The new 2500 Series, unveiled in New Delhi, takes the very first G-SHOCK as its reference point and puts its energy into the dial.
Every G-SHOCK traces back to the DW-5000C, the square resin watch Casio released in 1983 and the template for nearly everything the brand has made since. The 2500 Series, launched in India this week by Japan’s Casio Computer Co. Ltd. through Casio India, starts from that same watch but goes somewhere the original never did. It is fully analog, and much of the attention has gone into the face.
When I tried the watches on at the launch, the case felt softer than I expected from G-SHOCK. The edges are rounded and the surfaces sculpted, so the familiar outline catches light differently as you turn it. Casio calls the design concept Depth in Shadow, and the dial is where the idea makes the most sense. The indexes are sharply cut, the layers sit at different heights, and the shadows between them do a good deal of the decorative work.
There are two models. The GAC-2500 has a resin case, while the GMC-2500 is clad in metal. Both share the same design, so the choice comes down to material and how you plan to wear it.The layout is what Casio calls the Two-Eye Signature, with small seconds at nine o’clock and a multifunction indicator at three. Beside it sits a three-cell window for the new Multi-Mission Date function, which shows the date, stopwatch time and setting information in a small space. Once the watch is set, it accounts for month-end changes and leap years on its own, which is a genuinely useful thing to find in a fully analog G-SHOCK. For all the layering, the dial stays clean and easy to read at a glance, and the proportions are kept compact. Shock resistance and 20-bar water resistance carry over unchanged.
I was among the few at Casio’s invite-only media evening in New Delhi, where we could handle the watches and take a close look at the finishing. The launch gave equal billing to art. Three artists, Chit1 Studios, Yogi Kumar and Buzzinka, were invited to respond to the Depth in Shadow concept, each in their own medium, and light, texture and form ran through all three installations, linking them back to the watches on display. The result felt closer to a small exhibition than a product briefing, and I found it a pleasant change to think about a watch first in terms of how it looks, and only later in terms of what it does.
Takuto Kimura, Managing Director of Casio India, spoke about the thinking behind the collection and its debt to the DW-5000C. “The 2500 Series marks an important milestone for G-SHOCK in India,” he said. “As consumer preferences continue to evolve, we see growing appreciation for products that combine strong functionality with thoughtful design and craftsmanship. Inspired by the functional beauty of the original DW-5000C, the collection reinterprets our legacy of toughness through a sophisticated analog design that balances durability, functionality and craftsmanship. With its distinctive form, innovative Multi-Mission Date function and exceptional readability, the 2500 Series offers a compelling expression of G-SHOCK’s commitment to creating watches that are both resilient and refined for today’s consumers.”
The collection also comes with a familiar face. Cricketer Shubman Gill, G-SHOCK’s brand ambassador in India, fronts the brand at a time when it is clearly working to widen its appeal beyond its traditional following, and the 2500 Series, with its more polished analog design, fits neatly into that effort.
Having spent the evening with both models, I’d call the 2500 Series an easy recommendation for anyone who has always liked G-SHOCK’s toughness but preferred hands to a digital display. Long-time owners will recognise it at a glance. What’s new is how much there is to look at once they do.
The G-SHOCK 2500 Series is available in India now, priced from ₹9,995 to ₹26,995 depending on the model.
