Leak: Casio's titanium G-Shock MRG-BF1000EB-1A surfaces with faceted sapphire bezel, $7,700 price tag

Casio is apparently preparing something special for the MRG line's 30th anniversary, and early renders have already surfaced online, courtesy of Casioblog. The MRG-BF1000EB-1A - a new variant within the premium MRG-BF1000 Frogman family - has leaked ahead of an official announcement expected within the next couple of months. Now, we have a detailed look at what could be one of the most striking G-Shock releases in years.

A bezel unlike anything on a G-Shock before

The defining feature here is the faceted sapphire bezel, considering its design concept, which is very unusual. According to the source, the angular surface treatment is inspired by brinicles - rare underwater stalactite-like formations that occur beneath frozen ocean surfaces in select regions of Antarctica. The natural phenomenon forms when dense, supercooled saltwater descends through sea ice and freezes surrounding seawater on contact, which creates multi-faceted ice columns. Casio has translated this into a geometric sapphire bezel, which is fitting given that the MRG-BF1000 line belongs to both the premium MRG sub-brand and the Frogman diver lineup.

Adding to the aquatic theme, the positions where mounting screws would typically appear are instead occupied by deep blue sapphire gem inserts. Despite earlier speculation regarding a full sapphire case, that idea appears to have been ruled out; sapphire, while scratch-resistant, is brittle, and Casio reportedly didn't want to compromise G-Shock's core durability proposition.

Construction and specs

The case is titanium with a dark grey DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating and Deep Layer Hardening surface treatment, measuring 56 × 49.7 × 18.6 mm. The caseback is sapphire with a 3D-engraved Frogman frog motif. The titanium case itself reportedly involves more than 70 individual components, all engineered to meet ISO 200 water resistance certification - meaning it's rated for professional diving use. All external metal parts, including the bezel, crown, buttons, and screws, use titanium alloy with a titanium carbide finishing process.

The primary strap is white fluorocarbon rubber, a material that offers better water and chemical resistance than standard rubber along with a softer feel. The package reportedly also includes a titanium bracelet, a dedicated storage case, and a quick-swap tool for changing between them.

Feature-wise, the MRG-BF1000EB-1A carries the full suite expected from a high-end Frogman: Bluetooth connectivity, solar charging, multi-band radio time sync, dual time display, a tide indicator via a dedicated scale at the 3 o'clock position, a 30-entry dive log, stopwatch, timer, and perpetual calendar. Also, there's one particularly clever diving-specific feature: during submersion, the hour and minute hands mechanically merge into a single unified pointer for improved readability.

Price and availability

The MRG-BF1000EB-1A is rumored to carry a price tag of approximately $7,700, which would make it one of the most expensive watches Casio has ever released under the MRG umbrella. Production is reportedly capped at 800 units globally. An official announcement from Casio is expected within the coming months, at which point additional details - and potentially more images - may surface.

In the meantime, check out the Casio GW-M5610U-1 on Amazon.