Image via Complex Original
G-Shock is no stranger to awesome collaborations. First introduced in 1983, Casio’s staple line has a long list of partnerships, stretching way back to the time before hypebeasts roamed the blogosphere. Kind of makes you feel old, right? But thanks to the success of a few major streetwear collaborations in the ‘90s, there's been an onslaught of dope watches over the years.
With the label's upcoming Supra project and the ongoing 30th Anniversary celebrations, we took a look back at what collaborations got the watchmaker so much success up to this point. We’ve dug up a couple gems—and bumped into boy band collabos along the way—to bring you the 25 Best G-Shock Collaborations.
RELATED: The 10 Best Fashion Collaborations of 2012
RELATED: 10 Collaborations We Want to See in 2013
RELATED: The 30 Best Fashion Collaborations of All Time
Burton
Year It First Dropped: 2012
G-Shock has a watch for any occasion, and that includes snowboarding. Burton teamed up with G-Shock for the first time to create a watch suitable for those who hit the slopes. The result is a matte black watch with glacier blue details. When you're dealing with extreme weathers and altitudes, you're going to need a watch that will hold you down anytime you're in the backcountry. You can also count on the rugged Cordura strap to stay on your wrist after your failed attempt to pull off frontside double-cork 1260.
Garbstore
Year It First Dropped: 2011
The first collaboration between Garbstore and G-Shock produced a simple military-inspired watch. No camo here though, just a black colorway with simple green accents on the face, and an olive green checkered print on the straps. Another cool addition is the sweet leather zip case made by England's Heritage Belt Company.
Mister Cartoon
Year It First Dropped: 2009
Mister Cartoon blessed his fans who can't get on his waiting list (or are just scared of needles) with his own signature G-Shock watch. It's marked with all of his signature style of tattooing; you have the clown face, pin striping, and a CTOON backlight detail. This gave a chance for admirers of the L.A.-based tattoo artist to wear some of his work on their body without ever having to go under the needle.
TURBOKOLOR
Year It First Dropped: 2010
Straight out of Poland is streetwear brand TURBOKOLOR that designed a cool paint-themed watch for G-Shock. Baby blue paint drip details on the watchstraps and a tin casing resembling a paint can give this collabo a nice touch. Just file this under the cool packaging department.
Terry Richardson x colette
Year It First Dropped: 2011
If Terry Richardson were a G-Shock watch, this is what he would look like. This was a triple collaboration that also involved Paris-based boutique Colette and captured all things Terry. The watches have a red plaid colorway inspired by his favorite flannels, and a monkey on the packaging rocking his signature specs. Two thumbs up for nailing the look down.
Nigel Sylvester
Year It First Dropped: 2013
The second collaboration between G-Shock and pro-BMX rider Nigel Sylvester came in an all-black colorway and was named appropriately so. Dubbed the "Black Out," the watch is ideal for his daily riding activities where there's a high chance of wristwear getting pretty dirty. His first collaboration with G-Shock was an all-white version, so this tweak makes perfect sense.
Takashi Murakami
Year It First Dropped: 2010
One of G-Shock's best collaborations is also one of the hardest to get your hands on. Not many could afford the $3,700 price tag, and even if you could, finding one of the 300 pieces made it even harder to snag. The watch is a translucent pink color and sits on miniature pillow featuring Takashi Murakami's designs when you're not wearing it. Cause when you have a watch that expensive, you have to treat it like fragile glass slipper.
Stussy x Bape
Year It First Dropped: 2013
Two of G-Shock's OG streetwear collaborators come together for one sick watch. This watch was made to celebrate NOWHERE/ A Bathing Apes first opening in Japan. Both brand logos appear printed on the front, and a custom design is also seen on the digital display. This was just the beggining of a massive BAPE collaboration that involved 20 different artists.
DGK
Year It First Dropped: 2012
When he's not skating the streets Stevie Williams is on his DGK grind. His creative outlet introduced this cool collaboration with G-Shock. This is his second one with the watchmaker, but it really sticks out thanks to its transparent features. Clear case and clear band allow the purple accents to really pop.
In4mation
Year It First Dropped: 2011
When you're stuck on an island, you're going to stay busy, and In4mation did just that with over six collaborations with G-Shock. The Hawaiian-based brand let you feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, and hit fans off with some island vibes for this collaboration. The Rasta-inspired red, green, and yellow colors represented the love of Jah. Stoners also love these colors, so this was a practical choice for those who were never on time.
Krink
Year It First Dropped: 2011
Krink took a break from his dripped out work to design a very minimal watch for G-Shock. Though fans would have expected some oozing paint details, the surprisingly simple design works better with the first-ever full mirror-face element that was added to the watch. Stare a little closer and the metallic silver colorway resembles freshly dried paint.
Royal Air Force
Year It First Dropped: 2012
The chronograph watch couldn't be more than perfect than G-Shock's version: a collaboration with the Royal Air Force. We aren't all fighter pilots, but if you're a regular jetsetter, this bad boy can switch time zones faster than you can say Kanye West. However, if you're in a serious dogfight, this watch is built to handle whatever intense G-forces your aerial maneuvers bring. How's that for putting the Shock Resistant feature to the test?
Medicom Toy
Year It First Dropped: 2013
For fans of collectible toys and watches, this collaboration is a dream come true. G-Shock teamed up with Medicom Toy for this awesome timepiece. Of course it can't be a true Medicom Toy collaboration without its trademarked Bearbrick, and it came in the form of a large Bearbrick head as part of the packaging. Die-hard collectors of G-Shock were probably fighting with Bearbrick buffs to get their hands on the complete packaging. That combination alone made these tough to get a hold of.
Dee & Ricky
Year It First Dropped: 2010
Dee & Ricky have parlayed there sought after Lego accessories into a full-on collaboration with G-Shock. The twins used their brick building inspirations to create something that was eye-popping but low-key at the same time. The all-black design was the perfect color to make the Lego-inspired details really pop. And if you can't tell the time by simply looking at the gear-shaped small and big hands, it also has digital features.
Haze
Year It First Dropped: 2012
It seems that every time G-Shock celebrates an anniversary, Haze is there to pop out the cake with a surprise. The graffiti artist returned to design the logo for the watchmaker's 30th Anniversary and blessed them with another dope piece. The watch came in a silver colorway popping off with the graffiti artist's signature artwork in red details. Let's hope this friendship keeps on going.
Zeta x Montana Colors
Year It First Dropped: 2010
Another triple collaboration comes with the assembly of graffiti artist Zeta and paint manufacturer Montana Colors together. There are not a lot of images of the Zeta watch collaboration floating around, but all you really need to look at is the packaging. The custom spray can complete with custom artwork should have already sold you before even seeing the watch.
Clot
Year It First Dropped: 2012
With CLOT celebrating its 8th Anniversary and Casio celebrating its 30th, it was only right for the two to come together for a collaboration. The watch comes in CLOT's signature red colorway, translucent gel strap, and engraved with the CLOT logo on the casing. For the lucky few, a special edition version came with a cool clear crate packaging.
Beauty & Youth
Year It First Dropped: 2011
When you're dealing with Japan's Beauty & Youth, you can expect a little bit of refinement. But how do you class up a rugged watch? Well, black on black never fails, and that's exactly what Beauty & Youth did with its collaboration with G-Shock. Rock it while riding your BMX or to a black tie affair, it works for any occasion. If Q made this in the labs of MI6, it would be the first watch James Bond would pick out.
Parra
Year It First Dropped: 2011
Dutch-based illustrator Parra is known for his colorful retro designs, and his collaborative watch with G-Shock reflects that. The watch is old school with fewer tech features, but it's filled with so much detail. He lets his work speak through the colors by day, and at night, a signature Parra illustration appears when you hit the backlight.
Men's File
Year It First Dropped: 2012
Men's File went the extra mile for its G-Shock collaboration. The fashion magazine turned a modern digital watch and made it look like a vintage timepiece. The watch features leather straps that were made a bit longer to fit over bomber jackets or flight suits. But the most obvious detail is the military style leather protector. These were also really limited edition—there were only 50 pieces of this made.
Wu-Tang
Year It First Dropped: 2012
Wu-Tang is one of the first rap groups to fully take advantage of their popularity and turn it into a full lifestyle brand. When G-Shock announced its collaboration with the almighty Wu-Tang Clan, fans from Shaolin to New Jerusalem and across the globe swarmed to cop. The design came in the signature black and yellow colorway complete with the iconic Wu symbol. And you thought ODB was fronting when he said "Wu-Tang is here forever, motherfuckers."
Maison Martin Margiela
Year It First Dropped: 2013
What's that timepiece, Margiela? G-Shock dropped a Funk Flex-infused bomb when it revealed its collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela. Of course this isn't the first pairing between high and low, but it is a sign that luxury brands are more than willing to expand their portfolio to include a new audience.
Complete with a packaging and style fit for a luxury brand, the watch involved details like a removable metallic leather wristband, transparent liquid face, back light that shows off the watches skeletal features in the dark, and Margiela's unique numbering system on the back casing. Just go ahead and add this to the overall best collaborations of 2013 list.
BAPE
Year It First Dropped: 1998
BAPE has had a very long running success streak with G-Shock. Fifteen years and counting—that's 1998, people—and these two are still going strong. Blogging wasn't even a thing, and your mom probably picked out your clothes for you. It's reported that only 1000 pieces were made. Add that to the age of the watch and you have one very #rare piece.
AdFunture
Year It First Dropped: 2011
Part of G-Shock's Shock the World 2011 Campaign, each AdFunture watch has a separate toy figurine that doubles as a watch stand. This is a great example of a collaboration that's more than just slapping an extra logo on a product. When you talk about perfect execution from product down to the packaging, G-Shock's work with this China-based toy brand takes the cake. Can't really say more than that.
Stussy
Year It First Dropped: 1997
To see G-Shock's first collaboration with Stussy, you must go way back to the dark ages of the Internet. The year was 1997 and your fastest Internet connection was 56k. You actually had to go to the store to buy sneakers and clothes. Do you feel old yet? The watch that started it all was this DW-6900 model. Simple, straightforward, and functional, there's a reason why this is one of the best fashion collaborations of all time. This was just a sign of what was to come.
