G-SHOCK's Iconic Styles series is a journey back in time. The latest batch of timepieces from the renowned Japanese watchmaker goes back as far as 1983, spanning the new millennium — an era of rapid innovation and unfading ingenuity that shaped the brand's most iconic models, starting with the first model DW-5000C
Each watch in this collection, including the DW-5000, DW-5600, DW-6900, GA-110, and GA-2100, meticulously replicates its original predecessor, including the small details visible to loyal fan of the brand. For serious collectors, the Iconic Styles series reflects the brand's long history of design, with retro elements that perform as well as new.
G-SHOCK approaches this collection as a faithful guardian of the original design. These models first became popular among urban sporting subcultures, such as surfers, skateboarders, and parkour enthusiasts. The brand later gained celebrity support driven by film, hip-hop, and rap, as well as cultural clout from prominent fashion brands in the early to mid-'90s.
The signature octagonal face design of the digital DW-5000R-1A resembles the DW-5000C, which introduced a shock-resistant structure. Like the original, the case uses stainless steel, and the band and bezel now include a bio-based resin that reduces the impact on the environment.
The design of the watch faithfully reproduces the original band length and the exact position of the dimples on the bezel. Brand colors like red, yellow, and blue feature technologies that help with water and shock resistance, and an iconic brick pattern covers the dial display.
Nostalgic elements can also be seen on the mirror-polished screw-lock caseback, which is inscribed “SHOCK Resistant.” The clock includes a multi-function alarm, flash alert, and Super Illuminator LED backlight. The screw-lock case and brick pattern are subtle designs absent from the second-generation DW-5600RL-1.
While the digital DW-6900RL-1 differs from the square construction of the DW-5600 line, it has a round clock face and reinforces another milestone in 1995 where the brand introduced the Triple Graph display with front button. Circular dials complement the clock face, which sits atop an LCD face given heritage coating, printing, and surface finishes, with bio-based resin components on the case, bezel, and band.
When the GA-110 arrived in 2010, it retained the circular face design of the DW-6900. The GA-110RL-1A introduced an analog-digital display with an oversized case, and rivet-style detailing on the bezel. The GA-110 range is known for using a steampunk-inspired design. It has a bio-based resin build, millisecond stopwatch, speedometer, and JIS class-1 magnetic resistance. Finally, the GA-2100 line completes the collection, bringing a streamlined analog-digital display in a sleek format inspired by the original DW-5000.
All four of these models have a countdown timer, stopwatch, 20-bar water resistance, shock resistance, and additional specs unique to each line. The Iconic Styles collection reflects the spirit of durability that Kikuo Ibe's DW-5000C is known for. As classic silhouettes, these models reflect contemporary fashion trends while showcasing design rooted in strong aesthetics and practical utility.
Shop the nostalgic collection now on the G-SHOCK website. Find out more about the brand's latest releases here.
