New and reviewed: G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World

G-SHOCK announces the release of GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World, a new addition to the square full-metal 5000 series in titanium. We got an early preview of the novelty, and here is our hands-on review.

Review: G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World

This GMW-B5000TVB-1DR has a retail price of SGD 2,349 (inclusive of GST) and will be available at https://gshock.casio.com/sg/ and in all G-SHOCK stores in the middle of June 2022.

The case, dial and time display

Continuing the saga of the highly successful full metal G_SHOCK 5000 series, Casio has been playing with colours and surface treatments with each new release. On this latest G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World, they have gone with a geometric black and brown camouflage pattern. The treatment to the titanium case and bracelet is a two tone ionic plating (IP) process in black and brown, and is somewhat a speciality surface treatment used by Casio in many of their watches.

The display remains unchanged from the other B5000 models with the same functionality, though the visuals is updated to feature bold orange elements and full of specifications verbiage and numbers which are laser engraved onto the bezel and band.

The overall look is a somewhat interesting mash of grey, black and brown geometric panels, like a digital camouflage pattern. The G-SHOCK literature describes the intent is to produce a high tech virtual world gear. We think it is moderately successful in conveying this intent, and perhaps the visual that better serves this imagery might be the string of green alphanumeric characters from the visual palate of the Matrix movie franchise series. Nevertheless, the geometric patterns on the B5000TVB is quite attractive, and may serve as a nice match to the clothing colour choices made in the urban landscape.

The case and bracelet is in titanium, so the overall feel of the watch does not have the heft of its steel counterpart like the now iconic GMW-B5000D-1. The titanium lugs and bracelet have been drilled with openings to reveal the fine-resin component which is part of the shock protection system of the G-SHOCK.

The movement and functions

The functionality of the B5000TVB is the same as with the other B5000 series watches, with the same LCD screen display. The watch can be linked to a smart phone and to provide automatic time adjustment, world time setting, and many more that are easy to use through the G-SHOCK connected app. The watch also has the original Casio Tough Solar power system, Multiband 6 radio wave reception, and a full-auto LED backlight.

Concluding thoughts

Overall the new B5000TVB is an interesting extension to thee collection. The titanium case and bracelet gives it the light feel and the geometric camouflage pattern is quite attractive, and easy to match with the colours of daily life. The watch remains as tough as ever. The only niggling point is that the price is now a rather hefty SGC 2.4k compared to the base stainless steel B5000 which retails for only SGD 799, and even more than the recent release of the GMW-B5000TR, also in titanium but with a funky multicolour IP treated bracelet which retails for SGD 2,199.

Photo Notes

The B5000TVB was photographed in the Casio Singapore offices. Fujifilm GFX 50S II with Hasselblad HC 4/120 Macro and HC 2.8/80 + H26 lenses attached via H Adapter G. Profoto strobes.

G-SHOCK GMW-B5000TVB Virtual World Specifications

Construction	Shock-resistant
Water Resistance	200 meters
Radio Frequency	77.5 kHz (DCF77: Germany); 60 kHz (MSF: UK); 60 kHz (WWVB: USA); 40 kHz (JJY: Fukushima, Japan) / 60 kHz (JJY: Kyushu, Japan); 68.5 kHz (BPC: China)
Radio Wave Reception	Automatic reception up to six times a day (except for use in China: up to five times a day)
Communication  Specifications	Communication Standard: Bluetooth® low energy
Signal Range	Up to 2 meters (may differ depending on surrounding conditions)
World Time	5 world times selected from 39 cities (39 time zones,* daylight saving on/off) and Coordinated Universal Time, city name display, home time/world time city swapping, auto summer time (DST) switching* May be updated when connected to a smartphone.
Stopwatch	1/100 second Measuring capacity:00’00”00~59’59”99 (for the first 60 minutes)1:00’00~23:59’59 (after 60 minutes)Measuring unit:1/100 second (for the first 60 minutes)1 second (after 60 minutes)Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
Countdown Timer	Measuring unit: 1 second (maximum 24 hours)
Alarm	5 daily alarms (with 1 snooze alarm); hourly time signal
Other Functions	Smartphone Link functions (world time: 39 time zones (39 cities +coordinated universal time), automatic time adjustment, easy watch setting); Time & Place; Reminder; Phone Finder; date/month display swapping; day display (in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian or Russian); full auto-calendar; 12/24-hour format; button operation tone on/off; full auto LED backlight (Super Illuminator and afterglow: 2/4 seconds); low battery alert
Power Source	Tough Solar power system (solar-charging system)
Continuous Operation	10 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge)22 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)
Size of Case	49.3 × 43.2 × 13.0 mm
Total Weight	Approx. 106g