Casio G-Shock DW-5600VT - XLarge Ltd Edn

I've now blogged a few different XLarge (or X-Large) watches, but today's is one of the big collaborations they did.

This watch is the collaboration between XLarge and Casio to produce a limited edition G-Shock watch. The watch is a G-Shock DW-5600 design which is designated DW-5600VT. The -VT models seem to be the mark for the line of watches where Casio released the limited editions, and there have been many different designs produced over the years.

This limited edition looks to have been released around 2006 or 2007, but I don't have any information on the number of units produced. It was a Japanese market version (as it has the Foxfire name), but was officially sold in one store in the US, the XLarge store in Los Angeles. This isn't a common model, so they seem to command a high price in the second hand market. The model has the same case shape as the regular DW-5600, but has the XLarge name under the glass above the LCD. The strap is also covered by a faint pattern of leaves and flowers. The el-backlight reveals a red image of the XLarge clothing name and Ape logo. The XLarge name is also engraved in the centre of the back plate.

The DW-5600 watch is an LCD design with a 2 line LCD display. The LCD shows day and date along the top, with the 6 digit time along the bottom. The date is shown on a little box in the top left, and during the other modes, the time is shown here. Inside is a 1545 module which gives the watch time, alarm, stopwatch, and timer modes. The module start date is 1995 which shows the design has been around for a while.

Casio G-Shock Foxfire DW-8195 Crazy Gangsters

I like the old G-Shocks from the early lines, especially the 90s models which seem to be quite common in my collection.

Today's watch is another 90s model and this time one of the Foxfire models. The Foxfire models seem to be a Japan only version where the Foxfire text replaces the Illuminator text on the watch face. According to MyGShock, the Foxfire name may come from the fact that Foxfire is a term for the bioluminescence from a certain fungi, and this even featured in a Mark Twain novel.

This model is a special edition with the number DW-8195 and was one of 9 watches under the Crazy Gangsters (or Crazy Gang Stars) name. They were a 90s G-Shock series and were released in June 1995 with an original sale price of ¥15,000. All of the models have a different picture which has a military theme, and this is the purple model with a helmet, wings, and a sword design in the backlight. It has a fabric strap with leather back, and on the part of the case where the strap connects is a metal plate with the word Gangsters imprinted on it. This models specific model number is DW-8195-1A6.

The watch is powered by a 1430 module and has a rectangular LCD with 3 sections. The bottom of the display has the 6 digits of the time, and across the middle are 5 LCD blocks which fill and empty with the seconds. The top of the display has a dot matrix array with quite large blocks. By default, the dot matrix array shows the day and date, but when the light is activated by the button on the front, the dot matrix shows 1 of 7 phrases (or 8 if you include the G symbol). The phrases are slang sayings and are: Hang, Party!, Do it!, 'S up?, Cool!, MEGA, and RAVE!.

Mode-wise, the watch isn't too loaded, only having stopwatch, timer, and alarm modes.

Casio G-Shock Raysman DW-9350 'naked'

Today's watch is one that has been damaged as I've seen with many others from this range.

The watch is a Casio G-Shock, and I've called this one 'naked' as it's missing the rubber/resin trim which comes around the front of the case. It seems that on some of the 90s models, this trim is prone to cracking and is often complete missing. These covers are extremely hard to come by, so I thought I'd still use the watch as the rest works perfectly.

The watch is part of the Raysman range which were the first of the tough solar G-Shocks. This is a Raysman DW-9350 and came out in May 1998. It is part of something called the Yacht series, which was linked to a Mediterranean Sea race around Malta, and represents the intellect and stamina required to race a yacht. Three watches were released in the yacht series, and this is the model DW-9350J-9T. This was the yellow model, and the back for this version shows an engraving of a bat hanging over the waves.

The watch uses a 1584 module, and has many features. It has a 30 slot data bank, alarm (x5), el-backlight, stopwatch, and timer. It mentions that is has a yacht timer - I don't know how this compares with a normal stopwatch, but you can get to that mode directly from the top right button. The original article suggests it can withstand water spray (20 bar), a small fire on board, or a small crash.

The display has 3 lines with a dot matrix along the top, and two lines of digits. This can show plenty of data with 6 digits for time, 6 digits for date, and day, and there is a circle for battery power in the top right.

The original sale price was ¥29,000.

Casio DW-310 LCD watch

Before Casio came out with their G-Shock range, they produced a line if heavy duty watches (normally with a HD logo on). This is one of the models in that line, but is a little different from the others I've seen.

The watch is a DW-310 and was released in 1982. This watch has the tough styling later found in the G-Shocks, as well as a large water resistance rating. My model of DW-310 here has a dive rating of 20 bar (or 200m water depth), however, there are others online which have the same model number, but a 300m rating (as well as the HD symbol which isn't shown here). This particular model also has the Alarm Chrono title engraved on the case which is missing from the other DW-310 pictures I've seen.

It uses a 690 module which has a 2 line LCD display. The top line covers day and date, while the bottom line is the time (with the squashed first digit and smaller seconds). It has dual time, alarm, stopwatch (down to 0.01 sec), and timer modes. Light is provided by a small orange bulb. There is also a button to turn REM on or off, and there is a marker on the LCD for that too. I don't exactly know what that is for, but my guess would be that it means reminder, and is for a chime function.

My watch doesn't have the original strap, but it looks quite good with this velcro type of strap instead.

Casio G-Shock Codename DW-8800

It's another G-Shock today as again I'm going to see LidoLido play (although he's gone upmarket, and doesn't sing about a G-Shock anymore! - correction: the G-Shock was back :-D) 

This is another of the 1990s models of G-Shock, and came out sometime between 1996 and 1998. This has a model number of DW-8800, and is from a line called Codename. It has a lot of spy sounding modes in the 1444 module as well as the normal ones. It has Contacts (100 slot Data Bank), Mission, Morse Code, Vital Statistics, stopwatch, and alarm.

The Vital Statistics mode has places for name, passport number, license number, birthday, and credit card details. Morse Code mode allows translation of Morse code into English or Japanese. I haven't worked out what the Mission is yet though..

It has the tough styling of the G-Shocks, and the main display is an LCD panel with two lines of 6 digits. There is a small mode dial on the LCD too, and at the top, there is a dot matrix array where any text is displayed (day, mode, name, etc.). Light is activated by the front mounted G button.

On the back of the watch is a lot of engraved text. This text shows signal signs (i guess to mark on the ground to alert aircraft) for all manner of occasions from 'doctor needed' through 'probably safe to land here' to 'require firearms and ammunition'.

Casio G-Shock DW-003

It's tough watch time today, and another from the Casio G-Shock range. Having been through a few of them on the blog now, it seems I have a thing for the 90s G-Shocks as that seems to be the majority of my collection.

This G-Shock is the DW-003. There were quite a few different versions called DW-003, but based on the use of a 1662 module, and a bit of digging, I think this is a DW-003RB-1T, which was released towards the end of November 1997. It seems to have only been a Japanese model, and was originally sold for 19,000 yen.

This model is part of a line called Rock & Native (using translation software...), and has a native American symbol of peace (a feather) on the strap. There were a few different watches in this line, each with a different backlight picture, and this one has a hedgehog (maybe porcupine) which signifies peace.

The watch has the rugged round G-Shock design with a thick screwed on case for protection, and the G light button  below the LCD. The LCD is shown over two window with a dot matrix array across the top (for showing day or mode), and a main window with two lines of 6 digits (6 digit date and time at the bottom).

The 1662 module gives it a good number of modes, covering data bank (30 slot telephone numbers), alarm, dual time, timer, and stopwatch.

Casio G-Shock DW-5600 Summer Gradation Midday White

I'm going to see a concert tonight by an artist called LidoLido. One if his songs has they lyrics "spending hours trying to change my comprehension of time, so I cop another G-Shock", and he gestures to a white G-Shock he always wears. So today, it seemed right to wear a white G-Shock!

Today's Casio G-Shock is a more modern model than most of my G-Shock posts. This model was released in May 2007 and was part of a range called Summer Gradation. The range came in 3 colours, and were based on the colours of the sun and ocean on a summers day. This model is the white version called Midday White, with an ocean coloured face, and had a full model number of DW-5600L-7.

The DW-5600 watches use a 1545 module, and are much more basic in look (and less rugged looking) than a lot of the G-Shocks. It does have the standard alarm, timer, and stopwatch modes, but none of the special features, sensors, or animated displays found on other models. It is of course still shock resistant, and water resistant to 20 bar.

The display is a 2 row LCD panel with time (6 digits) along the bottom, and day and date across the top.

These models are quoted to normally be most popular with the young surfers as they don't need the same protection for their watches as other more extreme sports fans, and the designs often represent more beach and sea themes.

Casio Surfing Timer DW-403

Another Casio LCD watch today, but rarely for an LCD, it has a rotating bezel.

The watch is called the Surfing Timer by Casio, and is designed for ease of use for surfers. It is 20 bar (200m) water resistant, and has large metal protruding buttons for ease of use. Even the band on the strap to hold the loose end is metal for extra strength.

The LCD display has 3 sections with numbers, and two graphical sections. The numbered sections are (from the top): month, date and day, time (6 digits). The graphical bits are bars for the seconds, one filling by the second, and the other in groups of 5.

The watch feels quite colourful with the black of the face, silver red and blue of the LCD, and the gold of the bezel. It came out in 1991 and there was also an inverse LCD version (which states 200m instead of 20 bar).

The model number is DW-403 and it has a 906 module with a countdown (surf) timer, stopwatch, and alarm. The bezel has many segments covering kilometres and nautical miles, and these correspond to the minute marks on the face.

The strap is made of resin, and has the watches name, Casio, and the water resistance printed on it. It's part number is F2 294.

Casio Penta Graph DW-7200

Some watches have a look which makes you think "High Tech", either because they have a futuristic feel, or, like today's watch, they appear so stuffed with dials and moving bits that they must do a lot.

This watch is a Casio Penta Graph, which is one of a group of watches released by Casio that got their name due to featuring 5 LCD dials. In time mode, four of the dials fill up with the seconds (15 sec each), while the 5th doesn't appear to show much. During the stopwatch mode, the 4 dials represent 60ths of a second. The 5th dial seems to function during the timer mode, with different segments representing different options for the start time. There are also alarm functions, and a mode called CT which I haven't worked out yet.

The other part of the display is a two line LCD display, with time along the top (6 digits), and year, day, and date, in small digits below.

It uses a 928 module, and has a model number of DW-7200. It also has a strap part number of AA81B-L.
The watch was released in 1990, and came in various colours, with either metal, resin, or leather strap. There are also slight differences in the face, with the watch showing the water resistance as either "20 bar", or "200m".

Casio G-Shock DW-610

Today it's the third of my mini G-Shock watches. They were meant to have been blogged in order, but this 'middle' version comes last due to me picking up the wrong one last time.

This model is the DW-610, and is the third in my DW-6xx range. As with the DW-600 and DW-620 that I've blogged earlier (here and here), this is a smaller size G-Shock watch which was one of the last small versions in the full G-Shock range (released in Dec 1994) before the introduction of the Baby-G in May 1995.

It uses a 1416 module which has the same general features, but different layout, as the DW-620's 1419 module. There is a 6 digit LCD display with smaller seconds, and a squashed first digit. I'm the middle of the face there is a round segment with a 5x5 dot matrix LCD display. This normally shows a letter G which rotates for 2 seconds every 10 seconds, but also shows the letters of the mode name when not in time mode. When the el-backlight is illuminated, this display shows an animated stickman surfing (maybe snowboarding), performing tricks, and wiping out at the end. Like the other mini G-Shocks and Baby-Gs this watch is only 100m water resistant (compared to 200m for a regular G-Shock).

Casio G-Shock DW-620

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged one of the smaller G-Shock watches in the DW-6xx range. I have 3 different versions and had planned to blog them in numerical order, but picked up the wrong one this morning. So here is the DW-620.
The DW-620 was released in December 1994, and was one of only a few (and the last) small G-Shocks that were released before the Baby-G range was started. One site I've seen also suggested that this version was also nicknamed London
The watch has a 1419 module with an LCD display. The main display has two lines with the date in 4 digits along the top, and a 6 digit time display (with a squashed first digit in 24-hr mode). There is also a small 5x5 dot matrix LCD panel above the time which normally shows a large G that rotates (for 2 sec) every 10 seconds. This display also shows sequential letters of the mode that the watch is in when not in time mode (AL, TR, ST), and when the el-backlight is activated, it displays a dancing stick-man who sits down at the end.
Apart from the time, the watch has alarm, timer, and stopwatch.

Casio G-Shock DW-600

I recently purchased a few G-Shocks in the DW range, which were smaller than the usual G-Shock watches.

This watch was released in December 1994 along with a few other designs labeled DW-6x0, but they were all small. This particular model is the DW-600.

These watches were actually the forerunners to the Baby-G which came out in May 1995, so were one of only a few small true G-Shock watches Casio released.

It uses a 1104 module which has a two row LCD display showing day and date along the top, and 6 digit time along the bottom (but with the right-most digit appearing narrower than the others). Mode-wise, the watch has alarm and stopwatch functions, and the mode button is also used to cycle through to the time setting mode.

Shape-wise, it is a normal shock resistant design, but has a wire attached set of bumper bars protecting the glass.

I'm not sure what this exact variants full model number is, but the strap part number is 426F214.

Casio G-Shock G'Mix DW-9500RL

The weather forecast for today was horrible and stormy so I needed a waterproof watch, and this G-Shocks 20 bar water resistance was perfect.

This Casio G-Shock is part of the G'Mix range and is part of a collection with Rock and Tribal themes called Tribal Fist. The watches have a Native American pictograph in the backlight, and this one is for a storm cloud. The designs in this collection were made by Dan L Lomahaftewa.

The model number is DW-9500RL-1T, and the watch was released in November 1998 for 19,000 yen.
It has the normal G-Shock functions of timer, stopwatch, and alarm, but has a couple of additional functions too. The 1940 module also has a bpm feature that plays a beep at a set frequency (which can be switched to light), and a beat function. When the beat function is chosen, you press the front G button at the frequency of the beat you want to measure, and the watch tells ou the bpm.

All of this is shown on the 3 section LCD display. The bottom display is a 6 digit display normally showing time. The top display has a 4 digit row, as well as a dot matrix line for text. The last display is a small dial with 60 segments in a circle counting seconds.