The G-SHOCK MRG-B2000B
As featured on Hondinkee
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Armor was worn by samurai in the Sengoku period to protect themselves in battle. In recent years, Casio has focused on the similarities between the role of this armor and the basic performance of G-SHOCK, which protects the module at the heart of the watch, leading to the development of conceptual MR-G watches with armor motifs.
The most representative of these are the MRG-G1000B-1A4 "Akazonae" released in 2017 and the MRG-B2000B-1A "Kachiiro" released in 2021. Both G-SHOCKs were accented with traditional Japanese colors: crimson for the former, reminiscent of the red-painted armor used in the armed forces, and Kachiiro for the latter, a color that has been used for armor since ancient times. The MRG-B2000B-1A4 is a further evolution of the "Akazonae" model that has been launched in 2022
The elements that symbolize the concept of the new Akazonae are the cut surface of the outer circumference of the dial that resembles a fan (Ohgi) or a folding screen (Byobu), the dial pattern inspired by armor, and the index that expresses the warp of a Japanese sword. The indexes, in particular, are made of a lightweight resin to prevent them from falling off even when the watch body is subjected to impact, but by making full use of the micro-processing technology of Casio Yamagata, the manufacturing base of MR-G, the gentle curves and edgy ridges of the top surface are given a metallic shine. The shape is reminiscent of a Japanese sword and embodies a sense of luxury suitable for MR-G. The delicate details created by the superior technology also help to emphasize the value of "Japan Made".
In terms of performance, the watch is now equipped with 4800A/m anti-magnetic performance, and a new Bluetooth linkage function with smartphones has been added. In addition, the watch has been updated in terms of practical use, such as automatically switching to the local time when you go abroad, freeing you from the hassle of setting the time.
However, while the new Akazonae model offers improved performance, the exterior and design have not undergone any extreme changes, but rather a slight update to the previous model. This is because Casio does not want to develop a diverse lineup of MR-G, which is positioned as a high-end line, but rather aims to continue to develop a narrowly focused collection like mechanical watches.
In the case of digital devices, not just G-SHOCK, there are many cases where the exterior is drastically changed in line with the evolution of technology, but if the design is repeatedly changed in a short span of time, it is impossible to create an "icon" worthy of a high-end line. Therefore, taking the opportunity of the previous model, MR-G started to create a design that follows the basics while steadily evolving the functions. This is how the new MRG-B2000B-1A4 model was completed, and MR-G has not only focused on materials and finishes, but also on the concept of becoming a full-fledged luxury watch that can be used for a long time.
All content including images is credited to Hodinkee.
