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Casio has turned the first G-SHOCK into an analog watch. The new 2500 Series was announced on October 22, 2026 for the U.S. market.
The lineup is nine models in three builds: the resin GAC2500 at $145, the metal-bezel GMC2500 at $280 to $300, plus the full-bracelet GMC2500D at $350. Casio America says U.S. sales start in November. None of them is on Amazon.com yet.
We compared the three builds using Casio’s press releases plus the published U.S. spec pages, then lined them up against the G-SHOCKs you can buy today. This is a desk comparison of public information, not a hands-on test.
Our Pick: Which G-SHOCK 2500 Should You Wait For
Prices below are the U.S. MSRPs in Casio America’s October 22, 2026 announcement. Street prices will not exist until the watches ship.
- GAC2500 (resin, $145) — the pick for most people. Same case, same 200-meter rating, same movement as the metal versions at 47 grams. Four colors: black, white, yellow plus dark green.
- GMC2500 (metal bezel, resin band, $280 to $300) — the pick if you want the brass sunray dial plus a steel bezel without bracelet weight. 68 grams.
- GMC2500D (stainless bracelet, $350) — the dress-watch option. Brass dial in black or blue gray, one-touch 3-fold clasp, 138 grams.
If you need a G-SHOCK this week rather than in November, the current GA2100-1A1 is the closest thing to the GAC2500 in size and price. We cover that trade-off further down.
What Casio Announced on October 22, 2026
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced the GMC-2500 plus GAC-2500 from Tokyo on October 21, 2026. Casio America, Inc. followed from Jersey City on October 22 with U.S. prices plus a November release window at select retailers, gshock.casio.com plus the G-SHOCK Soho Store.
The premise is simple. The DW-5000C of 1983 was the first G-SHOCK, a digital square built around the idea of a watch that would not break if dropped. The 2500 Series keeps that octagonal case form plus the shock resistance and 200-meter water resistance, then replaces the LCD with a two-hand analog dial, a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, plus a new three-cell date window at 3 o’clock. Casio calls the design concept “Depth in Shadow.”
The analog movement was developed specifically for this series. Casio says it is produced at Yamagata Casio, the factory the company describes as the G-SHOCK “mother factory.”
Product images: Casio America official product pages.
The Brand in Japan: Why the DW-5000C Matters
Casio started in April 1946 as Kashio Seisakujo, a small workshop in Mitaka, Tokyo. It became Casio Computer Co., Ltd. in June 1957. It made its name with calculators before it made watches. We covered that history in our retro Casio comparison.
G-SHOCK arrived in April 1983 with the DW-5000C. Casio’s own origin page says the project began with a one-line proposal from Kikuo Ibe, then in charge of watch exterior design: a durable watch that would not break even if dropped. Ibe has said in interviews that the idea came after a watch from his father shattered on a fall. The development target is usually described as “Triple 10”: survive a 10-meter drop, resist 10 bar of water pressure plus run 10 years on one battery. The square DW-5000C delivered that, then became the template for every “square” G-SHOCK since, including the DW-5600 line that is still Casio’s entry point.
In Japan, G-SHOCK sits in an unusual spot. The same brand is worn by construction crews, high-school students, Shibuya streetwear buyers plus salarymen who want a watch that survives a commute. The DW-5000C is the origin story the whole brand tells about itself, which is why Casio chose it, rather than the more recent GA2100 “CasiOak,” as the base for its first dedicated analog movement.
GAC2500: Resin Case, 47 Grams, $145
The GAC2500 is the series in its purest form. Case plus bezel are resin, with bio-based resin used in parts of the case and the band. Casio’s U.S. spec page lists the case at 46.7 by 44.5 by 12.7 mm plus a weight of 47 grams. That is four grams lighter than Casio’s listed 51 grams for the GA2100.
The dial plus indexes are resin, molded with the three-dimensional shapes Casio uses for readability. Four colorways are in the U.S. lineup: GAC2500-1A black, GAC2500-3A dark green, GAC2500-7A white plus GAC2500-9A yellow. All share the same spec sheet.
Casio’s U.S. product page for the GAC2500-1A lists an estimated release of November 6. Treat that as Casio’s estimate rather than a promise, since the page also carries a “Notify Me” button instead of a cart.
GMC2500: Steel Bezel on a Resin Band, $280 to $300
The GMC2500 uses the same 46.7 by 43.8 by 12.9 mm case with a stainless steel bezel over the resin core, plus a brass dial. Depending on the dial color the brass gets a sunray or a honed finish. Three U.S. models are listed: GMC2500-1A silver with a black dial, GMC2500-1A8 with a silver dial plus GMC2500G-9A with a gold dial. Weight is 68 grams on the textured resin band.
Casio America’s release gives the metal-accent models a $280 to $300 range rather than a single price, so expect the gold GMC2500G-9A to sit at the top of that range. The watch sits in the G-STEEL family on Casio’s site, the same family as the metal GM2100.
GMC2500D: Full Stainless Bracelet, 138 Grams, $350
The GMC2500D pairs the steel bezel with a stainless steel bracelet plus a one-touch 3-fold clasp. The spec page lists 138 grams, which is roughly three times the resin model. The two U.S. references are GMC2500D-1A with a black brass dial plus GMC2500D-1A2 with a blue-gray dial. Casio says a horizontal hairline finish runs from bezel to band.
At $350 this is the only 2500 that reads as a dress watch. It is also the model most likely to be compared with the GM2100-1A, the metal CasiOak that sells for under $200 on Amazon.com today.
Multi-Mission Date and the Magnetic Minute Hand
Two features set the 2500 apart from other analog G-SHOCKs.
Multi-Mission Date. The fan-shaped three-cell window at 3 o’clock normally shows the date. Switch to the stopwatch and the same window shows elapsed minutes. Enter a setting mode and it shows setting information. Once you set the day, month plus year, the calendar adjusts itself through 2099, so there is no month-end correction. The window is colored to match the dial so it does not pull attention from the hands.
Magnetic hand holding. The minute hand is not pinned directly to the shaft. It is held in place by magnetic force, so a hard knock can shift the hand instead of bending the gear train. Casio’s own footnote is worth reading: the minute hand may shake under impact or vibration, plus it may sit out of position briefly after a knock before returning within a few minutes.
The rest of the spec sheet is conventional. Water resistance is 200 meters. The stopwatch counts to 29 minutes 59 seconds in one-second steps. The minute hand advances every 20 seconds, accuracy is rated at plus or minus 15 seconds a month, plus the glass is mineral. The small seconds hand can be put to sleep to save power. The U.S. spec page lists about 2 years on a CR1025 cell, while Casio America’s release says the sleep function can extend battery life up to five years.
What is missing is also clear. No Tough Solar, no Bluetooth, no world time plus no alarm are listed. The LED light is amber with afterglow. Buyers who use a G-SHOCK as a tool watch should notice that the 30-minute stopwatch is shorter than the 24-hour counter on a DW-5600. If those functions matter, the current GA2100 on Amazon covers all of them today. We link it below.
Compare the Three
| GAC2500 | GMC2500 | GMC2500D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. MSRP (Oct 22, 2026) | $145 | $280 to $300 | $350 |
| Bezel | Resin | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Band | Bio-based resin | Bio-based resin | Stainless bracelet, 3-fold clasp |
| Dial | Resin | Brass, sunray or honed | Brass, sunray or honed |
| Case (L x W x H) | 46.7 x 44.5 x 12.7 mm | 46.7 x 43.8 x 12.9 mm | 46.7 x 43.8 x 12.9 mm |
| Weight | 47 g | 68 g | 138 g |
| Water resistance | 200 m | 200 m | 200 m |
| Battery | CR1025, approx. 2 years | CR1025, approx. 2 years | CR1025, approx. 2 years |
| U.S. colorways | Black, dark green, white, yellow | Black, silver, gold dial | Black, blue-gray dial |
| U.S. availability | November 2026 (est. Nov 6) | November 2026 | November 2026 |
Specs from Casio America product pages plus the October 22, 2026 press release. Shock resistance, Multi-Mission Date, 30-minute stopwatch, LED light, full auto-calendar plus mineral glass are shared across all three.
Available Now: DW5600UE, GA2100 and GM2100 on Amazon.com
The 2500 is a November watch. These three current G-SHOCKs cover the same price ladder today. Prices plus stock were checked on Amazon.com on October 23, 2026 and will move.
DW5600UE-1V (Around $71 on Amazon)
This is the direct descendant of the DW-5000C, still digital, still square. On October 23, 2026 the Amazon.com listing showed $70.98 with 4.7 stars from about 23,000 ratings, in stock. If the appeal of the 2500 is the heritage shape rather than the analog dial, this is the half-price answer. Amazon’s review summary for the listing describes it as an everyday watch that lasts for years, with praise for the old-school style plus the easy-to-read display. Size gets mixed feedback, while the most common complaint is that the buttons are hard to press.
GA2100-1A1 (Around $105 on Amazon)
The 2019 CasiOak is the watch the GAC2500 will be measured against. It is analog-digital, with Carbon Core Guard construction, 200-meter water resistance plus a slim octagonal case. The listing showed $104.95 with 4.6 stars from about 2,400 ratings on October 23, 2026. Compared with the GAC2500 you give up the dedicated analog movement plus the three-cell window, but you gain a digital display with five alarms, world time plus a 24-hour stopwatch. Amazon’s review summary calls it a reliable watch under $100 that feels light on the wrist, with mixed views on dial size, setup plus the LED light. We rank it as the top pick in our Japanese watches under $500 guide.
GM2100-1A (Around $181 on Amazon)
The metal-bezel CasiOak is the current answer to the GMC2500. Its Amazon.com listing showed $181.22 with 4.6 stars from 633 ratings on October 23, 2026, in stock. Amazon’s review summary highlights the looks, the durability plus the value, with one buyer comparing the metal case to a Royal Oak. The recurring complaint is the small LCD, plus opinions on size are split. Against the GMC2500 at $280 to $300 you save about $100 and keep the digital functions.
Buyer’s Considerations
- Wait for the GAC2500 if you want a true analog G-SHOCK under $150 with the original square proportions. Nothing in the current lineup combines a dedicated analog movement, the DW-5000C shape plus a 47-gram weight.
- Buy a GA2100 now if you need alarm, world time or a long stopwatch. The 2500 is a time-and-date watch with a 30-minute timer.
- Skip the 2500 if solar charging matters to you. The series runs on a CR1025 coin cell. Casio’s GA-B2100 line offers Tough Solar plus Bluetooth at a similar price.
- Know the magnetic hand caveat. Casio states that the minute hand may shake or shift briefly after an impact. That is by design, but it is different from how a pinned hand behaves.
- Weight is the real split. 47 grams, 68 grams plus 138 grams is a wide range for one case. Try the bracelet version on a wrist before paying $350 if you have never worn a full-metal G-SHOCK.
Summary
The G-SHOCK 2500 Series is Casio’s first dedicated analog take on the 1983 DW-5000C, announced for the U.S. on October 22, 2026 with November availability. The resin GAC2500 at $145 is the one to wait for. The GMC2500 at $280 to $300 plus the GMC2500D at $350 add brass dials plus steel for buyers who want the dress look. Until they ship, the GA2100-1A1 remains the closest watch you can order today.
FAQ
When does the G-SHOCK 2500 go on sale in the U.S.?
Casio America says November 2026 at select retailers, gshock.casio.com plus the G-SHOCK Soho Store. The GAC2500-1A product page lists an estimated release of November 6.
How much does the G-SHOCK 2500 cost?
U.S. MSRPs are $145 for the resin GAC2500, $280 to $300 for the metal-bezel GMC2500 plus $350 for the GMC2500D with a stainless bracelet.
Is the 2500 a quartz watch?
Yes. It uses a battery-powered analog movement developed for the series, with a CR1025 cell rated at about 2 years. There is no solar charging or Bluetooth.
What is Multi-Mission Date?
A three-cell window at 3 o’clock that shows the date in normal use, elapsed minutes in stopwatch mode plus setting information in setting modes. The calendar is fully automatic through 2099.
Is the GAC2500 bigger than the GA2100?
The GAC2500 case is 46.7 by 44.5 by 12.7 mm at 47 grams. Casio lists the GA2100 at 48.5 by 45.4 by 11.8 mm, so the 2500 is slightly shorter plus narrower, but about a millimeter thicker.
Sources
- Casio America, Inc., “G-SHOCK Toughness Goes Analog: The New 2500 Series Reimagines the Watch That Started It All,” PR Newswire, Jersey City, October 22, 2026. prnewswire.com
- Casio Computer Co., Ltd., “Casio to Release Analog G-SHOCK Watches Inheriting the Functional Beauty of the Original Digital Model,” PR Newswire, Tokyo, October 21, 2026. prnewswire.com
- Casio America, G-SHOCK 2500 Series page plus product spec pages for GAC2500-1A, GMC2500-1A plus GMC2500D-1A, accessed October 23, 2026. gshock.casio.com
- Casio, G-SHOCK Origin collection page (DW-5000C history), accessed October 23, 2026. gshock.casio.com
- Casio America, GA2100-1A1 product spec page, accessed October 23, 2026.
- Amazon.com listings for DW5600UE-1V, GA-2100-1A1 plus GM2100-1A, prices, ratings plus review summaries checked October 23, 2026.