Casio G-Shock — The Watch That Refuses to Die

Casio built the original G-Shock in 1983 around one design brief: a watch that could survive being dropped, knocked and generally abused without missing a beat — and that toughness-first philosophy has never changed.

Shock resistance, 200m water resistance and a battery that runs for years rather than days make it the watch people reach for when a smartwatch would be the wrong tool for the job.

The digital display is genuinely legible in bright sun or pitch dark, with a backlight that actually works rather than the token gesture some watches offer.

It’s the rare accessory that’s equally credible on a building site or paired with streetwear — few watches straddle ‘tool’ and ‘style icon’ this convincingly.