The Feature-packed Casio G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4

Tyler Frederick

It’s a blast

This is the first time I’ve looked at a watch and thought, “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore…” I guess I just never thought I’d have a day where a watch made me think of The Wizard of Oz. I’m a fan of colourful dials; I’m a fan of G-SHOCK, specifically the DW5600, but I’ve never experienced a full-colour or full stainless steel G-SHOCK until this review, nor have I ever experienced a watch with such a rich and deep red colourway before. This was very unknown territory for me, but I’ll be honest, I had a blast getting to know the G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4.

^{Casio G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4 @horologyobsessed}

Check out the Tool Watch Lumecore Chronograph

Advertisement

Key Features of the G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4:

What’s in a name?

Casio always has the weirdest naming conventions for their models, and it’s difficult to remember them, much like Ibanez (Japanese guitar brand) and the models of their guitars; for example, my personal Ibanez RGEW521ZC. I decided to call the GMWB5000RD-4 the G-SHOCK “Goron.” Why Goron? It’s a play on the Goron Ruby as well as the Goron Tunic from the Nintendo classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time—one of the greatest games of all time, and one I revisit at least once every few months. I’m actually playing through it right now, which is why it came to mind. I was genuinely overwhelmed by how red the watch was when I pulled it out of the box, but the more time I spent with it, the more entranced I became, and the harder I started to fall.

Rectangular icon

As much as I love the DW5000/5600 series, I don’t have much experience with them. I’ve owned GA2100s and DW6900s previously, but I’ve never taken the time to wear the rectangular-cased icon, especially with a full stainless steel case and bracelet. This first experience was a unique change from my usual choice in watches, and it made me think about my preferences in a much deeper way. I’m a fan of wrist presence and heft in a watch, and the GMWB5000RD-4 definitely delivers. I was pleasantly surprised by how it felt on my wrist, considering its overall dimensions: a 43.2mm case diameter, 49.3mm lug-to-lug, and a thickness of 13mm. The overall size is usually out of my comfort zone, but considering the intention and the fact that these watches are meant more for adventure/outdoor use—at least that’s what I’ve picked up on—the sizing makes sense, but it is still slightly large and cumbersome for my overall preference.

Feature-packed

The best part about G-SHOCK is all the features packed into such a small form factor, especially with the premium offerings like the GMWB5000RD-4. Ready? World Timer (up to 39 time zones), Stopwatch, Timer, Alarm, Calendar, Energy Saving, Battery Display, Shock Resistant, 200m of water resistance, solar-powered (10 months on one full solar charge with normal use, not being exposed to light – 22 months in total darkness with energy saving on), and the time and settings can be changed thanks to its ability to connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth; it’s literally built for anything. The main selling feature for me is the stainless steel construction and its beautiful colour. To put it bluntly, the watch feels fantastic and is well integrated between the bracelet and case, and the consistency in the colouring is fantastic. As we’re in the heat of summer and many of us are enjoying time at the cottage, the beach, the pool, or wherever you see fit, this is such a great watch for all activities and one that’s hassle-free when it comes to overall use.

Specs

Case	Stainless Steel (Full Metal) 43.2mm Diameter 49.3mm Lug-to-Lug 13mm Thick 20mm Lug Width 200m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Mineral Glass Black/Grey Dial Digital Display
Movement	Casio Solar Digital Module 3459 10-months (single charge) 22-months (single charge, left in the dark with energy saving activated)
Strap	Stainless Steel Bracelet

G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4

Quibbles

Two words: fingerprint magnet. As much as I love the look and overall polish of the G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4, it collects fingerprints like crazy; even if you just look at it, there are somehow more fingerprints. I spent a lot of time with a cleaning cloth on this one, but that doesn’t take away from how cool it looks. On another note, the overall sizing is still too large for my wrist. It does feel great, and I know many will appreciate the sizing, but this at 41mm would be much better.

Final Thoughts

It’s red, big, bold, beautiful, rugged, and built for anything. I know there are many who will appreciate this watch more than I have had the capacity to. While I have enjoyed my time with it, it’s not something I would personally add to my collection, but it’s a great watch nonetheless. Its build quality is fantastic, its overall colour is stunning, and the amount of features jammed into one unit is wild, and I know that’s a standard for G-SHOCK. I should remind you about the fingerprints because that drove me partially insane, but if you can get past that and you’re already a deep lover of G-SHOCK, then you’ll love this.

Thank you, once again, to our friends at Gem Bijou for giving me the opportunity to check out the G-SHOCK GMWB5000RD-4. Until next time, thanks for reading!

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.

Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.