Casio’s wild new translucent G-Shock series brings Y2K vibes

Casio’s GA-V01 series really caught everyone by surprise last year. It marked the boldest design departure the Japanese watchmaker has taken in quite some time. The result was a beautifully unhinged, sci-fi-themed piece of hardware that proved what happens when Casio’s designers are given absolute free rein to just have fun. Now, that wild, futuristic aesthetic is getting a Y2K-inspired makeover with the launch of the new transparent GA-V01SKE series. 

First launched in Japan in early March, Casio has officially brought the neon green GA-V01SKE-3A, black GA-V01SKE-8A, orange GA-V01SKE-4A, and purple GA-V01SKE-6A to the US market. All four translucent models are affordably priced at $155 and are currently available for purchase directly from Casio US’s online store. However, the purple GA-V01SKE-6A appears to be already sold out as of this writing.

The new lineup maintains the watch’s signature alien-inspired styling but replaces the solid cases with skeleton-style translucent shells. There's no change to the dial, which still features an inverted LCD resembling alien eyes, and signature 3D hour markers that hover prominently over the glass, clearly doubling as functional, shock-absorbent bumpers.

Despite the translucent makeover, these massive watches—measuring a hefty 58.2mm wide and 19.6mm thick—refuse to compromise on G-Shock’s legendary ruggedness. Casio says it utilizes an integrated bezel-and-band construction to securely protect the central module. In addition, the company is also integrating its innovative "Shock Release Hand" technology, which attaches the analog hands to the main shaft using a strong magnetic force. If you accidentally bash your wrist against a hard surface, this unique magnetic structure allows the hands to safely shift out of position, deflecting the sudden impact before instantly snapping right back into their proper place.

As you would expect from a G-Shock, the GA-V01SKE delivers serious practical functionality. You get an impressive 10-year battery life,  shock resistance, up to 200-meter water resistance, World Time covering 48 cities, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, five daily alarms, and Auto Dual LED lighting.