Why are most Casio G-Shock so b*tt ugly?!

I think that in the beginning the design was to establish that this was a whole new breed of watch with revolutionary capabilities. And outrageous edgy things were en vogue at the time.

And then they just sort of stuck with it. This sort of vestigial styling cues happen a lot. The fear is that, should they make a non-clunky and brutalist G-SHOCK that it would be seen as inauthentic.

Beauty,eyes,beholder.

You know......

Much of the form of a G-Shock is about function - if there are buttons, some nearby protrusions will act similar to crown guards...the spring bars are protected under a flexible, shock absorbing piece... small grooves allow addition of "bull bars" to protect the mineral glass, bezels are high and above the screen to protect the mineral glass, etc.

The expensive ones are about materials (titanium, carbon-core, gold, etc.), functions (temperature, tides, etc.), collaborations (Nintendo, John Mayer), and collectability.

I love G-Shocks and Casio as a whole, but I agree there are many in the catalogue both past and present that have faces that only a mother could love.

I don't get the expensive G's at all, they price themselves into a market where there are so many more refined options, and you're paying so much more for something supposedly exclusive or limited with fundamentally the same module or hardware as something that's worth so much less and commonly available. I mean look at the new 'poison dart frogman' best part of a grand for a resin watch which looks like it's been attacked with a highlighter! People will buy it!

If you look at the recent G's such as the successful GBD-200; the new LCD display, the attempts at making it more like a smartwatch with its functionality and the fact it's one of the thinner G's they've made shows that they are stepping towards progress and the future, however slowly and gently that might be.

As Oscar said, they are known for chunky resin watches, it's their thing, and nostalgia and brutalist simplistic designs sell!

Just my two cents 🙂

Form follows function. It's tough to make a watch that stands up to the elements at the relatively low price point of most G-Shocks.

I tend to agree with this rant. Furthermore, I still think they’re cool for some unknown reason.

I, of course, agree on G-Shock. Not really my thing though I have occasionally toyed with the idea of a modded casioak. Overall, they are a bit brutalist for my liking.

But as for Japanese minimalism, just remember this is japan.

But this is also japan

😉

Which way Western Man?

or

I approve of the rant with none of the qualifiers.

I am a Casio fan in general and I do have a CGS, one of the rather plainer models, but in general and with the odd exception, they do many many shockers ! Its in the eye of the beholder of course, but they have ran with it and keep on running. The odd restrained CGS would go down well. Casio like many brands seem to miss obvious design choices. Take the Duro for instance, great value watch with specs to match but way too big unless you have huge wrists.

Is Bollocks a new brand ? I can visualize the logo anyway.

Well, the high end MR-G watches cost a lot for a reason. They are made in limited quantities and the materials used in those models are not your standard alloys but are ridiculously hard to work with and exclusive while sticking to G-Shock's design principles. From an engineering point of view, that is quite incredible. It is Casio way of showing what they are capable of.

Also, Japan is minimalist yet vibrant and so is its design language. There is something for everyone. As @Georgmcl said, form follows function so are G-shocks design. Sometimes a splash of color is good.

You nailed it.

Most of the G-Shock do look ugly as hell. Basicaly they look like resin made Invictas.

(Easy to confuse: left Invicta, right Casio G-Shock)

While everybody (including me) makes fun about such kind Invictas, people are silent about what Casio brings out for designs, using the same digital "movement" since thirty years but raising the prices on 1,000% when adding some steel on it while everything else keeps the same.

Even I like the Casioak, but I don't understand their design. Just imagine how cool it would look if the design were streight without all their grooves and indentations which reminds on a Empire space ship of Star Wars.

How dare you!?!? 🤣

I agree with OP's "ugly" sentiment. I have three G-Shocks. The first two are from the late 80's/early 90s an original DW-5600 and a slightly newer DW-5600E. I wore them both to the point of their bezels and straps falling apart and off. More recently I bought the GMW-B5000D-1JF that I posted today in WRUW. I wanted something like my first two, but more externally durable.

I remember an old friend of mine getting a larger, rounder version back in the day, but I could never like them. They were always just so big and ugly. I think I've just gotten used to the "DW" style and can look past its appearance and enjoy its functionality.

I gave my G-Shock away because I just couldn't get over how ugly it was. I never really wanted to wear it.

I am in full agreement. Apart from the square G-Shocks, and the Casioaks, I find little to like in the G-Shock line, and many models that are hideous. I do love my DW5600 though, and my recently acquired GM2100MF-5A, "Midnight Fog" (in photo).

Don't you dare compare an Invicta to the legendary Mudmaster 😂

That is one watch which you can take to survive an apocalypse.

If you think of G shocks in terms of sneaker culture, they match quite well. The aesthetic comes from loud and uses computer aided geometry design. Your rolex wasn't designed with your t-shirt jeans and sneakers in mind. The gshock was designed not for you old man...

Of all the watch brands in recent years the one brand I always wondered as to why they don't "slim down" is G-shock. What better way to show your company/ products are evolving with the times than making the same level of protection & value but in a smaller size?

I only like 2 Gshocks. This

And this

The price of each is just too much for me. The second one reminds me of these guys

Which I think is so cool.

It's like the designers & engineers all agreed. It's an 'apocalypse watch.' So, when that happens, if it's still running, who cares what it looks like.

It looks like something that would be issued to the military. That's why it's cool. 😎

And I don't think it's "ugly"... But I do think there are better-looking watches.

Think about it this way: the G-Shock looks COOL, but a Rolex two-tone Datejust is BEAUTIFUL. 😍

And I am sure there are other watches (even other Casios) that could be termed "beautiful," including the Duro line. I don't know why, but I am in love with those watches, haha! 🤣

It’s very interesting to me ! Does Japan wear these huge G’s???? Without the 1984 ad from America, G Shocks may have never been successful to start with?!

Does Japan think the West wants huge G’s?

I have recently embraced the big!!!!!;) got myself the recent 30th anniversary Frogman! I love dive watches and the first G to have an ISO certification was the the Frogman. I love Casio to be honest so I’ll try anything nowadays!!!;)

And you have a proper display to show them off! 😄

Can we state that you're a real Casio slag? I think we can... 🙃

Love your YT content, a fresh breeze in the all the watch video's out there! 🙌🏻

If I’m being polite I would say that G-Shock is just not for me. Catch me at a bad time and I would probably say G-Shock watches look like… well, this is not a bad time so G-Shock is just not for me.

Bull****. There are even mathematical formulas established how to measure beauty objectively. Life is not amusement park where everyone gets a candy.

Like you care what time is it when you don't have even electricity.