How do you have a good time your fortieth birthday? Dressed from head to toe in strong 18-karat gold, that is it.

Or at the very least that is what Casio did to have a good time the anniversary of its fan-favorite G-Shock: it created a one-of-a-kind watch known as the “G-Shock.” Dream Plan #2mannequin G-D001.

“That is the one one in all its variety on the planet,” mentioned Kikuo Ibe, a Casio engineer generally known as the “father of G-Shock.”

To speak about this skilled watch, Mr. Ibe and his G-Shock co-founder Yuichi Masuda met and had been interviewed on an overcast November day at Casio’s headquarters in Tokyo’s Shibuya district.

Casio employees expressed how uncommon it was for the 2 males, who labored in several areas, to be collectively. Mr. Masuda, 69, is the corporate’s president and chief government officer, with places of work at its Shibuya headquarters. (He was the group chief chargeable for the G-Shock undertaking within the early Eighties.) Mr. Ibe, 71, R & D Heart Situated in Hamura Metropolis, west of Tokyo.

I can not see the precise Dream #2, not even the principle prototype fabricated from strong 18 karat gold. After being exhibited in Singapore, Taiwan and Geneva, it was despatched to New York, the place Phillips plans to public sale it on December 10, with proceeds going to the environmental group The Nature Conservancy. (Estimated gross sales are $70,000 to $140,000.)

The successful bidder will obtain the ultimate model of the watch in early 2024.

As an alternative, I noticed one other iteration of the Dream #2 prototype, simply gold-plated. I additionally noticed the common mannequin of the Dream Venture #1 — “That is the mannequin we made for our thirty fifth anniversary,” Mr. Ibe mentioned. The gold-plated metal model is often displayed within the headquarters showroom and continues to be bought on-line and in shops.

The precise Dream #1 encompasses a conventional G-Shock sq. case and digital show design, is crafted from a strong 18-karat gold case and bracelet, is restricted to 35 items, and sells for 7.7 million yen every, or $51,500 right now . It is bought out.

“This undertaking goals to develop a incredible G-Shock,” he mentioned. “For the second watch, it is the primary time a designer has collaborated with synthetic intelligence to create a watch.”

Sixteen designers spent two years engaged on the Dream #2 undertaking, first defining the idea for the watch, which encompasses a 45.1 mm spherical case and an analogue dial. “For 40 years,” Mr. Ibe mentioned, “G-Shock has been gathering information on anti-seismic expertise. First, they let synthetic intelligence perceive the expertise, after which blended synthetic intelligence and designers’ concepts.

“Will probably be an authentic piece of labor that’s distinctive on the planet.”

He mentioned the watch’s distinguishing function is its use of steel gears and digital elements. “Steel gears are getting used to create next-generation photo voltaic cells that may generate electrical energy even in little mild,” he mentioned.

Mr. Ibe pointed to the mannequin’s skeletonized dial, which encompasses a date window. “Truly, you possibly can’t see it, however the photo voltaic panels are proper beneath,” he mentioned. There are 55 rubies inlaid within the watch bearings to cut back put on; the typical variety of mechanical timepieces is 17.

The prototype machine is assembled in Yamagata Manufacturing unit Situated within the northern a part of Honshu, the principle island of Japan. (The event and high quality assurance testing of this watch is performed in Hamura.)

The outcomes of it? “It handed all checks,” Mr. Ibe mentioned.

The ultimate watch’s packaging is sort of as attractive because the design: a gold-toned steel tower with the G-Shock mannequin’s cutout sample on all 4 sides. The entrance panel slides as much as reveal the watch, which homes a small mild. “When the sunshine is turned on, the title of every product within the assortment is mirrored, making it an impressive murals,” mentioned Mr. Ibe.

With new fashions and collaborations launching each few weeks, the G-Shock is a key product for Casio, which reported web gross sales of 263.8 billion yen ($1.79 billion) for the 2022-23 fiscal 12 months ended March 31 ). All of our gross sales are from watches,” Mr. Masuda mentioned, “60% of that are from G-Shock. “

Final fiscal 12 months, the corporate shipped greater than 140 million G-Shocks; in 1983, it shipped 30,000 items.

Mr Masuda mentioned he was nonetheless shocked by G-Shock’s recognition: “I did not anticipate this to occur.”

Mr. Masuda mentioned that even with flashy objects similar to gold watches, G-Shock has all the time been robust. “I believe the core followers are drawn to G-Shock’s toughness, energy and resilience, that are its core traits,” he mentioned. “However we now have to maintain difficult ourselves and breaking the mildew. We stay in an age of sustainability and digitalization. You want resilience and resilience to outlive.”

What does the way forward for G-Shock appear to be? “I believe younger individuals will do it for us,” Mr. Ibe mentioned with a smile.