Using recycled materials is becoming commonplace across many industries, and the watch world is no exception. You might even say it’s expected, these days. While it generally comes in the form of a strap, or packaging, some brands have expanded its use to the case itself. In celebration of Earth day coming up later this month (as well as their own birthday last week), G-Shock is releasing a new limited edition reference G-5600BG-1 crafted from residual resin scraps from CASIO watches, resulting in a unique look for each in the series. This isn’t the first time the brand has used recycled materials in the production of a watch, but it is the most unique execution to come to the G5600 family.
G-Shock is using resin scraps left over from the manufacture of other bands and bezels, particularly yellow and red bits, which are kneaded into a base black before being molded. The result is organic veins of red and yellow marbled into the black, with no two being alike. It looks a bit ‘90s somehow and pairs with the design of the watch perfectly. It also shows how such methods can result in a unique aesthetic for the consumer. Oris pulls a similar result with their Upcycled dials in their Aquis collection (which was just updated).
Using materials in this manner feels like it should be the default position for any brand controlling their own manufacturing processes, the ante to play in a sustainably minded market. Even if the results were less on the nose, I’d still expect many or all of their case and band manufacturing to be incorporating recycled materials given the nature of the watches being produced. Brands like Alpina and Chopard have even found ways to use recycled steel with their case manufacturing partners.
In an industry where so much volume is produced, the practice of going about manufacturing in a sustainable manner is becoming increasingly vital, and something consumers are keenly aware of. As such, it shouldn’t be treated as a novelty, but as an expectation, even if not apparent in the end result. If anything, watches like this should force the question of why it isn’t happening across their entire product portfolio.
The new G-Shock G-5600BG-1 comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from the collection, including a 200M depth rating, 5 daily alarms, a full auto LED light, stopwatch, 24 hour timer, and a full calendar. The price is set at $150 and while it is listed as a limited edition reference, no production numbers are given. G-Shock