GoKawiilCasio releases $80,000 all-sapphire G-Shock, its priciest watch yet
Casio has launched the 'Blue Rose Project,' a three-watch G-Shock collection built around blue sapphire crystal, led by the $80,000 MRG-D5000 with a case and bezel carved entirely from sapphire. Only 20 units of the flagship will be produced, alongside a $9,500 MRG-B5000SA-2 and an $850 GMW-B5000SB-1A. Casio says the project took eight years to complete, building on sapphire concept watches first shown in 2017 that could not pass the brand's durability tests.
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The launch shows Casio pushing G-Shock, a brand built on affordable ruggedness, into territory usually occupied by luxury watchmakers and even high-end cars, which could reshape perceptions of what a 'tough' watch brand can charge. The engineering breakthrough—splitting the case into interlocking sapphire components inspired by Japanese timber-frame joinery—suggests Casio found a way to make a historically brittle material withstand shock, a technical hurdle that previously blocked commercialization.
- The $80,000 MRG-D5000 is Casio's most expensive G-Shock ever, limited to 20 units.
- The Blue Rose Project also includes a $9,500 and an $850 model using the same sapphire design language.
- A new 'Multi-Guard Structure,' inspired by Japanese timber framing, lets sapphire withstand G-Shock's impact testing.
Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000D-1 — If the $80,000 sapphire G-Shock is out of reach, the classic full-metal GMW-B5000 captures the same iconic square silhouette and legendary toughness that started this whole lineage. It's the accessible entry point into the G-Shock design DNA referenced throughout the Blue Rose Project, with Bluetooth connectivity and solar power for everyday durability.
See Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000D-1 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: wired.com — Jeremy White, 2026-10-01
Published there as: “Casio’s Crystal G-Shock Is the Most Expensive Ever Made”
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