As Casio celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the leading watchmaker released an exceptional edition in collaboration with legendary Japanese swordsmith Sadanobu Gassan. MRG-B2000GA-1A is a perfect timepiece to commemorate G-Shock’s long-standing existence and excellence in the blended world of horology and fashion.
This model is doubly significant and is a testament to Casio’s innovations over the years and the beautiful Japanese tradition. Combining the exquisite artisanship of Gassan and the watchmaker’s cutting-edge contemporary technology, MRG-B2000GA-1A is easy to become one of the most sought-after timepieces in this era.
The History of MR-G and G-Shock’s 40th Anniversary
As Casio G-Shock commemorate their passion for tradition, craftsmanship, and relentless venture towards advancements and innovation, they continued to pay forward to their consumers. This special limited edition MR-G represents the exceptional artisanship of Sadanobu Gassan and it is a must-have for any avid G-Shock collector.
For those who don’t know yet the Gassan family, they are the most renowned and celebrated swordsmith in Japan for over 800 years, and Mr. Sadanobu is currently at the helm as the sixth-generation leader of the Osaka family. He continues to legacy and makes sure that the passion, skills, and dedication for swordsmithing carry on. He currently serves as the Director of the All Japan Swordsmith Association.
Sadanobu entered the world of swordmaking at a very young age and he trained alongside his father. Since then, he continued to challenge himself in new areas of swords craftsmanship without forgetting about the traditions of the past. He has already won numerous recognitions and awards in the field.
Casio MR-G can be traced back to 1996. The company started an adventurous quest towards creating a watch that houses both toughness and beauty. The cornerstone of the G-Shock philosophy is 10-10-10 which means 10-bar water resistance, 10-year battery life, and 10-meter-free-fall.
Over the years, their MR-G series evolved, and combining it with traditional Japanese craftsmanship makes them even more outstanding.
MRG-B2000GA-1A: Everything You Need to Know
If you are in the market for a new watch, you probably have not heard yet of a sales pitch saying “that is a timepiece worthy of a swordsmith”. Now, you will. Casio G-Shock MRG-B2000GA-1A is perfect for those who are into sword crafting, those who love to collect anniversary limited editions, and everyone in between.
MRG-B2000GA-1A features a special finish created within the traditional style of Gassan swordmaking techniques.
The bezel houses the Ayasugi pattern that can be seen on their sword blades. It is a combination of Ti64 titanium and pure titanium and the pattern is the result of a recrystallization procedure and blue-gray arc ion plating treatment. These processes make the bezel truly one of a kind. They make the watch even more aesthetic while staying practical. The treatment was developed by Kobe Steel and the hardness is equivalent (if not greater than) to a DLC treatment.
What makes it even more unique is that no two Ayasugi-hada pattern bezels are the same. Each of the 500 limited edition pieces will be totally distinct.
There is also a metal plate engraving on the upper left side that says “G-SHOCK 40TH”. You can see the Kesho file marks from the side of the sword blade on the titanium band. The dial features a diamond-like textured pattern with a fan motif.
Let’s take a closer look at the exterior of the model. The new MR-G also trademarks a bracelet that is hand-finished. It has the engraved character yasuri-me which roughly means “rasp mark” in English. This is typically applied to the sword’s tang to prevent it from slipping.
The hand-finish inscriptions “鍛” and “錬” can also be seen in the bracelet which marks the family and their craftsmanship.
Regarding its glass, it uses sapphire crystal which is anti-reflective and scratch-resistant. The hour indices remarkably mimic the blade’s curves of a Gassan sword and are finished with multifaceted cuts made exquisitely by hand as well.
If you want your dial to be truly exceptional and richly textured, MR-G is your top choice. Even the bracelet, case, and bezel are all thoughtfully-finished.
The major features and specifications of the new MRG-B2000GA-1A include the brand’s shock resistance, 200-meter water resistance, magnetic resistance, Tough Solar power, Multi-Band 6 automatic radio time adjustment, Bluetooth smartphone link, world time (27 time zones, home city swap, auto DST, and dual time), 1-second stopwatch, timer, hand shift, date and time display, daily alarm, and Super Illuminator LED light with afterglow.
The watch is extremely detailed and it has everything you need to carry on with your daily activities whether for business or recreation.
It visually looks tough and brute which truly pays tribute to Gassan’s swordsmanship. Its dimensions between the lugs, its measurement, and its chunky size make it a standout piece on a man’s wrist. The watch measures 54.7 mm by 49.8 mm in width. At a glance, the links and the case of the bracelet look like they were chiseled directly from a precious stone, but it only weighs 150 grams.
The titanium bracelet is lightweight and is comfortable on the wrist even when worn for a very long time. It is pleasant on the skin and also features a secure folding clasp.
Casio has done everything to present the case of the anniversary edition technically. The fine patterns and the special surface treatment are enough proof that the artisanship that went through this edition is exceptionally remarkable.
Another thing that mesmerizes Casio lovers is the brand’s revolutionary Tough Solar Power. It is already established across all collections but we are glad to see that this technology is present in the Gassan sword-inspired collaboration.
Under the dial are invisible solar cells which supply the type CTL1616 battery with energy. Even if you store the watch in the drawer for about 26 months, the environmentally-friendly drive can still maintain the significant functions of the watch by going on automatic energy-saving mode.
It is no longer shocking to learn that the recent anniversary MRG edition to commemorate Casio’s 40 years of impeccable watchmaking journey and innovations in collaboration with a prominent swordsmith is currently the most expensive in the entire series. This piece will also make a significant push into the established luxury segment.
Technical Details
Name: G-SHOCK MRG-B2000GA-1A “Gassan”
Brand: Casio
Category: digital watches
Warranty: 2 Years
Case Material: DLC Coating/Titanium
Diameter: 54.7mm x 49.80 mm
High: 16.90 mm
Watch Glass: Sapphire Crystal
Watch Type: Radio-controlled watch / Solar
Water Resistance: 20 bar or 200 m / 660 ft
Movement: Casio Tough Solar System, CTL1616
Functions: 24 Hours Counter, Alarm, Bluetooth Connection, Date, Day Date, GMT, Hour, Minute, Phone Finder, Second, Small Second, Stop second
Dial: Black
Indices: Dashes
Special Features: Limited Edition / Super Illuminator
Bezel: DLC Coating / Grey / Titanium
Bracelet Color: Grey
Bracelet Material: DLC Coating / Titanium
Clasp: Folding Clasp / Titanium
Other Limited Edition MR-G Models In The Series
Casio also released other MR-G limited edition watches in the series which include Casio G-Shock MR-G Titanium GPS Solar Kachi-iro “Sheng Sei” MRG-B2000B-1A. It also adopts the traditional Japanese ‘Katsuki’ design just like the MRG-B2000GA-1A edition. It features a dark navy blue color in general which represents the winning color known as “Sheng Sei”. It has a long history in Japan as Sheng Sei is typically used on ancient warriors’ armor.
Its dial also features a Japanese-style pattern making the case look even more brute and powerful. There is a scale pattern at the bottom of the dial while the outer edge is cut with a Japanese fan. The texture combination is simple yet stunningly noble.
The hands are also carefully designed to showcase the gorgeous shapes, edges, and curved surfaces of a katana sword. It is treated with revolutionary Yamagata CASIO Nanotechnology.
Alongside the aforementioned model in the series is the Casio G-Shock MR-G Titanium GPS Solar Durasoft Band Kachi-iro “Sheng Sei” MRG-B2000R-1A. It houses the same features as the other Sheng Sei model but this one has a Bishamon Tortoise Shell Pattern band. It is soft, gentle, and elegant while providing extreme durability.
Among all the limited edition watches included in the series, this Bruce Lee x Casio G-Shock collaboration has got to be the most exciting tribute for the fans of the martial artist and actor. There are only 300 pieces of MRGG2000BL-9A.
This new collaboration model pays tribute to and honors Bruce Lee’s 80th birthday. It has a unique blend of brute appearance, toughness, and great looks. It is the perfect way to celebrate the memory of an iconic fighter. The black and yellow colors of the watch signify Lee’s iconic tracksuit.
Just like the anniversary edition, these models are also powered with Casio’s revolutionary Tough Solar Power System. They all feature almost the same specifications making them a brilliant addition to any watch collection.
These limited edition MRG watches are available at Watch Outz!