Batman’s Watch?
I received this Casio G-Shock GW-9200 yesterday and posted a couple of pictures of it on the Watchuseek G-Shock Forum. “Bluegum”, one of the posters replied that it looks like “…the watch Batman would use.” That description struck a chord with me and perfectly illustrates something I like (and I bet others dislike) about G-Shocks.
Because the watches are covered in plastic jackets, Casio can easily create a lot of angles, bevels, engravings and protrusions on the watch. Similar, I’d say, to something like a Batmobile!
photo - Keith Lovern
Check out the Batmobile from the ‘Batman Begins’ movie. Look at all the superfluous bulges, angles and (probably) un-needed styling cues. I see the same thing in many of my G-Shocks. While I can understand that some think of this style as crass, like the Batmobile, I interpret it as a fun excercise in design.
Take a look at the pictures below and see if you think this is a watch that Batman would use. I think this watch would look great being worn inside a Batmobile.
June 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Hello GMT+9,
I am amazed about these great photo’s. The watch looks better in different angles. It also seems bigger than the G-9000 and G-9100. Probably due to the sensors. I think Blue Gum made himself eternal with his reference to Batman. I think he was spot on. It will take a while before I get one I think. but it’s definitely on my want list.
Kind regards,
Sjors
June 26th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Hi Sjors,
I’m sure you will end up with one of the new versions of the Riseman sometime soon. The watch is larger than a G9000, but it’s not super big like some of the traditional “Master of G” watches. It’s also probably a little thinner than what I expected before seeing it in person. When it’s on the wrist, it actually has a very DW-5900 like feeling to it due to the relatively small bezel area.
Thanks for reading,
petew
June 27th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I think you’re spot on Pete. This model really polarises people’s tastes with it’s almost gothic looks, but like Batman, it has a very distinctive stylised look.
Now Casio just need to make them a Batman Rising engraving on the back, and the bat signal as the backlight. ;^)
June 28th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Great pics, and I completely agree - the watch has a lot of superflous, fun styling cues. Casio really started doing this to their G-Shocks after 1990 when they abandoned the function-only look of the original DW-5xxx models. Neat, and one of the new G’s I’d like to have…
June 30th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Hi casiophile,
I remember back in the 90’s I abandoned G-Shocks for a little while. Some of the styles at the time had become just too much for me and I really felt like they’d lost their way. It’s only in the last few years that I can now look back at some of them and appreciate what they were doing with the designs.
Thanks for reading,
petew
July 1st, 2008 at 8:59 am
Oh man - “Batman” that is. This is a great looking watch but what is even more stunning is that it takes the Multi Band Wave Ceptor concept one step further… Multi Band 6, Casio must be on a development high of exceptional size. I like it a lot and it is on my “want to have ” list. Grear watch for mountain hikes, right?
Thanks for sharing these great pics.
Jurphaas