Casio Turns the Original G-Shock Idea Into the Analogue 2500 Series

Casio is revisiting the watch that started G-Shock, but it isn’t doing another square digital throwback.

The new G-Shock 2500 Series takes the spirit of the 1983 DW-5000C and pushes it into a fully analogue format, keeping the shock-resistant brief while giving the watch a noticeably more conventional wrist presence.

That rounded bezel has already earned the watch the unofficial “CasioNaut” nickname, a nod to the way its softened outline brings the Patek Philippe Nautilus to mind in the same way the GA-2100 became the “CasiOak”.

At a glance

• Casio’s G-Shock 2500 Series reimagines the original DW-5000C concept as a fully analogue watch.
• The range launches across resin, steel-bezel and steel-bracelet builds, all with 200 metres of water resistance.
• Product pages point to a November 2026 release window, with regional pricing emerging but not fully confirmed by Casio America.

A softer G-Shock shape with luxury-watch echoes

The 2500 Series matters because it doesn’t simply extend the CasiOak playbook.

Instead, Casio has gone back to the DW-5000C’s origin point, the 1983 watch built around the idea of surviving a drop, and translated that foundation into an all-analogue layout.

The result still reads unmistakably as a G-Shock, with a protective case shape and practical proportions, but the smoother bezel changes the tone.

Where the GA-2100’s octagonal case invited Royal Oak comparisons, the 2500’s rounded geometry lands in different territory and gives the line a more dressed-down sport-watch feel.

Resin, steel bezel and full bracelet versions

The launch collection spans nine references across three main builds.

The GAC-2500 is the most straightforward expression of the concept, with a resin case and resin strap rather than metal elements.

It comes in black, very dark green, white and yellow, leaning into the bold single-colour language that has long been central to G-Shock’s appeal.

The GMC-2500 steps toward a more versatile look by pairing a stainless steel bezel with a resin strap.

The GMC-2500-1A and GMC-2500-1A8 use black and silver treatments, while the GMC-2500G-9A goes gold-tone on both bezel and dial.

The GMC-2500D models move onto a matching steel bracelet, with the GMC-2500D-1A and GMC-2500D-1A2 separated by black and blue-grey dials.

That makes the steel-bracelet pair the dressiest watches in the family and the clearest argument that a G-Shock can sit close to a conventional analogue sports watch without losing its identity.

The analogue functions that matter

Every version shares the same key functional updates.

At 3 o’clock, a Multi-Mission Date window uses a three-cell display to show the date, stopwatch elapsed minutes or setting information depending on the selected mode.

Once the year, month and day are set, Casio says the watch operates as a fully automatic calendar until 2099, with no manual correction required.

At 9 o’clock, a small seconds hand can be stopped and restarted on demand.

Casio describes this as a sleep function intended to reduce power consumption and extend battery life beyond the roughly two-year rating, though it hasn’t stated by how much.

The most interesting mechanical idea is the minute hand.

Rather than being fixed rigidly in place, it is held by magnets in a system Casio calls the Shock Release Hand, allowing it to shift under a hard knock, absorb impact and then return to its correct position within a few minutes.

Release context and early pricing signals

Casio product pages are live and marked for November 2026, while the series has already launched in India.

US listings show an estimated date of 6 November, and the UK launch has been reported for 7 November.

Pricing is appearing region by region rather than through a single fully settled announcement.

Figures shown on a G-Shock U.S. price list put the resin GAC-2500 models at $145, the steel-bezel GMC-2500 at $280, the gold-tone GMC-2500G-9A at $300 and the steel-bracelet GMC-2500D at $350.

Those figures have not been accompanied by an official Casio America announcement, so they’re best treated as credible early guidance rather than final retail confirmation.

Details & Specifications

The 2500 Series feels like a smart next move for G-Shock because it builds from the brand’s first idea rather than only remixing its most recent hits.

For collectors who already have a square or a CasiOak, this gives the family a different shape, a different wrist character and a credible analogue reason to exist.