Eight Years Later, the Best Thing About My G-SHOCK Is That Water Stays Out

I bought this G-SHOCK about eight years ago.

It is a GAS-100B, and if memory serves, it cost around ¥12,000 at the time. I liked the white case and chunky design, but after living with it for years, the reason I trust it has very little to do with looks.

I can surf with it, and the water stays out.

That is the whole story, really.

Wipeouts have not been a problem

I leave it on when I go into the ocean. It has been through waves, wipeouts and plenty of seawater without complaint.

In my case, probably more wipeouts than the average surfer. There may have been more time spent tumbling inside waves than riding them cleanly.

So this watch has faced a fairly harsh environment—mostly because its owner was not very good at surfing.

KAZUKIN wearing a white G-SHOCK while being thrown through the air by a large wave — The G-SHOCK performs regardless of the surfer's skill. The same cannot always be said for the surfer.

Even so, no water has entered the watch in eight years. A waterproof watch doing its job might sound ordinary, but surviving years of real surfing, repeated submersion and repeated wipeouts still feels impressive.

Tough Solar means almost no maintenance

The other feature I appreciate is Tough Solar. Sunlight works, of course, but normal indoor light also keeps it charged.

No charger to carry
No daily charging routine like a smartwatch
Almost no need to think about a dead battery

In other words, I barely have to do anything. When I pick it up after a while, I do not get the familiar “Oh, the battery is dead” moment.

G-SHOCKいいよね

Still going after eight years

I bought it eight years ago, used it in the ocean and still wear it today. It has scratches now, and the white case no longer looks new. That is fine.

Eight years of surfing without water getting in. More wipeouts than I care to count. Almost no thought given to charging.

I trust this G-SHOCK because of what it has actually survived, not because of a specification sheet. The things that quietly keep working are often the things that stay with us the longest.

KAZUKIN Rating

💧 Water resistance after eight years — ★★★★★
☀️ Tough Solar convenience — ★★★★★
🏄 Wipeout resistance, watch — ★★★★★
🏄 Wipeout resistance, owner — ★☆☆☆☆
💰 Value for ¥12,000 — ★★★★★

This article is a personal ownership record and opinion. KAZUKIN LAB is not affiliated with Casio Computer Co., Ltd. The price is what I remember paying at the time. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

The illustrations are based on KAZUKIN's experience and are not official manufacturer images.