DW-5000R the first G-Shock, rebuilt with a steel case and a light

What is new about the DW-5000R?

The DW-5000R is Casio's re-creation of the DW-5000C, the watch that launched G-Shock in 1983. Casio announced it on 28 November 2024 as part of its 50 years in the watch business, and unlike earlier anniversary reissues it is a standard, non-limited model. The UK reference is DW-5000R-1AER.

Casio says the band reproduces the original's length, shape and dimple positions, and that the face keeps the red, blue and yellow accents. The bezel returns to the original's flat top, with no raised PROTECTION or G-SHOCK lettering of the kind seen on reissues since 2001. A Hodinkee feature republished by Casio adds that JAPAN now appears in the brick pattern on the lower part of the display, a detail missing from earlier reissues. The watch is made at Yamagata Casio, the factory that built the original.

Two things are modern. The first is a high-brightness LED backlight, which the 1983 watch never had. The second is bio-based resin for the bezel and band, which Casio says reduces environmental impact.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Casio lists the case at 48.9 mm long, 42.3 mm wide and 13.1 mm thick, with a weight of 76 g. Casio states the width has grown from the original's 41.6 mm. G-Central notes it is still slightly smaller than the DW-5600, GW-5000 and previous DW-5000 anniversary models, so it should sit neatly on smaller wrists. The band fits wrists from 145 to 205 mm.

The steel centre case makes it heavier than an all-resin square. Fratello describes it as having heft without the anchor-like weight of the full-metal models, and one of its readers found it thicker and heavier than his DW-5600E. The screw-lock caseback sits flush, which owners on the Relojes Especiales forum say makes it feel more settled than a GW-M5610U.

What movement does it use, and how accurate is it?

It runs on a conventional quartz module, which G-Central identifies as module 3576, powered by a CR2016 battery. Casio quotes about five years of battery life and accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds per month. There is no solar charging, no Bluetooth and no radio time sync.

Functions match a modern DW-5600: a stopwatch measuring to a hundredth of a second with split and first and second place times, a 24-hour countdown timer with auto-repeat, a multi-function alarm, an hourly signal, a flash alert and a full auto-calendar to 2099. G-Central points out small display differences: the alarm indicators sit on the right as on the original, FLASH is spelled out in text, and the stopwatch shows a larger SPL marker. It also notes the DW-5000R lacks the adjustable date format and day language of the GW-5000U.

How well is it built?

The spec sheet reads like a proper G-Shock. Water resistance is 200 m, the glass is mineral, and the module sits in the hollow, suspended structure Kikuo Ibe devised for the first model, now with refined cushioning parts. According to the Hodinkee feature, the reissue has to pass more than 100 current test criteria. Casio's Super Illuminator LED has an afterglow, so the light stays on briefly after you let go of the button.

Fratello praises the bio-resin as flexible rather than fragile, and calls the stainless steel pin buckle an accurate match for the original.

Is it good value against its rivals?

The RRP is £179. That is a lot more than Fratello's quoted £99 for the DW-5600RL-1ER, which has the same water resistance and a similar five-year battery. Fratello also lists the GW-M5610U-1ER at £135, and that one adds Tough Solar charging and Multiband 6 radio sync. So on features alone the DW-5000R loses to cheaper squares.

The more natural rival is the GW-5000HS. Notebookcheck reports a UK price of £279 for it, and it pairs a screw-back square case with solar power and radio sync. If you want a premium square that never needs a battery, that is the one to look at. The DW-5000R makes its case on originality: steel case, flat bezel, Japanese manufacture and the 1983 look, for £100 less.

What is the catch?

You are paying extra for history. There is no solar, no atomic timekeeping and no world time, and the battery will need changing eventually. Some owners also mention the screen: one Fratello reader returned his because the display washed out at certain angles, and forum owners say straight-on legibility in direct light can be weaker than off-axis. Stock has also been patchy, with Notebookcheck reporting that UK stock sold out quickly after launch before being replenished in January 2025.

“It is the 1983 G-Shock with a steel heart and a light, and it asks you to pay for the story.”

What do owners say?

Themes from public owner feedback, paraphrased. We never copy Amazon reviews or ratings.

• Owners say it feels heavier and better made than a GW-M5610U, with a flush screw-down caseback, easier buttons and louder beeps

  Relojes Especiales forum (opens in a new tab)

• Owners report good viewing angles but weaker legibility when looking straight on in direct light

  Relojes Especiales forum (opens in a new tab)

• Several owners miss solar charging, radio sync and world time, and see it as more of a collector's piece than a daily tool

  Relojes Especiales forum (opens in a new tab)

• Some owners think the price is high for a basic watch, while others see it as fair for a 1983-style G-Shock made in Japan

  Relojes Especiales forum (opens in a new tab)