One of the most striking elements of early G-Shock is the famous brick wall pattern. Did you know that this pattern was purposefully chosen to emphasize the ruggedness of G-Shock watches? It’s a visually pleasing expression of one of the brand’s key characteristics. To express that ruggedness in a stylish way, G-Shock has created six new models that feature the rainbow brick pattern. First, the G-Shock “Square” 5600 comes in three versions, and then the G-Shock “Casio Oak” 2100 is created in three versions with a similar theme. I had the chance to check out five of the six new models to find out which one I like best.
When five new G-Shocks arrive on your desk, you might feel overwhelmed. Your instinct tells you to look for differences that might lead to preferences. But with the new G-Shock Rainbow Brick Wall collection, I was first intrigued by its story. In the end, it’s as simple as I mentioned in the intro. G-Shock designers decided to celebrate the unique style of the brick wall pattern. By adding a rainbow gradient to the pattern, it completely changes its presence. It becomes a prominent feature rather than a decorative piece integrated into the watch face. However, the impact on both series is different. Let me explain why.
G-Shock Square 5600 Series Rainbow Brick Wall Model
Let’s start with the two models of the Square 5600. For review, we obtained two of the three models currently available. The first is the DW-5600RW-1, which is the standard resin version. It comes with a resin case and a resin strap, measuring 42.88 x 48.9 x 13.4mm. The second and third models are variants of the GM-5600, with a resin and stainless steel case measuring 43.2 x 49.6 x 12.9mm.
Not available for review is the GM-5600RW-1, which has an unplated stainless steel exterior case. Finally, the GM-5600BRW-1 is a variation of the same model with black ion plating on the stainless steel parts, which gives the watch a stealthy presence, similar to the standard resin model.
All three watches feature a similar rainbow brick wall pattern surrounding the negative display.Iris Gradient teeth, Metal deposition and black printing. When metal deposition is applied to glass, all patterns are Unique. The patterns on these watches are a perfect blend of elements from the past and modern expression.
The Casio 3525 module is featured in all three watches. It’s a basic G-Shock module with a set of standard features, including a stopwatch, countdown timer, multifunction alarm, full calendar accurate to the year 2099, and Super Illuminator LED backlight. Additionally, the module is accurate to within ±15 seconds per month.
As for prices, the resin DW-5600RW-1 is available at €119, the standard stainless steel GM-5600RW-1 at €199, and the black IP-treated GM-5600BRW-1 at a slightly higher price of €219. Overall, these watches are a playful take on the usual black G-Shock models, highlighting the brick pattern.
G-Shock CasiOak 2100 Series Rainbow Brickwall Model
The three watches in the second series comprise a similarly finished trio, but this time they are variations on the popular CasiOak 2100 series. G-Shock designers applied a brick pattern to the entire dial surface of these three models, where the pattern is created using silver deposition and then partially removed by laser peeling. The final step is a multicolor print to create the rainbow colors.
The first of the three models is the GA-2100RW-1A in black resin. It’s essentially a standard blacked-out CasiOak with a 45.4 x 48.5 x 11.8mm resin case and a special rainbow dial. It features a combination of analog and negative digital displays. Aside from the rainbow bricks, the only bright spots are the silver printing and the off-white lume used on the hour and minute hands.
The second and third models are variations of the GM-2100 with a steel exterior case measuring 44.4 x 49.3 x 11.8 mm. The first is the standard stainless steel GM-2100RW-1A. The second is the GM-2100BRW-1A with black ion plating. This follows on from the stealthy presence of the all-plastic version.
But that’s not all: the resin version has black hour markers, while the two stainless steel versions have dials with indices that shimmer in the light – a combination that nicely complements the material and finish of the stainless steel case and gives the watch an even more premium feel.
Casio 5611 module
All three of these CasioOak Rainbow Brick Wall models feature Casio’s 5611 module, a standard module in the CasiOak collection that features a stopwatch, countdown time, five daily alarms, world time with a choice of 48 cities around the world, and super-illuminator double LEDs for easy reading in the dark.
In terms of price, the plastic GA-2100RW-1A retails for 129 euros, the stainless steel GM-2100RW-1A for 219 euros, and finally the black ion-plated stainless steel GM-2100BRW-1A for 239 euros. So, overall the CasiOaks are slightly more expensive, but the price difference alone is probably not enough to sway potential buyers towards one series or the other.
Wearing the Casio G-Shock Rainbow Brickwall model
Remember when I said having five G-Shocks on my desk was a little overwhelming? After learning the story behind each one, it was a fun experience to actually try them on. I was able to compare the classic Square and the popular CasiOak model. Plus, I was immediately drawn to one particular version. First, let me point out the major differences I noticed between the two model series.
What’s immediately noticeable is that the rainbow effect on the G-Shock Squares is much more vibrant and feels more special. There’s a bigger difference between dark and light areas, and the metallic effect of the pattern is more impactful. This gives the Square a slight edge in my opinion. Plus, the brick wall pattern is a perfect fit for the Square model.
It’s part of the heritage of the original G-Shock, and that’s why it feels so meaningful. On the CasiOak models, it’s clearly positioned as an accent addition to the dial, and I prefer the natural integration of the Square a little more. That being said, if you like adding a bit of color to your CasiOak dials, it works well on all three versions.
Final thoughts on the Casio G-Shock Rainbow Brick Wall Collection
Of the five watches, you can see that I preferred the square one. That left only two blacked-out models as options. To be honest, I would have liked a plain stainless steel version, but that didn’t affect my favorite one. With both square models on my wrist, the blacked-out stainless steel GM-5600BRW-1 stood out.
The finishes on this particular model elevate the Square to something special: the iridescent effect and the interplay between the brushed and polished parts work very well, plus the texture on this model is impressive.
This made it pretty easy to pick a favorite, and to be honest, even I was surprised. That being said, if you like this new Rainbow Brick Wall concept, there’s no right or wrong. You just have to pick the version you like. And I found my favorite.
Having worn all five watches, I like that Casio decided to pay special attention to one of G-Shock’s signature design elements, one that tells a story that goes all the way back to the beginning of the brand, so I think it will resonate with a lot of people and make this series another popular addition to the G-Shock lineup.
If you want to find out more, check out the dedicated G-Shock Rainbow Brick Wall website.
