Kenneth Glad
When people think of digital watches built to take a beating, cheap rubber and practical designs usually come to mind. High-end watchmaking, however, has always loved to push boundaries. Now, a legendary Japanese brand has taken extreme durability to a staggering new extreme.
Casio has officially unveiled the most expensive timepiece in its history. With a price tag of $80,000, the new G-Shock MRG-D5000 costs as much as a luxury sports car.
The watch belongs to a limited line dubbed the Blue Rose Project. The name nods to the rare flower that does not exist in nature, representing the pursuit of the impossible.
Only 20 pieces of the flagship model will ever hit the market. Unlike standard models that sell for under $100, this edition features an outer case and bezel carved from solid blocks of blue sapphire crystal.
Synthetic ingots take several months to grow before master craftsmen shape them. To complete the look, Casio added 24-carat gold lettering to the display, pairing the watch with a black rubber strap that carries the brand’s iconic brick pattern.
Master stroke in craft
Making a drop-proof watch out of sapphire presented a serious puzzle. Casio’s engineers told WIRED they faced a massive hurdle, needing to craft a rugged, “near-unbreakable” timepiece from a substance that shatters easily.
To fix this, creators turned to ancient woodworking methods from Japan. They built an interlocking framework that bypasses standard fasteners, helping the watch absorb shocks without cracking the fragile case.
Putting these pieces together requires custom tools and extreme care. According to WIRED, just one master worker at the company’s primary Japanese facility possesses the skill to assemble it.
Despite the delicate appearance, the timepiece remains a fully functional G-Shock. The outlet noted that the watch offers 200 meters of water resistance, solar charging, and radio-controlled timekeeping.
More modest options
For buyers without eighty grand to spare, two cheaper options share the same design language. A grade-5 titanium version with sapphire accents sells for $9,500.
Meanwhile, a full-metal black edition costs $850.
This release marks the end of an eight-year project that began when creator Kikuo Ibe showed prototype crystal models in New York. Back then, those early concepts could not pass toughness tests. Today, the dream is finally a reality.
Sources: WIRED, Casio
