Is The Casio G-Shock Square The Only Watch You Ever Need?

Aiming for a one watch collection is some collectors ultimate goal. Personally I like watches too much to even try this.

However, if I was forced to only live with one watch, a G-shock Square would probably be my pick.

It pretty much ticks every box for things I am looking for in a watch. You really could only own just this watch and be totally satisfied. Even if you want to own more than one watch, you should have one of these in your collection.

Different Models Of G-Shock Square

When I say “G-shock Square” this is pretty vague, there are so many variations of this watch. They all look pretty similar, having the famous square shape but they can have slightly different features and slightly different colours/designs.

Personally I own the DW-5610-U and this is what I will be talking about in this article.

The “U” is important as is the “update” version and has a few extra features that the previous version did not have.

I think this model is a good one to look at as it is a good middle ground of watches in the range. It has a lot of advanced features that some G-shock Squares do not have, such as solar power. However, at the same time it is also not the top level version that is available. It does not have features such as wave tracking or Bluetooth. The DW-5610-U just sits nicely in the middle of what the Squares have to offer.

G-Shock Square Has An 80s Aesthetic

Let’s start with the look of the watch. Straight away this is going to be make or break it for some of you. Some people just hate the look of it, so no matter how good its functions are, they just don’t want it.

It is a digital watch which I know will instantly turn some people off, but more importantly it’s an 80s looking digital watch.

The Squares take their design from the original G-shock DW-5000C that was released in 1983.

From a distance the DW-5000C and the DW-5610U look pretty identical. You need to get a little closer to spot the very small differences between them.

Personally I love the 80s aesthetic that a lot of Casio’s give you. When that look is paired with the improved modern technology inside the watches, I think they are unbeatable. 

Atomic Time

A lot the Squares now come with the “multiband 6” feature, which basically means they can receive the correct time from the atomic clock.

If you are in a region that is covered by the atomic clock, then every night your watch will receive the signal and make sure your time is updated.

I know quartz watches are pretty accurate anyway, but this regular updating keeps its even closer to the true time. 

I know it’s not really necessary, but it’s a damn cool feature. You never need to set your watch, you just let it do it thing and it will always remain super accurate. It will even adjust its self automatically when the clocks change for daylight saving, which can be one of the most annoying things about owning a digital watch when you have change it manually every 6 months.

(You can read more about – What Is An Atomic Watch)

Tough Solar

If you see the words “Tough Solar” on your G-shock it means that you have a self charging watch. Built into the watch face are a number of solar panels that keep the battery topped up. This pretty much means you will probably not have to change the battery and if you do, it’s going to need to be done significantly less often than a normal battery.

When you couple this with the Atomic Time it pretty much means that your watch is fully self sufficient. You just need to give it some day light every now and again and it’s just going to keep running forever, while also always telling the correct time. It really is a grab and go. There is zero maintenance with these watches. 

World Time

A lot of the models also offer a World Time function so you can quickly see the time in another country. The DW-5610-U that I own actually has the ability to have 5 zones saved.

This is just crazy. I actually own a Casio World Timer (The Casio Royal) as I wanted this feature so I could quickly see what time it was for my friends around the world. This watch can have 4 zones saved, where as the G-shock can have 5.

The square is actually better at this function than a watch that was made for this exact function! (I still love my world timer though)

The Usual Functions of A Digital Watch

As the Square is a digital watch, it will come with the usual digital functions that we all expect to find.

They come with a great backlight, a stopwatch, a countdown timer and an alarm function. My model actually has the ability to set 5 different alarms, which is pretty impressive.

They also display the day, date and month as well as being able to show the time in 24 hours or 12 hours.

(You can read more about – Are There Any Special Features Or Functions In Casio Watches That Set Them Apart From Other Brands?)

Build

When you think of G-shocks, you think of big bulky watches, which is often the case.

However, the Squares are not too bad. They are actually not too big when on your wrist. They actually wear really well, even on people with slightly smaller wrists. They are quite understated and look and feel no bigger than another watch.

They are also incredibly lightweight and only weight 56g. You can very quickly feel like you are not wearing one.

Durability

When it comes to G-shocks you will not find a more robust watch. You can find countless videos on YouTube of people actively trying to destroy them and failing. I’ve seen them be run over by cars and not even pick up a scratch!

The squares are exactly the same. They have all the G-shock technology that makes them nearly indestructible.

They are also very water resistance, claiming to have 200m of water resistance, however, again YouTube videos show this is very understated and they can withstand far more pressure than this.

(You can read more about – How Durable Are Casio Watches?)

Cost

This is where I think The G shock squares really shine. I picked mine up for £95. Unbelievable. It was under £100 for a watch of this calibre!

You could argue that you could get away with a £10 Casio F-91W as the only watch you need, which could be possible, but for under £100 you can get a nearly indestructible, self charging, self setting watch with way more features than the F-91W.

G-shocks are insanely cheap when you look at what they can do. Most people’s one watch collection is usually a high end luxury watch, which are great, but they can cost into the thousands and don’t offer nearly as much as G-shock Square.

Down Sides Of A G-Shock Square

As with everything, nothing is perfect and even the mighty G-shock Square has its faults.

Its Digital

For me this isn’t a deal breaker, but for many, if it’s not analogue they are not interested.

I get it, analogue watches and especially mechanical watches are special, and there is just something about them. They are a whole different thing and a lot of people who want to collect watches, want that feeling you get with more traditional watches.

They Are Not Exactly Classy

A G-shock can handle any situation, but when it comes to a more formal event, they seem a little out of place.

G-shocks are plastic, and bulky. While the square is not massive, they are not exactly classy. They are a chunky, plastic retro looking watch.

I do like the look for them, but it’s just not the same as looking into a really beautiful dial with elegant hands and a beautiful strap.

Lack Of Straps

You can get straps for the G-shocks, but I feel they just don’t really work. You usually need an adaptor to use straps like natos, and I just feel they look kind of awkward.

You can get a nice bracelet for them, which is often called the “combi” as its part metal and part plastic. However, they are expensive, often nearly the same price as the watch itself.

I have also seen some mod kits that allow you to change the straps and the outer “bezel” which is really just the outer most plastic layer of the watch.

However, mostly these are just changing the colour to another plastic. I have seen some that metal ones though, and they can be quite interesting, but again, rather expensive.

Conclusion

G-shock squares are probably the best value for money you will get from any watch. They offer so much for so little. They really do tick all the boxes and could very easily be the only watch you need to own, as well as probably being the only watch you will ever buy again as they are so robust they will last a lifetime.

Even if you are not interested in a one watch collection, you should still get a G-shock. They are just fabulous and a great watch to have in a collection of any size.

(You can also read more a bout – Are Casio Watches Worth Collecting?)