Meet Kikuo Ibe, The Genius Behind G-Shock
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It takes a special kind of mastermind to drop a watch from an extreme height, let alone crush it with a cement roller, zap it with electricity or hit it with a hammer. But this is all part and parcel of CASIO engineer Kikuo Ibe’s personal style of experimenting and inventing.
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Working in CASIO’s engineer department propelled Japanese-born Ibe’s fascination into the world of watches and clocks. After years of multiple tests, failures, and powering through over 200 prototypes, the genius behind the G-SHOCK unveiled the legendary timepiece in 1983, fracturing the pre-existing notion of a watch as a precious object and transforming it into an emblem of toughness and resistance. Not only an almost unbreakable watch, the popular G-SHOCK has traversed the globe, becoming a stylish accessory finding itself on the wrists of streetwear icons, musicians, actors, and even politicians — even collaborating with the likes of BAPE, Stüssy, and recently Moncler Genius.
G-SHOCK
As expected, Ibe’s conviction is all centered around time — his belief being that if you use your time wisely, you can achieve greatness and produce something truly magnificent. His father bought him his first mechanical watch, something Ibe treasured and took care of greatly. It wasn’t until one day, while he was working at CASIO that it shattered right in front of him. This pivotal moment was the genesis of the G-SHOCK, and what pushed the engineer towards conceptualizing the sturdy structure and its future iterations. Rather than trying to go back in time to fix something you know you can't, he is a firm believer in moving forward and creating something better and stronger than before.
The watch is the brainchild of Ibe’s persistence and boundary-pushing thinking. It is a true feat of engineering, marrying elements of Japanese culture such as elegance and simplicity with its strength and robustness. With a heavy layer of next-level technology behind it, the G-SHOCK's horological structure defies the laws of physics and nature — something only a truly dedicated inventor can conquer.
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Subscribe to Highsnobiety on YouTubeWe sat down with Ibe to find out more about what inspires him, how the iconic G-SHOCK me to life, and what bits of advice he can pass on to future creators.
What was the first watch you ever owned?
It was an automatic watch made in Japan, bought as a gift for entering high school — the one that broke and led to the development of the G-SHOCK actually.
Were you always keen on working in engineering and inventing things?
No, I was never interested in that at all. I wasn’t very good at communicating in simple words, so I decided to go into the technical field where I didn't have to talk much.
G-SHOCK
Can you tell me how you went about the first design process for the G-SHOCK? What were the key elements you were keen on encapsulating?
The first step was to identify the user, then we decided on the performance and functions they would need. It was a challenge to make it all happen to be honest. The driving force was really the belief that if we could do it and if it could be achieved, it would be useful for the user.
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Subscribe to Highsnobiety on YouTubeThe concept of an ‘unbreakable watch’ did not exist in the world at that time, so innovation was the biggest factor, followed by durability and then style. The watch industry was pursuing things like thinness and miniaturization in the early ‘80s, so I think the G-SHOCK's big, rugged style was a shock.
Which G-SHOCK do you wear most often?
The DW5600, the same style as the very first model. I wear black, red or white depending on the season.
What type of extreme testing did the G-SHOCK undergo?
Before we could develop the tough structure, we had to drop-test the G-SHOCK from a toilet window on the third floor of our R&D Centre. After the structure was developed, we tested it by stepping on it with mountain bikes and cars. Today, we use our own equipment to carry out a variety of other extreme tests.
G-SHOCK
If you could summarize the G-SHOCK in three words, what would they be?
Tough, challenging, and empathetic. G-SHOCK continues to take on new challenges, and we're happy when people can relate to that. There are still a lot of people in the world who don't know what the G-SHOCK is about, and that’s my role now, to share our story.
What is something you want to achieve in a watch that you haven’t yet?
Science-fiction has always inspired me as I believe it encourages our imaginations to run wild, (I have a great affection for Yoda from Star Wars), which I believe is always a good thing. Outer space is a harsh environment, unlike any other on Earth, so I’d like to venture into that. I imagine my friend Taro and I skateboarding on a planet, both wearing G-SHOCK's on our arms.
G-SHOCK
Why do you think the G-Shock still resonates with people today?
I think the appeal of the G-SHOCK comes from the fact that we’re always trying new things and pushing the boundaries to make them happen — this resonates with the curious, like-minded individuals of today.
Do you have any bits of advice for the inventors of tomorrow?
If you feel that something is fun and useful, you should try it first. I think that's the first step. There will be big obstacles to overcome, but once you get over them, you will see the world differently — and we will support you.
Find out more about the G-SHOCK and shop the full series here.
Born of a desire to create a watch that never breaks, Casio G-Shock is revered by many as “the toughest watch on the planet.” But it's much more than that. G-Shock is widely respected, avidly collected and beloved by everyone from Navy SEALs to skaters to tree-hugging tech nerds. It's a watch that gave new meaning to the word “durable." But where did it come from? Let’s go back to the beginning.
The Genesis of G-Shock
When G-Shock development began in 1981, Casio’s head of watch design was engineer Kikuo Ibe. The parable that gave birth to the idea of G-Shock is now legendary: it was dropping his mechanical watch, a family heirloom, and watching it shatter on the ground that inspired Ibe to make a watch that would at least survive the rigors of daily life.
Ibe pulled together a project team of just three members and called them “Team Tough.” There were really only three design criteria — the so-called triple ten — for the watch he had in mind: withstand a 10-meter drop, withstand 10 atmospheres of water pressure, and have a battery life of 10 years. It would take over two years to release the first G-Shock, the DW-5000C. Ibe and his team had to work through some serious difficulties on the way.
The original G-Shock design is still around and among the brand’s most recognizable offerings. It has everything the 1983 model did and more, and we recommend one with features like Tough Solar and Multiband 6 as seen here in the GWM5610.Zen Love
As the number of prototypes passed 200, Team Tough was still far from the design solution they sought. Then, on a chance visit to a playground (another G-Shock creation legend), Ibe got his next stroke of inspiration: a bouncing rubber ball. Ibe finally visualized the shock-resisting system that forms the basis of all G-Shock watches. He reasoned that the center of the ball doesn’t suffer the shock that the exterior does. He and his team set out to design a watch to resist shocks in a similar way.
How G-Shock Cases Resist Shocks
The case of the G-shock is hollow and the timekeeping module is supported with soft gel cushioning material at only a few key points within. In addition, vital parts of the module itself are protected from impact with additional cushioning material.
The watch wasn’t meant to be unbreakable regardless of how far it fell. It was built to remain working after any fall the wearer could survive.
Protruding points on the case and bezel are made of urethane and protect the buttons and glass from impacts from any direction; even the strap is specially designed to aid in isolating the watch from impacts. All of these features help protect G-Shock watches from concussions, high G-forces (such as from auto or air racing) and heavy vibrations.
As for the name of the watch, Ibe said the “G” referred to the shock of a fall. A human being might be subjected to many shocks from many different situations (sports, fights, etc.), but Ibe thought a fall would be the toughest thing a person might endure and still live. The watch wasn’t meant to be unbreakable regardless of how far it fell. Rather, the intent was that the watch would remain working after any fall the wearer could survive.
The Evolution of G-Shock Style and Tech
The resulting watch, with its peculiar aesthetic and stubborn toughness, blossomed into an immensely popular line with a unique blend of followers, from the utilitarian-focused (military members, adventurers, extreme sports athletes) to the street-cred-centric (hip hop artists, street style aficionados). And there have been numerous milestones over the four decades of the G-Shock’s history.
The first analogue/digital model appeared in 1989. In 1993 the first true diver’s watch, the Frogman DW-6300, with 20 atmosphere water resistance, was released. The first titanium model, the Frogman DW-8200, came along in 1995.
Though made to look much like the original model with its familiar plastic case, this G-Shock is constructed of titanium, offers a refined experience and will cost you even more than its $1,650 retail price, as you’ll have to seek it out secondhand.Zen Love
The year 2000 brought us the GW-100, the first radio-controlled G-Shock, capable of receiving calibration signals from one of six worldwide locations for more accurate timekeeping. Other features have appeared over the years: resistance to low temperatures and dirt and mud, as well as built-in temperature and pressure sensors.
Tech like Bluetooth and are more recent and make G-Shock a contender in the smartwatch and fitness-tracker wars. You can get now get high-end G-Shocks made of metal and materials like sapphire crystal — even models incorporating traditional Japanese handicrafts and high-level finishing the likes of which you'd expect from Swiss luxury watches.
In fact, numerous models in multiple series are released each year, with basic models receiving updates every spring and fall. It's virtually impossible to keep track of them all, even for the brand's most passionate collectors. This shows just how popular G-Shock is around the world. In 2017, G-Shock announced it had sold its 100 millionth watch since that first unit hit the sales floor in 1983.
G-Shock Collecting
Despite the dizzying array of models and the brand's constant willingness to experiment, iterate and get funky, certain models have become iconic. There's the original squarish form in the 5600 and the police/military favorite 6900 series with its giant "G" button. Then there's the Frogman dive watch and the more recent CasiOak (2100 series), an ana-digi hype phenomenon.
Collectors will seek out the likes of special editions or collaborations (there are many) and those produced in Japan. The high-end models in the and lines represent the brand dipping its toe in the luxury space, and it finds fans that grew up loving G-Shock and now have the funds to indulge their nostalgia.
Though Casio and G-Shock are strongest in the digital space, the minimal design and seeming nod to watch designer Gerald Genta made this ana-digi "CasiOak" (the 2100 series) a runaway success.Zen Love
But G-Shock collecting can still be a relatively fun and casual pursuit. Much of the collection costs under $200, and for that money you can get the full G-Shock experience with desirable features like solar charging (Tough Solar), atomic timekeeping (Multiband 6) and more. If it's just a colorful accessory you're after, basic models can often be had for less than $100.
Through it all, G-Shock has been a consistent favorite of the military, law enforcement, first responders, athletes, outdoorsmen and hip-hop artists the world over. Seldom has one watch (particularly one so "ugly") had such broad appeal. It is one of those rare products that transcends its category to become a cultural phenomenon. In fact, the durability of the G-Shock itself may only be exceeded by the durability of its appeal.