We’ve seen countless G-Shock versions in our time, and they still keep coming. The latest in Casio’s line-up of its most famous series is the Pokémon edition watch. Celebrating the gaming franchise’s three decades, the timepiece has the G-Shock GA-110 as the base unit. On top are the classic Pokémon colors in Red, Green and Blue.
The watch is going to hit the right notes with Pokémon fans who’ve, over the years, obsessed over the augmented reality game and the themed merchandise resulting from the Japanese title’s influence worldwide. This is the first full-scale G-Shock in collaboration with the game franchise, as previous collaborations only resulted in the Baby-G versions. In Japan, it is only available via a purchase lottery, while in the UK, at least, you can buy the thing for $220 if you’ve had a history of bad luck.
Designer: Casio
Interestingly, the watch band carries all 30 Pokémon – one each of the glorious 30 years. There are the original Kanto starters – Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur, while the Paldea region (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly) graces the timepiece. Of course, Pikachu and Eevee are also present. The 30th anniversary theme continues on the catchy Poké Ball-shaped box engraved with the 30 Pokémon and the caseback embellished with their names. The exterior packaging gets the Pokémon treatment, too, in all the Pokémon motifs, which in itself is a collectible for dedicated fans. Whoah… seems I’m 30 again!
Intricate details on the watch face take the shape of the Poké Ball-inspired inset dial at the 9 o’clock position, and the Pikachu-shaped indicator hand from the 1996 release balances things out perfectly. The band loop gets the Mythical Pokémon while the 200-meter water-resistant watch gets the customary shock and magnetic resistance features. Underneath all the Pokémon goodness lies the trusted G-Shock movement, 29 time zone display (gosh that should have been 30), 1/1000th second stopwatch, an automatic calendar going right up to the year 2099, and LED lighting.
The Pokémon x G-SHOCK GA-110PKM-7A is scheduled to arrive in July, with regional availability varying by market. In Japan, the watch will be sold through a purchase lottery via Casio’s online store, while other regions, including the UK and US, will offer limited retail availability through G-SHOCK stores, the official Casio website, and select authorized retailers. The watch carries a price tag of approximately $220 in the UK, $270 in the US, and ¥33,000 (around $225) in Japan, making it a premium collectible rather than an impulse buy. Given that this marks the first full-fledged G-SHOCK collaboration with Pokémon and celebrates one of gaming’s most beloved franchises, don’t expect it to stay on shelves for long.
