Look, Casio, I’m not mad — simply disenchanted. The most recent-greatest, top-tier, AI-designed G-Shock MT-G watches, particularly the G-Shock MTG-B4000B-1A2 and MTG-B4000-1A, debuted on YouTube (which might have been all effectively and good), and but we have now not heard a single phrase formally from Casio on this launch. How might something with “4000” in its title be launched this quietly? Anyway, let’s dig into what makes this an thrilling new chapter within the historical past of MT-G ultra-high-end G-Shock watches.
Earlier than we get on with the digging, I need to get some extra out of my system. I child you not, I subscribed to the G-Shock YouTube channel as a result of I had discovered that the model oddly prefers to launch its watches there. Oh, have we begged and pleaded to G-Shock: “Please, please ship stuff out to us in order that we will put together protection, dig in, ask the fitting questions, and current these novelties in-depth..!” Alas, to little avail. The final electronic mail (forwarded!) that I might discover in my inbox from the model is from March and it’s a couple of Barbie-collab G-Shock. Cool. Nonetheless, I’ve to scour the web for photographs of the MTG-B4000 as a result of Casio G-Shock’s press website doesn’t make photographs of acceptable high quality obtainable.
I’m upset as a result of I really like G-Shock. I am keen on the 2 I personal, and I might break the piggy financial institution for yet one more one principally each single day.
Identical to all the watch, the dial can also be crafted “with wonderful processing expertise” at Casio’s high-end Yamagata Casio manufacturing facility in Japan. Sallaz sprucing can also be utilized to the watches there.
Anyway. The MTG-B4000. It’s among the many first big-brand watches to debut with a pronounced and apparently heavy reliance on synthetic intelligence-assisted design. As Casio explains, with each new watch there’s a problem linked to “placing completely different supplies collectively” to “mix energy and wonder” (which is honest), and the MT-G is “all about placing issues collectively.” I suppose that’s true for any watch designed particularly to not disintegrate, however let’s not get too distracted this early on.
How did Casio use AI to create this new G-Shock watch? “In creating this timepiece, Casio leveraged a means of co-creation between human designers and AI capabilities. With individuals centered on design and engineering, AI was used to optimize evaluation, simulation and modeling. This reciprocal course of was repeated time and again, sparking synergies between human sensibilities and AI optimization.” Extra particularly, Casio’s AI evaluation made the a lot of the shock-resistance information the model has gathered through the years from G-Shock testing. AI was used to simulate affect from each doable angle and generate a 3D-model for specified structural energy and materials property necessities.
The tip result’s a case of a very particular and certainly clever-looking development. On the picture above, you will notice a bridge-like development the place a laminate from carbon and glass fiber sheets arches between the lug buildings of the watch. Surprisingly sufficient, this appears strong and considerably versatile on the identical time, simply as bridges are likely to (have to) flex underneath load. The best way the bridge and the lug items interlock does look distinctive and particular, nothing that I, for one, have ever seen earlier than. The closest factor that involves my thoughts is the Ferrari-designed Techframe case from 2017. However, this piece appears so loopy and engaging, I wouldn’t thoughts sporting it with “the watch half” lacking simply to understand its development. Even the tail-end of the strap is beveled and formed to fulfill the lug piece completely.
Now, in actuality, what tends to occur is that such over-engineered watches find yourself too giant, too cumbersome, and thus uncomfortable to put on. Oh, and ungainly, too, as a result of they appear moderately “lengthy” (that means that the lugs and the straps lengthen far out and away from the watch head making for a “lengthy” look). We’re but to place this newest and best AI-Designed G-Shock MTG-B4000 on the wrist, however a assessment is perhaps coming later nonetheless. Fortunately, the model does present correct measurements, and so the G-Shock MTG-B4000 watches measure 45.3mm vast, 14.4 mm thick, and a whopping 56.6mm lug-to-lug. We’ll hazard a guess and say that doesn’t embody the way in which the strap extends additional nonetheless away from the place the lug itself ends. We’ll reserve judgment till it’s on the wrist, however there’s trigger for warning — and a “lengthy” watch tends to look wonky irrespective of how thick your wrist is.
Casio explains: “The bottom design was impressed by the natural type of a hybrid carbon-metal construction.” As we mentioned, Casio had AI analyze its drop check outcomes and used that evaluation at the side of what the engineers and designers had in thoughts. Following loads of back-and-forth between these processes (change the design, analyze, change the design, analyze, and so forth), the ultimate development and magnificence got here to be. It’s of a extremely advanced sandwich development with a caseback, a center case, the aforementioned bridge construction, and the frontal components being held collectively by screws and threaded joints. The lug construction is screwless to additional improve affect resistance. It appears as strong because the Terminator, and nearly as fascinating, too, though Casio doesn’t seem to make any claims as to how a lot (if in any respect) extra shock-resistant the MTG-B4000 is in comparison with different G-Shocks.
Metallic Injection Molding (MIM) is used to craft the caseback by injecting wonderful steel powder into molds to attain a posh 3D type. Sallaz sprucing is used on the steel elements with hand-polished by grasp craftspeople. Hairline and mirror sprucing are utilized. With the MTG-B4000B-1A2, Casio introduces a newly developed blue-grey ion-plating on the bezel and different stainless-steel elements. In the meantime, the MTG-B4000-1A encompasses a naked metal bezel at a barely cheaper price.
As befits a high-end G-Shock, the MT-G line, and the MTG-B4000 watches particularly supply high-spec actions with MULTIBAND6 radio managed time adjustment, Bluetooth cellphone connectivity, and all the standard bevy of capabilities comparable to a 27-city world time show, a timer, absolutely computerized calendar, energy saving perform, stopwatch, computerized hand place correction, battery indicator, and photo voltaic charging with 5 months of autonomy in whole darkness (18 months in energy saving mode). You additionally get a “Tremendous Illuminator” LED backlight. The packaging is after all Triple G Resist, so it’s shock-resistant, centrifugal force-resistant, and vibration-resistant because of the Carbon Core Guard Construction. The watches weigh 112 grams and are water-resistant to twenty ATM (equal to 200 meters, 660 toes).
The blue IP-finish Casio G-Shock MTG-B4000B-1A2 is priced at 176,000 JPY or roughly $1,230 USD, whereas the naked steel Casio G-Shock MTG-B4000-1A is priced at 165,000 JPY or about $1,150 USD. Official US pricing may differ and must be obtainable later. You possibly can study extra on the model’s web site.
