We watch as collectors come up with “rules” regarding our hobby. For example, “Every watch collection should include a dress watch, a sporty item, and a beater.” This is a life obligation for many of us. The former two have beaters, though not in the classic sense, although they may not be the cornerstones of my collection, at least not intentionally. I don’t wear my watch when I’m at home sleeping, gardening, or changing the oil in my ’72 Porsche 911 (which I don’t own). But I have a special piece that sticks with me almost every time I hop on a plane (which I do often) or hop in the car and drive hundreds of miles. Introducing my beloved Casio G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER.
Listeners of the Fratello On Air podcast have heard me mention this watch many times. It’s time to give it props for being a great travel companion.
Miles & More watches
Our love story began during COVID-19, when travel wasn’t an option and we had to use airline miles. When the global virus outbreak was at its peak and we were all under house arrest, I received a Miles & More catalog in the mail. For those unfamiliar, Miles & More is Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program. My mileage balance was limited, so I skipped the pages offering the latest and greatest products from Rimowa and Bose and landed on the watch. While browsing the page, I came across a selection of Casio watches. I had never owned a G-Shock, so I quickly decided I needed one. The catalog featured one such model, the then-new G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER. It’s not bad at all.
After calculating and paying an additional 40 euros on top of the miles, I received an email welcoming me as the new owner of one of Casio’s top models. Shipping only took a week. Despite the poor packaging, I was very happy with my purchase. This watch had everything I wanted, including the classic G-Shock look, lights, and the iconic features of almost any digital quartz watch. I have to confess here that I have never used the countdown timer or stopwatch feature until today. But two things intrigued me about the GW-B5600-2ER. The first was a negative expression that people either loved or hated. I happen to love it. The second is Bluetooth connectivity. This connects the watch to the Casio Watches app, allowing the wearer to access various features and settings from their smartphone.
airplanes, trains, cars
Until I started building my watch collection over 10 years ago, my go-to watch was the Tissot PRC-200. Since it is a quartz watch, it is perfect as your daily companion. But as my collection grew, I saw an increasing need for ready-to-go items, especially digital quartz watches that were light and inexpensive, but with a big cool factor. Over the next few months, I started wearing the G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER more and more while traveling. Previously, I used all my watches for this purpose. In one of my episodes of Fratello On Air, I talked about how I used to travel with a vintage Doxa Sub 300T Aqua Lung and didn’t realize how sensitive its luminescence was. In other words, vintage items were taken out of rotation and Casio was put into rotation.
Like my Rimowa suitcase, my Casio G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER has accompanied me on many trips around the world over the past few years. I wore it while driving over 1000km back to my home country. It was in the seat pocket of several airplanes during intercontinental flights. This watch also came in handy when I needed to measure delays on Deutsche Bahn (Germany’s railway system) during trips to Berlin, Geneva, and other locations. The G-Shock was one of the first few items I laid out neatly on the table the night before I left, a habit I’ve developed over the years.
What’s not to like about the GW-B5600-2ER?
It may not be the most modern, nicest, or trendiest watch, but it’s my trusty companion. Unlike others, I also don’t feel the need to add more G-Shocks to my collection. This GW-B5600-2ER is my only work. I’m not going to go into detail with the list of features this watch offers. Visit Casio’s website to learn more about this. Still, if you asked me to list some of its features, these would be my top three.
The first one, which isn’t too surprising, is the 200 meter water resistance rating. This August, I spent an unforgettable few days around Cinque Terre, Italy. We visited a different city every day and ended up at the beach. Needless to say, the GW-B5600-2ER handled water admirably.
The second notable feature is the G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER’s solar-powered movement. No need to worry about batteries. Just wear it when the sun is shining and you’ll have enough charge for your next adventure.
Finally, Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to set your watch to local time no matter where you are. As someone who often travels between different time zones, I find this feature very useful. Once you land and your phone is set to your local time zone, connect your watch to your phone and boom, it automatically changes time zones. The app also allows you to check the charging level in case you want to charge your watch more.
Gerard’s GW-B5600 with modified positive display
parting words
If you don’t have a G-Shock yet, why not get one? It also makes a great gift for watch lovers as the holiday season approaches. There are many cheap and fun models in the G-SHOCK catalog. Needless to say, the G-Shock “square” is as iconic as the Submariner, Speedmaster, and Navitimer.
And, G-Shock owners, you made the right choice. Take care of your Casio and wear it with pride. Oh, and the next time you see a G-Shock on the wrist of another traveler at the airport, don’t forget to compliment the person wearing the watch. I could be standing next to you on a conveyor belt.
