G-Shock Unveils Possibly Its Most Luxurious Dive Watch Ever

By the mid-’90s, G-Shock had already proved it could make the toughest timepieces in the world. They were resin-based and affordable, and favored by younger enthusiasts. But it was time for a new challenge. 

Could that same indestructibility transpose to a metal watch without losing the G-Shock charm? Metal doesn’t cushion shocks like resin, so the brand’s engineers embarked on one of the most difficult problems they ever had to solve. 

G-Shock

The solution was twofold: a floating internal quartz movement that didn’t contact the metal components and a multi-piece case structure that separated the titanium bezel and case with resin as a buffer. 

This new, innovative line got the name MR-G. Synonymous with more premium offerings from the brand, the moniker celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. And to commemorate the occasion, G-Shock is debuting an ultra-luxury version of its flagship dive watch.

G-Shock

Luxury territory

The asymmetrical Frogman has been a cult-favorite of the Japanese watchmaker ever since its ‘93 debut due to its uncompromising toughness and reasonable MSRP. But now, G-Shock’s only ISO-certified diver gets the MR-G treatment once again. And with it, a price tag higher than some of Omega’s entry-level Seamasters.

G-Shock

Effectively throwing everything it has into the platform, the new MRG-BF1000EB keeps the overall Frogman durability and aesthetic but with some crucial upgrades. For starters, the beefy 49.7-millimeter watch gets a Cobarion bezel over the Ti64 titanium alloy case. Cobarion is a cobalt-chromium alloy that gleams like platinum but is harder than titanium. 

G-Shock

Handcrafted by master gem-cutter Komatsu Kazuhito, the Cobarion has been faceted and arc ion-plated in blue, which helps with scratch resistance. According to G-Shock, the bezel “ evokes the swirling pillars of ice that form in the most frigid ocean waters.” These are called “brinicles” and are essentially stalactites that grow underwater beneath polar surfaces. The Casio sub-brand used this natural phenomenon as the design inspiration for this Frogman variant.

G-Shock

Iced out

If the luxurious Cobarion weren’t enough, the dive watch has also been adorned with a pair of lab-grown blue sapphires to replace the screws on the right side of the bezel. These alone might warrant a loftier sticker price but G-Shock made sure you were getting your money’s worth all around.

G-Shock

To match the gems, the caseback also gets a vapor-deposited sapphire crystal with the classic frog motif and some 30th-anniversary text.

G-Shock

Same ol’ Frogman

Theoretically, if you wanted to take this $7,500+ quartz watch on a deepsea adventure, you could. The MRG-BF1000EB still gets you 200m of water resistance, shock resistance and ISO certification. It also boasts Tough Solar charging and Multi Band 6 timekeeping, along with a suite of features that include a diving log and tide graphs. 

G-Shock

G-Shock

As for the strap, the Frogman ships with both a white Dura Soft Fluoro rubber strap and a titanium bracelet. It comes in a carrying case made by Japanese luggage brand Proteca.

G-Shock

Availability and pricing

Currently, the MRG-BF1000EB is already showing up on G-Shock’s international site for ¥1,210,000 (~$7,584). The priciest Frogman to date, the watch is limited to just 800 pieces worldwide.

G-Shock

G-Shock Frogman MRG-BF1000EB

• $7,584 at G-Shock

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