24-hour format
Hand shift feature (Hands move out of the way to provide an unobstructed view of digital display contents.)
Regular timekeeping: Analog: 2 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 20 seconds)), 1 dial (day) Digital: Hour, minute, second, pm, month, date
Case: carbon/resin
Dimensions: 48.5mm x 45.4mm x 11.8mm high
Movement: quartz, Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
Weight: 51 grams
Power reserve/battery life: 3 years
Water resistance: 200 meters
Price: $99
You can read more articles by Raman Kalra at www.thewatchmuse.com.
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Credits: Article and images by @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/08/18/casio-g-shock-ga-2100-casioak-review-is-it-still-worth-buying/
