Casio made an incredibly cool Gundam-themed G-Shock based on the classic DW-5600

Casio releases a plethora of special edition watches in collaboration with a range of artists, brands, and franchises. But not all of them are worth the hype. Too often, they feel like low-effort logo slaps lacking any real creative spark. But every once in a while, the company drops a collaboration so perfectly executed and creatively brilliant that you just want to get your hands on it. Meet the new G-Shock DW-5600GM26-7DR, Casio’s latest team-up with the legendary Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. 

It’s a refreshing, mecha-inspired timepiece that really nails the aesthetic. It's based on the classic DW-5600, a go-to choice for collaboration and special edition timepieces. The watch rocks a transparent bezel and band meant to mimic the RX-78-2's main armor while subtly flexing the internal hardware. The transparent base lets Gundam’s iconic tricolor palette (the signature blue, red, and yellow) really shine. It’s a refreshing, mecha-inspired timepiece that really nails the aesthetic.

A G-Shock for the kids who grew up building Gunpla

It’s the nerdy details that really elevate this piece. The band is etched with panel lines mimicking the First Gundam's armor, complete with the official Earth Federation Space Force (E.F.S.F.) emblem. Flip it over, and you'll find the White Base fleet's Pegasus mark engraved on the case back. Hit the backlight, and a glowing "SINCE 1979" Easter egg flashes to celebrate the anime’s first broadcast.

The Mobile Suit Gundam x G-Shock DW-5600 ships in a special package that's styled like a military equipment crate; Casio says it's designed to send "a sense of tension to your wrist the moment you open the box."

As you would expect, the watch is shock- and water-resistant (up to 200 meters) and offers a standard set of timekeeping functions such as an automatic calendar, 12/24-hour time format, a 1/100-second stopwatch with a 24-hour counter, a multifunction alarm, and an hourly time chime. The battery life is rated for 5 years.

Sold out in South Korea within hours

The Mobile Suit Gundam x G-Shock DW-5600GM26-7 is currently restricted to South Korea. Priced at 220,000 KRW (~$144), it officially went on sale on June 4 through G-Cosmo online store and was sold out within an hour or so. We don’t know if and when the watch will make its way to the global markets. It would be a shame if this cool timepiece doesn’t get a wider release, and here’s hoping it launches in the US, the UK, Europe, and other markets soon.