Luxury Digital Watch?... Is There Even Such A Thing?

Previously, we’ve explored the retro digital sport watch. And we’ve more or less established that digital watches in general are affordable watches. Which brings us to today’s episode, the luxury digital sport watch… No, I don’t mean a digital “dress” watch, like the GA-2100 from this episode. I mean a straight out luxury watch, like the Rolex Oyster Date… Well, maybe not to that extreme… But this is Casio’s interpretation of a “less cheap” version of the staple, square G-Shock models. It costs, on average, five times as much as the staple, square G-Shock models. And today, we’re taking a look at the GMW-B5000-1.

Close-up of a Casio G-Shock GMW-5000-1, a luxury digital sport watch. — This G-Shock GMW-B5000-1 is a full-metal version (minus the resin band) of the original G-Shock model, the DW-5000C.
Image by Author

Luxury Digital Watch’s Direct Lineage

This GMW-B5000-1 is a direct descendant of the debut G-Shock model, the DW-5000C, and shares the same design language. But aside from the display format and overall look and feel, almost everything else underneath is a vast improvement. Instead of resin (as used in most G-Shock models), the GMW-B5000 series feature stainless steel case and bezel (outer case). And instead of the screw-in back plate (either stamped or milled), this model uses a heavy-duty, screw-down case-back. Only the band remains resin, which coordinates well with the negative display. The GMW-B5000D-1 is the version with stainless steel bracelet, matched with a positive display. In other words – this is G-Shock’s “heavy metal” series of watches.

Dressing The Luxury Digital Watch

Let’s clear the air that “luxury” or otherwise, the GMW-B5000-1 is still very much a quintessential sport watch. Hence, we can expect that it dresses up quite similarly to just about any other G-Shock models, like the G-5600UE. In short, it doesn’t suit up well…

(1) Business Formal

Solid charcoal grey suit, solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square. Is this a good match for the luxury digital watch? — Two-piece, solid charcoal grey suit, with a solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square.
Image by Author

Close up of a pair of solid black plain toe Oxford dress shoes. — Solid black, plain-toe Oxfords, are as conservative as you can go.
Image by Author

A definite NO, end of discussion! – This is like ordering a teh tarik from the sommelier in an upscale, jackets required, fine dining restaurant… Some things in life just shouldn’t mix, regardless how expensive they are…

(2) Business Semi-Formal

Solid olive green suit, solid blue shirt with white contrasting collar and cuffs. Burgundy tie with small repeating patterns, and pocket square. — Two-piece, solid olive green suit, with sporty, slanted hip pockets, and a ticket pocket above the right hip pocket. A pale blue shirt with contrasting collar and cuffs, small-patterned burgundy tie and coordinating pocket square.
Image by Author

Close up of a pair of whole cut in ox blood, with wingtip patterned brogue. Another type of typical dress shoes. — Whole cut in ox blood, with burnished toes, and wingtip patterned brogue.
Image by Author

Again, NO – Semi-formal is still way too formal to pair with a luxury digital watch. In fact, it’s simply too formal to pair with any digital watches, luxury or otherwise.

(3) Business Informal

Solid navy, double breasted blazer, with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie, solid grey trousers, and pocket square. — Double breasted navy blazer with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid pale blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie. Solid medium grey trousers, and a contrasting pocket square.
Image by Author

Close up of a pair of brown double monk-straps. A less dressy dress shoes. — Brown, double monk-straps, to exude a more playful vibe.
Image by Author

Still a firm NO – Digital watches, luxury or otherwise, are still too casual to pair with the Business Informal outfit. Best to stick with a classic, analogue display watch, regardless whether mechanical or quartz.

(4) Business Casual

Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave, a solid pink OCBD shirt with block stripe knit tie in autumn colours, and a pair of solid burgundy chinos. — Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave. Solid pink OCBD shirt with a knit tie in autumn colours. Solid burgundy chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
Image by Author

Close up of a pair of brown penny loafers. One of the least dressy dress shoes. — Brown penny loafers, a typical “less dressy” dress shoes.
Image by Author

Still a NO, but a little less firm – I’ll accept an all-rounder, digital display watch, but not the GMW-B5000-1 specifically. This G-Shock is still way out of the league when it comes to dressing up. In fact, the GA-2100 pairs slightly better than this watch for this outfit.

(5) Dressy Casual

Unstructured, charcoal brown flannel sport jacket, denim OCBD shirt, and khaki chinos. — Charcoal brown, unstructured sport jacket with an open collared denim OCBD shirt. Khaki chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
Image by Author

Close up of a pair of khaki canvas derbies. — Derby shoes in tan canvas stretch what it means to be “dress” shoes.
Image by Author

Finally, a YES – This is the highest level of formality that I’m comfortable pairing with the GMW-B5000-1. Don’t get me wrong, this pairing still isn’t my first choice, but I’m not against it in principle.

(6) Just Casual

Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and solid olive green jeans. — Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and olive green jeans.
Image by Author

Close up of a pair of white trainers. — White trainers, with a thin red and black stripe. A stereotypical pair of casual footwear.
Image by Daniel Storek of Unsplash

A definite YES – This is the natural pairing of a digital sport watch. It doesn’t matter whether luxury digital watches, or any generic digital watches.

Best Pairing For The Luxury Digital Watch

Just like in earlier episodes, it’s best to pair the GMW-B5000-1 to the casual end of the classic menswear spectrum. Plus, the rough and tough vibes this watch exudes really does enhance the rugged casual looks.

Tan Harrington jacket, with a plain black t-shirt, displaying the GMW-B5000-1 as a luxury digital sport watch. — Pairing the GMW-B5000-1 with a tan Harrington jacket and a plain black t-shirt. The black t-shirt really brings out the resin strap and negative display.
Image by Author

Close-up wrist shot of the GMW-B5000-1, and a sleeve cuff of a tan Harrington jacket. This G-Shock is a typical luxury digital sport watch. — The GMW-B5000-1 barely slips underneath the sleeve cuff of the Harrington jacket.
Image by Author

If you want to project a rugged and casual vibe, this is the best pairing. But what if you want to push just a wee bit upwards, and still not expose a jarring mismatch? Well, you can still push it up a notch. Just make sure to keep the overall vibe relaxed and casual. Take a look at this example below :-

Light grey knit jacket, with a plain dark blue/grey roll-neck jumper, displaying the GMW-B5000-1 as a luxury digital sport watch. — Pairing the GMW-B5000-1 with an unstructured, light grey knit jacket, and a dark blue/grey roll-neck jumper. The reverse colour palette also harmonises well with the reverse colour palette of the watch too.
Image by Author

Close-up wrist shot of the GMW-B5000-1, next to a sleeve cuff of a dark blue/grey jumper, underneath a light grey knit jacket sleeve. This G-Shock is a typical luxury digital sport watch. — The GMW-B5000-1 must never slip underneath the jumper’s sleeve cuff. Not unless you want the outline of an obvious bulk on your wrist, popping out from beneath your cuff.
Image by Author

Disclaimer – This Watch Is A Loaner Unit

Hours Galleria loaned us this G-Shock GMW-B5000-1 watch for this episode. They’re an independent watch dealer, based in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia. If you’re ever in the market for a watch, specifically luxury watches, do look them up. They offer both brand new as well as pre-loved watches. And yes, they also offer watch servicing and repairs too. Their claim to servicing fame is strictly using and replacing parts with genuine, branded parts. Even down to the most mundane and commonly used micro-screws and spring bars… That’s right, generic, no-name, micro-screws and spring bars, that cost mere pennies. And yet they still insist on replacing them with appropriately priced, genuine, branded, micro-screws and spring bars… Go look them up in their online shopfront on Carousell.

If you like what you read here, I’d really appreciate it if you’d buy me a cup of coffee. Leave your questions and comments down below. And come back for the next episode, when we take a look at the gender divide in the horology world. I mean, is there such a thing as a “ladies’ watch“?… As opposed to “men’s watch”? Or is it all just a bunch of marketing hogwash, designed to help them sell more watches?

Luxury Digital Watch?… Is There Even Such A Thing?