Reaction to The Time Teller’s “10 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE Buying A G-Shock!”

This article is a reaction to the video “10 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE Buying A G-Shock!” by The Time Teller. While I find the video entertaining and agree with some of what Jory Goodman says about G-Shock watches, there are some things that I don’t really agree with. I suggest watching the video before reading my responses, as I won’t be summarizing everything that he said.

1. Gives Rashes

I think this concern is a bit overblown, at least when it comes to the average person. Yes, some people are allergic to resin or don’t like the feel of resin bands, but it seems like most people don’t have a problem with them. I find them more comfortable than Jory does, who describes them as “fairly uncomfortable.” I have sensitive skin, but I’ve never had an issue with resin bands, and getting a rash is not one of the more common complaints that I’ve heard about G-Shock watches. Granted, some resin bands may be more comfortable than others depending on the model, and the Mudmaster GWG-1000 featured in the video is known for having a stiffer band than other models.

Jory also says that the resin bands will start “cracking and crumbling” and says this happened to some of his watches from the ’90s. While “resin rot” was a common problem in some early G-Shock watches, and some models were notorious for it, a lot of improvements (such an increased UV resistance) have been made since the ’80s and ’90s. Resin rot is not a problem that I have seen mentioned with G-Shock models from the 2000s and later. It may be reasonable to say that resin will not last forever, and its lifespan and integrity will largely depend on the environment and elements it is exposed to, and the way it is cared for. I don’t think it is something for most people to worry about, for the first few decades at least. It is always possible to buy genuine replacement parts for popular G-Shock models.

Jory recommends aftermarket options with other types of band material, and he advertises these products in his videos and video descriptions. I don’t doubt that he truly feels resin bands are uncomfortable, and I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way, but I don’t believe it is a widespread problem. That being said, I have mostly worn metal and resin bands in my life, and it’s possible that I would like canvas or nylon bands a lot more if I gave them a chance. Buying aftermarket parts and swapping bands can be a fun part of the hobby, and I’m not telling people not to do it. Also, I should mention that there are many G-Shock watches available with other types of bands, for those who don’t like resin.

2. Solar Power Is A Life Saver

Yes, I also prefer Tough Solar watches, and I recommend them, but at the same time, I don’t think that not having solar power is always a deal-breaker. Jory also points out that some non-solar watches can last over ten years on a single battery, and that is true, but I think that only applies to digital models, and not analog or analog-digital ones.

3. Auto Backlight Feature Depletes The Battery

Yes, I’ve had experience with the auto backlight depleting the battery on a G-9300 Mudmaster, even though that model has a “full auto” backlight that will only turn on in the dark and I didn’t even seem to use it much. For this reason, I suggest enabling this feature only during the periods that you will need it the most, and turning it off when you don’t need it.

4. Negative Displays Are Cool But Hard To See

Yes, the number one complaint about G-Shocks that I see online is about the negative (i.e. inverted) displays of certain models, despite these models selling extremely well. They are harder to see, especially at night and at an angle. Maybe it is not as much of an issue under bright light, but a positive display is still be easier to read. Customers should definitely consider this before making a purchase.

5. Atomic Time-Keeping Attributes Aren’t Worth It

Jory says that the Multi-Band 6 auto time adjustment feature is a “gimmick,” because most of the people he talked to say it doesn’t work half the time. (The Multi-Band 6 feature usually attempts to automatically sync 5-6 times a day, so even if it just worked 2 or 3 times a day, that’s not so bad.) It’s true that it might not always work, and depending on the location, people may have trouble with the Multi-Band 6 radio signals due to distance or physical obstructions of some sort, even though they appear to be within range according to Casio. In the continental U.S., there is only one radio transmitter for the country, so you can imagine that the signal might have trouble reaching some areas. Despite the U.S. having a transmitter, Multi-Band 6 has not been a very desired feature there, and there is a real possibility of the U.S. government shutting down the transmitter in the future. There are also many countries and regions that have no Multi-Band 6 transmitters and can’t use the feature at all. However, calling it a “gimmick” is a bit harsh, and many people do find this feature to be very useful. (Europe seems to be less price-averse and more appreciative of this feature.)

Jory makes the argument that a GW-M5610-1 (with Tough Solar and Multi-Band 6) is twice to three times the price of a basic DW-5600E-1V, and that you may not really need those extra features. In this case (on Amazon), twice as much would only amount to $40-$45 dollars more, which is not really that much for most people. What he doesn’t mention, is that in addition to Tough Solar and Multi-Band 6 “atomic” timekeeping, other advantages of the GW-M5610-1 include world time (very useful for travelers), five alarms versus one, a battery level indicator, button tone on/off, and a full auto EL backlight versus a non-auto backlight. It should be mentioned that the most basic and cheapest G-Shock watches like the DW-5600 do not have an option to turn off the beeping sound when the buttons are pressed. The same holds true for the GW-6900 versus the DW-6900.

While I respect the DW-5600E-1V very much and think it is certainly good enough for many people, I believe spending $40-$45 more for the extra features on a GW-M5610-1 is definitely worth it.

6. More Expensive [Does Not Equal] Best

I agree with this to some extent. It largely depends on what your needs are and what features you will actually use. There is no reason to spend a lot of money if you don’t need to. I believe some G-Shock watches represent a better value more than others (like the Rangeman GW-9400 that is readily available at a discount). But it seems like this point is brought up in the video mainly for the purpose of advertising the DW-5600E-1V (which he has an affiliate link to in the description), and I admit I’m guilty of doing the same thing here, but with the Rangeman. A lot of YouTubers and bloggers like to champion (and advertise) the DW-5600E-1V, and the cynical part of me says that this is due to it being one of the cheapest and best-selling G-Shocks in the U.S., so it is more likely to be purchased by a visitor who is new to G-Shock than a more expensive model. It’s certainly a great watch, but not my number one G-Shock recommendation, and I think many people will get more satisfaction and enjoyment from a more expensive model.

7. Apple / Smart Watch [Does Not Equal] G-Shock

Yes. No argument there. Comparing apples to oranges, as some people would say.

8. Viable Alternatives Available

This is true, just as a G-Shock is a viable alternative to to other brands. I think customers should compare the actual products in relation to their own needs, rather than trying to make a final judgment on one brand’s superiority over another.

9. People Look Down On Your G-Shock

Sure, there are watch snobs out there who will scoff at G-Shock, just like there is every other kind of snob out there. You shouldn’t let a fear of what irrational people might think stop you from enjoying your life the way you want to. Jory does point out that some enthusiasts who like expensive mechanical watches actually like G-Shock watches too, and this is very apparent with the various YouTube channels dedicated to watches. I would venture to guess that you’re likely to get more compliments than derisive comments if you are wearing a G-Shock, because while there may be haters out there, there are also many, many fans. And in real life, the trolls are not as bold as they are online.

10. One G-Shock Is Not Enough

As Jory very humorously points out, G-Shock buyers often fall victim to the “just one more” mentality, and may want to buy another G-Shock to the point of being obsessed by it. While some people who use a G-Shock for work or the weekend are fine with having just one G-Shock for many years and possibly decades, a lot of people will end up buying more and more. Part of the genius of the brand is that it somehow turns otherwise healthy individuals into desperate hoarders collectors who just can’t get enough. We’re not here to tell anyone how to live, but please try to enjoy G-Shock responsibly.

The Time Teller has previously published many other videos about G-Shock, including “How To Put A NATO Strap On Your G-Shock!” and “The Seiko Tuna vs. The G-Shock Mudmaster.”

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Lorne
Lorne
4 years ago

Timex Ironman as an aternative to G-Shock or Casio? Really? They look like they’re for kids. I had one and it wasn’t durable at all. I know some Casio watches look like they’re still stuck on the 80, but still.

Suunto makes interesting products, but the longest battery life is 30 days. They have a lot of potential.

George
George
4 years ago

The auto backlight battery depletion is real. The battery is always high on my gw5610bc, one time I enabled the feature, it went to medium. There are a lot of random movements that enable the light, so I disabled it.

GumbyMac
GumbyMac
4 years ago

I would love a tough analog-digital model with solar but so many of the ana-digi G-shocks are impossible to read at a glance. I get that they’re cool looking and all, but hands that are nearly the same color, and possibly skeletonized blend into the background too easy. And like the author said, the digital screens which are already small are more often than not inverted or negative which almost makes them useless.

genex17
genex17
4 years ago

Howdy to all!

On point 5: You no longer have to be in range of the time signal if you own a Multiband G-Shock. Clock Wave for the iPhone and iPad will emulate any one of the 6 stations. It is a manual sync to network time, but does the job. Some G-Shocks do exclude reception of a time signal if you are in a zone that they mark as out of range, but for most it’s an practical alternative and a few dollars in the App Store. There are a few such apps for Android users as well.

Gene

G-Central G-Shock Fan Site
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