Casio is dropping its most expensive G-Shock ever, with the brand unveiling a stunning new collection featuring the notoriously tough watch crafted from brilliant blue sapphire crystal. The flagship model, the MRG-D5000, commands a jaw-dropping $80,000 price tag, making it a serious flex for watch enthusiasts and a bold move for a brand known for its accessible durability.
This ambitious "Blue Rose Project" is a nod to the elusive blue rose, a symbol of achieving the impossible. It's the culmination of an eight-year development cycle, stemming from an initial concept unveiled back in 2017. At G-Shock's 35th anniversary celebration, creator Kikuo Ibe showcased three sapphire prototype watches – clear, ruby, and sapphire blue. These were intricate, taking over a month each to machine due to the difficulty of working with sapphire at the time, and while they featured advanced Casio tech like Tough Solar and Multiband 6, they sadly didn't meet G-Shock's shock-resistance standards and were never meant for sale.
Fast forward to today, and G-Shock has cracked the code. The MRG-D5000 is the first retail G-Shock with an entire outer case and bezel carved from blue sapphire. This super-limited edition will see only 20 pieces produced, placing it in rarefied air alongside high-end luxury brands. It’s a stark contrast to Casio’s more budget-friendly offerings, showcasing the extreme ends of their manufacturing capabilities.
While the 2017 prototypes struggled with shock resistance, the new MRG-D5000 leverages the MR-G engineering team's innovative "Multi-Guard Structure." This technique, inspired by traditional Japanese timber-frame construction, divides the outer case into interlocking components to better disperse impact, a crucial adaptation for the inherently brittle sapphire. This allows the watch to maintain G-Shock’s legendary toughness without compromising the sapphire's integrity.
The collection also includes the $9,500 MRG-B5000SA-2, limited to 500 pieces with two two-carat blue sapphires and a titanium exterior, and the $850 GMW-B5000SB-1A, featuring a full-metal black exterior adorned with four round brilliant-cut blue sapphires. All three timepieces boast 200-meter water resistance, solar power, radio-controlled timekeeping, and a suite of other practical functions, proving that even at these extreme price points, core G-Shock functionality remains.
