Hands-On G-SHOCK Reveals The MRG-D5000 “Blue Rose Project” In Sapphire

In the MR-G series, which already represents G-SHOCK at its highest end, the new Blue Rose Project stands out for its material choice and a price tag still an order of magnitude higher than even the most expensive typical MR-G models. If you're not familiar with the series, it's essentially G-SHOCK's flagship lineup: it takes the familiar digital module and durability specs demanded of G-SHOCK and combines them with a much higher level of materials and finishing, along with a much more complex construction.

I've owned an MR-G (the MRGB5000R-1, to be specific) for a few years now, and I have to say that I'm a big fan. Yes, it's certainly one of the easier watch concepts to ridicule online, but these models feel extremely impressive in the metal, in terms of construction and the hand-finishing you'll find. They're all built in Casio's Yamagata factory in Japan, and what makes these watches stand out is the overall fit and finish that separates them from the herd. If you're still on the fence, definitely try to see one in person to see if it changes your mind. It certainly did for me when I first got my hands on one.

Perhaps the most fascinating subset of MR-G has been the showcases of Japanese artistry, with models like the MRGB5000 "Tsuiki" and the MRGB2000JS "Jyuroku-Maru: San" featuring elements like hand-hammered and hand-engraved bezels, bracelets, and more, often done by some of Japan's best artisanal craftsmen in metalwork and ornamentation. And yes, then we're often talking about G-SHOCKs priced around and over the ten-thousand-dollar mark, and despite that, they remain some of the brand's most collectible watches. From my time as a watch buyer (the job, not the hobby), it was incredible to see these watches absolutely fly after launch, despite our collective doubts each time we'd see any velocity at all. Dedicated high-end G-SHOCK collectors are out there.

This sets up Casio's Dream Project, led by Kikuo Ibe, the inventor of G-SHOCK. As the name suggests, the watches in this Dream Project are some of the craziest ideas—the kind of things you might only find as drawings hidden away in a research and development wing. The first to come of this was a concept solid-gold 5000 series shown at Baselworld in 2015. A few years later, in 2018, that "Ibe Special" made its way into production with the G-SHOCK Dream Project 'Pure Gold' G-D5000-9JR, a Japan-only run of 35 pieces in 18K solid yellow gold priced at ¥7.7 million (around A$70,000 back in 2019 at release). 

Then, for G-SHOCK's 40th anniversary in 2023, the Dream Project #2 came in the form of the G-D001, a piece unique also crafted in solid yellow gold. A fever dream of a watch, shaped with help from G-SHOCK's design team and generative AI models, it was auctioned at Phillips in 2023 for charity and hammered at a whopping US$400,050. During this time, however, Ibe-san revealed a pair of concept watches that never made it to production: DW5600 prototypes made entirely of sapphire crystal—case, bracelet, and all. That's because the G-SHOCK name means, well, shock resistance. And sapphire, while hard to scratch, is very brittle.

Ibe-san has since retired, though he is very much still active in his appearances as a spokesperson and advocate around the brand. His retirement sort of marks the end of his Dream Project, but this new Blue Rose Project is an attempt to carry on the spirit of that final, unrealised idea as a semi-conclusion to the series. As such, the MRG-D5000 Blue Sapphire is not named the Dream Project #3, but "Dream Project" is inscribed on the caseback as an homage to Ibe-san.

That brings us to today's launch: an unabashedly extravagant take on G-SHOCK's iconic square silhouette, with a case crafted from transparent blue sapphire. This is still a G-SHOCK, after all, so much of the functionality remains the same, including solar charging and Multi Band 6 radio control for time synchronisation, along with modes like stopwatch, countdown timer, alarms, and world time. And yes, for this to be a production G-SHOCK, it should include the 20-bar water resistance and shock resistance found in all G-SHOCKs, even in sapphire.

What makes this watch, of course, is the case material. The result is a dark yet transparent colour that brightens in the light to a more ultramarine hue and highlights the intricacies of the outer case construction. Transparent G-SHOCKs are certainly nothing new, but here the material highlights the MR-G series construction in a new light. Sadly, the new MRG-D5000 doesn't include the sapphire crystal bracelet seen in the original concept, opting for a rubber strap instead.

What surprised me when I first saw this watch in Yamagata was the construction of the outer case. I mentioned earlier that the MR-G line stands out due to its case complexity. For the square silhouette of the 5000 series, the outer case MR-G versions aren't made out of a single solid piece. Instead, the "Multi-Guard Structure" uses many smaller components, all finished and assembled by hand in Yamagata, which allows for contrasting hand-finishing across its various small surfaces in its metal editions, as well as better shock dispersion from an impact.

This concept is uniquely adapted in this sapphire G-SHOCK, eliminating the need for screws and treating the outer case like an interlocking puzzle. At the Yamagata factory, I met the senior technician responsible not only for overseeing the production of these 20 pieces, but also for assembling each and every one of these interlocking sapphire cases. Naturally, the company was still very protective of the details of the construction method, but he briefly demonstrated some of the larger pieces coming together to form the final case. The team cites inspiration from Japanese wood joinery, where wooden beams would come together without any nails, screws, or glue to form everything from furniture to entire houses.

In this construction, however, there is a compromise—this MRG-D5000 feels clunkier than its metal counterparts, largely because of the added thickness. The titanium MRG-B5000R-1 measures 12.9mm in case height, while this new sapphire edition comes in at a substantial 16.45mm—a noticeable difference. Width remains the same, but the lug-to-lug also increases (marginally) from 49.4mm to 51mm. The new pusher tube design also adds to the visual size. The pushers' operation isn't impacted, but they certainly feel less elegant than the more integrated pushers of the classic MR-G designs. But that is the trade-off for essentially the only sapphire-cased watch advertised as properly drop-resistant.

On the front, the classic brick pattern from the original G-SHOCK display appears in a matching blue hue, achieved through a blue PVD coating under the sapphire crystal. But with a high-end twist, the gold lettering and other front details are executed in 24K gold. It's something that will go largely unnoticed, but seems appropriate for the most expensive G-SHOCK ever offered at retail. Look, it's hard to be overly critical about a watch that isn't designed to be anything other than a novelty and an exercise in "just because." But there is an easy layup here: the negative display. To quote a famous piece of literature: "I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere!" To me, negative displays tend to be dealbreakers on digital watches, mostly because they significantly impede legibility. I understand aesthetics are probably more important when choosing a dark display, but I'll always bring it up whenever I review a watch with one.

Turn the watch around, and the DLC-coated grade 5 titanium caseback features a blue sapphire insert, with all the classic caseback details engraved on it, plus that "Dream Project" tribute. On the outer rim of the titanium section, the individual number out of 20 is engraved. For G-SHOCK nerds, the new brick pattern on the rubber strap is new, and like the other MR-G models on rubber straps, this is a cut-to-size version à la Patek Aquanaut, which means you won't ever need to worry about strap overhang at the expense of a non-resizable strap. 

The excellently milled deployant clasp, however, has several points of micro-adjustment as long as you have a spring bar tool, so you should always size it with the strap fit to the middle hole of the clasp. I'd have loved to see Casio figure out toolless micro-adjustment on these clasps by now, but as someone who's owned one of these on the strap, I find this setup to feel extremely great on the wrist and makes the watch feel significantly more fitted to you. It might be my favourite element of the MR-G design and a huge reason it feels much more luxurious on the wrist.

On the wrist, it's hard to pick out a word other than "entertaining." While I never got a chance to handle the solid-gold G-D5000-9JR in metal, I imagine it evokes a similar kind of emotional whimsy on your wrist. I can't talk about the finishing that typically goes into a metal-cased MR-G, as this sapphire case doesn't quite have much of that to show off. But at the end of the day, you're still wearing a sapphire-cased watch. There's a certain high/low humour in this over-the-top execution of one of the most practical, down-to-earth tool watches of all time, not least because it resembles many transparent blue G-SHOCKs with a three-digit price tag. But this one is not soft to the touch, and knowing that it's sapphire while most people out in the wild would just think it's a resin case is just something so delightful to me.

Do I wish it were clear rather than blue? Yes. But I have a feeling this edition will do well despite how insane it is, since there are still only 20 pieces to be made and we might see a follow-up in the future. Each major market will only have a few pieces to go around, and I'm sure the brand has already done well to reach out to the extreme G-SHOCK collectors out there.

But for those who don't fancy spending A$100,000 on a G-SHOCK (or on any watch, for that matter), the brand is making a moment out of this Blue Rose Project launch by introducing two accompanying watches at significantly lower price points. One is the 500-piece limited edition MRG-B5000SA-2, which infuses the "standard" grade 5 titanium MRG model with a pair of large 2-carat blue sapphires embedded in the lug shrouds of the case, plus a few blue accents. It's quite a high price point at ¥880,000 (~A$8,200), but I suppose it's in line with, well, incorporating two large sapphire stones into an MR-G case in a small limited edition.

The other is the GMW-B5000SB-1A2, with a much more accessible way to join in on the blue sapphire party at ¥110,000 (~A$1,100). The twist comes in the four bezel dimples seen at the corners of the lug shrouds, this time replaced with a blue sapphire stone at each dimple. It is a very fun twist, and probably appealing for someone looking for a good excuse to pick up one of the steel-cased 5000 series up. Though this one's not a strict limited edition, G-SHOCK tends to make releases like this in limited-time runs.

Obviously, the question that remains is whether the engineers at Casio can one day deliver the sapphire-cased design on a sapphire bracelet. It's certainly not just a challenge in shock resistance but also in price point (if the MRG-D5000 is six figures, imagine what that full-bracelet model might be). But if Casio's engineers can, it should still be done, even as a piece unique one day for charity like the Dream Project #2. It remains Ibe-san's dream to see it happen, after all. But in the meantime, it's quite delightful to see Casio playing around with some absolutely ridiculous ideas, and continuing what G-SHOCK's founder started more than a decade ago.