A finger is among the many least sensible locations doable to strap a watch, and even watches themselves have grow to be a reasonably impractical redundancy within the smartphone age. And but, we wish the brand new Casio G-Shock Nano anyway. So much. Following up on the fiftieth anniversary version ring watch Casio launched final 12 months, the brand new Nano provides a beefier construct with 200-m (660-ft) water resistance, shock resistance and a working miniaturized strap. This one is really a G-Shock shrunken right down to ring finger measurement.
Casio’s newfound prowess in watch rings started in 2023, when the corporate determined to make use of its specialised molding expertise to develop a hoop within the form of a G-Shock watch, the CRW-001 Ring Watch. It was initially meant to be a mere mannequin trinket however shortly developed to incorporate the idea of a miniaturized working timekeeping module embedded on the highest of the ring.
Casio
Engineers stay for this type of problem, and Casio’s staff shortly set to work shrinking down watch parts to ring measurement, 1/10 the scale of the particular G-Class DW5600 watch that served as their inspiration. Past simply minimizing the scale of the parts, the staff needed to cut back price as a lot as they may and develop the watch ring to be suitable with mass manufacturing techniques and processes.
Casio
Casio wasn’t making an attempt to make a high-priced piece of bespoke jewellery however a trendy gizmo that followers of Casio’s inexpensive watches may buy and admire as a part of the corporate’s celebration of fifty years of watchmaking (the Casio model has roots again to 1946 however did not introduce its first wristwatch till 1974).
The staff labored outdoors the field, used new supplies, thinned parts down close to the boundaries of bodily integrity, packaged them collectively in new methods and proved profitable in making a working module sufficiently small to slot in a hoop. It used a metallic injection molding course of to create the shiny chrome steel ring within the spitting picture of an precise Casio watch, housing the module on the highest. It even labored in a detachable glass face for altering the battery for the reason that again was a molded a part of the ring, in addition to spacers for adjusting to totally different finger sizes.
Casio
The factor regarded simply good after we noticed it final winter – a shiny, trendy 16-g ring with a watch constructed proper in. We had completely no use for it, however we needed one desperately.
Sadly for us, so did many different consumers and trustworthy Casio followers. The US$120 CRW001 offered out shortly within the few markets wherein it was supplied. We did not actually have a probability. Casio did subsequently re-release the coveted mannequin this summer season, however these items received scooped up in a rush, too.
Casio
The CRW-001 was at all times meant to be a restricted anniversary version, however the pace with which it offered satisfied Casio that one other model was so as. This time, Casio has tailored its miniaturized electronics and parts to a extra conventional watch case and strap, all sufficiently small for a finger.
This one’s known as the DWN-5600 or G-Shock Nano and brings some enhancements to the budding Casio ring watch household, together with the kind of shock-resistant efficiency and 200-m water resistance you get with a full-size G-Shock wristwatch. Just like the CRW-001, the Nano measures 1/10 the scale of an precise G-Shock DW5600 watch, however as an alternative of a metal ring physique, it features a resin bezel and strap. The strap really works similar to a wrist strap, adjusting to totally different sizes through a clasp and built-in holes.
Casio
For the reason that G-Shock Nano just isn’t a molded ring, Casio is even in a position to embody a detachable chrome steel backplate for altering the battery. The plate removes through 4 nook screws, leaving the mineral glass face completely put in for higher match and waterproofing.
Just like the CRW-001, the 6-g Nano ring watch boasts a number of features past mere time telling, together with an computerized calendar, a 1/100 stopwatch and a “time flash” notification on hour and day adjustments. It permits for 12- and 24-hour time formatting and has an LED backlight to enhance display screen visibility.
The DWN-5600/G-Shock Nano will launch this month (November 2025) for a worth of US$110. Casio hasn’t listed a particular date, so we propose checking in often when you’re critical about grabbing one of many first.
Supply: Casio
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