Explainer / Published 2026-10-26

Casio's new G-Shock 2500: one movement, nine styles

Casio announced nine fully analogue GAC-2500 and GMC-2500 watches for November, including a 47g resin model and metal-clad options. Their three-cell date window does more than show the day; regional dates and prices still depend on the local listing.

A drawn generic watch, three shaded blank windows and resin, bezel and bracelet material symbols surround Nine designs, one module; the windows contain no digits.
Conceptual editorial illustration; not a Casio product render or a photograph of the watch.

THE SHORT VERSION

  • Casio announced nine GAC-2500 and GMC-2500 variants on October 22; its Japanese release date is November 7, and T3 reports a November 7 UK launch.
  • All variants use a three-cell Multi-Mission Date, a magnetic Shock Release minute hand, 30-minute stopwatch, full auto-calendar to 2099, and a seconds-hand sleep function.
  • The resin GAC-2500 weighs 47g and is listed at £110 by T3; metal-clad and full-bracelet GMC models cost more in the UK, while local release dates and prices vary.

The 2500 series turns the square G-Shock into a full analogue face

Casio announced the GAC-2500 and GMC-2500 on October 22 as nine new G-Shock variants that reinterpret the 1983 DW-5000C in a fully analogue design. Its English international release describes the new series; a separate Japanese company release sets the home-market launch for November 7. T3's launch coverage reports November 7 for the UK. Those dates describe two markets, not a single global release calendar.

The model codes group into three exterior families: the resin GAC-2500, the metal-bezel GMC-2500 with a resin strap, and the full-metal-bracelet GMC-2500D. Casio lists nine combinations: four GAC colors, three metal-clad GMC finishes, and two bracelet models. All share the new Multi-Mission Date movement and main timing functions, so the price difference is primarily about materials, finish, and bracelet style rather than a different smartwatch platform.

A three-cell window carries more than the date

The most distinctive control is a three-cell window at 3 o'clock. Casio says Multi-Mission Date can show the calendar date, elapsed minutes on the stopwatch, and setting information depending on the mode. Setting the year, month, and day enables a full automatic calendar through 2099, which removes the regular manual date correction associated with simpler calendars. The watch keeps the conventional hour and minute hands with a small seconds subdial at 9 o'clock.

That small window is a functional display, not a digital screen with phone notifications. It gives the wearer a compact way to check a timer or mode while keeping the face analogue. Casio's product pages list a one-second stopwatch with a 30-minute measuring capacity, an amber LED light with afterglow, a date display, and hand-shift behavior that moves the main hands to reveal the inner dial. The use case is ordinary timekeeping with added watch functions, rather than receiving calls or app alerts.

A magnetic minute hand is designed to absorb impact

Casio calls the new mechanism Shock Release Hand. Instead of fixing the minute hand directly to its shaft, the watch uses magnetic attachment so the hand can absorb and dissipate impact. The purpose is to reduce damage from shocks while maintaining the dial's analogue layout. T3 reports the feature is included across the nine variants, alongside the date window, stopwatch, LED illumination, and full automatic calendar.

The same construction has a behavior buyers should understand. Casio warns that the minute hand can shake during impact or vibration and may temporarily move out of position; it should return to the correct position within a few minutes. That is an explanation of how the magnetic structure behaves, not evidence that the display is broken. The small seconds hand can also be stopped when it is not needed, which Casio says reduces power use. This is a small, practical power-saving option on a battery-powered watch.

The resin GAC-2500 is the lightest entry point

Casio's UK product page lists the GAC-2500 at 46.7 by 44.5 by 12.7 millimeters and 47 grams, with a resin and bio-based resin case and band. The product uses mineral glass and a CR1025 battery with an approximate two-year life. Its full auto-calendar reaches 2099, and the specification gives monthly accuracy of plus or minus 15 seconds. Those details make the entry model a conventional battery-operated G-Shock with a refreshed analogue display, not a connected watch.

The GAC-2500's size is useful to compare with the GMC-2500 before ordering: the metal-clad model's international page lists a 46.7 by 43.8 by 12.9mm case and 68g weight. Both have 200-meter water resistance, shock resistance, mineral glass, and the same two-year battery estimate. A wearer sensitive to weight may prefer the resin version; someone who values a metal finish may accept the modest increase. The wrist-band range and color should be checked on the exact local SKU.

The metal versions change the look and the UK price tier

T3 lists the resin GAC-2500 at £110 in the UK. The metal-clad GMC-2500 starts at £230, the gold version reaches £250, and the full-metal-bracelet GMC-2500D is £300. The metal-clad variant combines a brass dial and metal bezel with a textured resin strap; the D series adds a matching metal bracelet. Casio's international model list confirms the colors and case families, while T3's figures are UK launch prices.

Those prices are not a global MSRP. Casio's product pages show the variants as new for November 2026 and link to a store locator, while its Japanese press release provides the November 7 home-market release. A buyer in another country should confirm the model code, retailer, local currency, and delivery date on the local Casio or G-Shock page. The same color name can appear in different case materials, so compare the full code—GAC, GMC, or GMC-D—rather than relying on a family photo.

It is a tougher analogue watch, not a connected wearable

The appeal is straightforward: G-Shock's shock-resistant construction, 200-meter water-resistance rating, and a more restrained analogue face. The series retains the 30-minute stopwatch, full auto-calendar, LED backlight, and a two-year battery estimate across variants. Buyers do not need to charge it daily or pair it with a phone to read the time. The trade-off is that the watch's functions stay within timekeeping; the launch materials do not present it as a fitness tracker or app-connected device.

For someone who wants notifications, GPS activity records, or a charging-free sports watch with a different feature set, a smartwatch or another G-Shock line may be a closer fit. For a buyer who wants a resin case, analog hands, and shock resistance, the GAC-2500 offers the lowest UK price in the release coverage. The more expensive GMC models buy a different material treatment and bracelet, while preserving the same basic watch functions. The choice turns on case feel, weight, color, and price—not a hidden software tier.

How to choose before the November release

Start by deciding whether you prefer the light 47g resin GAC, the metal-bezel GMC with resin strap, or the all-metal-bracelet GMC-2500D. Then confirm wrist fit, the face color, and the exact local date. The GAC's dimensions and two-year CR1025 estimate are listed on Casio's product page; T3's UK prices help compare the launch tiers but do not establish a price in the United States, Japan, or another market.

The 2500 series combines vintage G-Shock proportions with a new way to use the date window and stopwatch while keeping a fully analogue dial. It is most compelling for someone who likes the original square-case heritage but does not want an analog-digital face. If that design is the draw, the GAC-2500 is the more affordable and lighter starting point; the metal GMC models add finish and bracelet options at higher UK launch prices. Check the local product page once preorders or store listings appear, because the October announcement describes a November plan rather than a completed global release.

Sources & reporting limits

  1. Casio to Release Analog G-SHOCK Watches Inheriting the Functional Beauty of the Original Digital Model
  2. G-SHOCK's new 2500 Series might be the CasiOak's coolest rival yet, with a fresh analogue design and no compromises on the cheapest model
  3. GAC-2500-1A | CASIO UK
  4. GMC-2500-1A | G-SHOCK | CASIO
  5. 初号機の機能美を継承するアナログ“G-SHOCK” | CASIO
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