G-Shock and streetwear brand Hidden NY keep a good thing going this week with the reveal of their second collaboration in the DW5600HDN257. Like their first effort, this is based on the classic DW5600 framework, and this time, it gets black bull bars standing in stark contrast to the white case and strap. The concept with this uses the “Blink of an Eye” motif to represent Hidden NY’s theme of ‘Past, Present, and Future’. The result is a surprisingly serene take on the DW5600, aka the watch worn by Keanu Reeves in the 1994 film, Speed.
Hidden NY is a “global online collective and lifestyle brand” but it’s best to think of it as a moodboard that serves as a voice for the streetwear enthusiast community. As the name suggests, the project began as a faceless Instagram account, and has become an influential tour de force collaborating with the likes of Asics, AIAIAI, and G-Shock.
The first G-Shock x Hidden NY collaboration took a translucent approach to the DW5600 case and strap, with their traditional green accents and the Hidden NY “H” logo making an appearance within the digital screen. For the second time around, the concept takes a clean white approach with the same green accents. It’s clearly of the same vein as the original, though the addition of the black bull bar adds a distinctive personality to the situation.
As far as functionality is concerned, there’s nothing beyond the regular suite of complications you’d find in any run of the mill DW5600, and that’s not really the point here. This one is making an aesthetic statement more than anything, and further establishes G-Shock’s presence within the streetwear community. Further, there’s a conceptual nature to this watch that transcends the usual tough-as-nails talk around the core identity of what a G-Shock is. That being the preservation of culture, past, present, and future.
In addition to the broad theme, there is also the Hidden NY motif of “In The Blink Of An Eye” that appears on the caseback. There are layers of meaning with this watch that will undoubtedly be relevant to the streetwear savvy among us, but will likely mean little to the average observer. That’s kind of the fun of this watch, in some ways, especially considering its accessible $175 price point.
This will be a limited edition release, though an exact number has not been disclosed. Fans will get their first opportunity to purchase on July 11th at the Hidden NY website, with more broad availability coming via G-Shock on July 24th. G-Shock / Hidden NY