[G-Shock Review] MTG-B1000-1A — Premium Look and Features

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The Ultimate Guide to All G-SHOCKs — composed by Experts

The current range of G-Shock is so diverse that sometimes you wonder how designers manage to invent so many different, dissimilar solutions, while the target audience always knows – before them is another representative of the legendary shock-resistant direction. Personally, from the entire G-Shock “brotherhood” I single out the MTG direction, which makes its own, elite contribution to the development of Japanese watch making. Metal Twisted G, or “surrounded by metal” — the so-called Casio called a separate branch from G, which appeared in the not-so-distant 2013 [MTG-S1000]. I will not delve into the history; there have been a series of MTG indices before, but the direction in the form in which it is presented now began to develop rapidly since 2013. Today is the rare case when the hero of the review is the representative of that very elite division – MTG-B1000-1A, above which only the MRG series is considered in terms of level, but it is for completely different wallets.

The MTG-B1000 series for regular readers of the blog will not be a surprise – Casio showed it to the general public in 2018 at the Baselworld exhibition, after which we wrote just a bunch of materials about the novelty of that time. The watchful attention of the watch community was focused on the new protective structure of the Core Guard Structure.

It is not so easy not to mention the new protective structure of the housing Core Guard Structure. The technology is based on the direct connection of the front part of the case and the back cover using flat parts – as a result, the module is protected by a solid frame. Between the metal parts there is a special rubber damper pad to absorb all sorts of vibrations and shocks.

Simply put, the contact area of the inner “frame” with the bezel and the back cover has increased, and the clock module is not in contact with these parts. Understandably, this decision played in favor of the shock-resistant characteristics of the body, and this is the essence of the G-Shock – the stronger, the better. The Japanese have done well in this and have an undeniable advantage – there is always room for improvement, which means that Casio’s business plans do not threaten anything in the near future.

Unpacking hours usually takes me no more than a minute, but not here – taking a huge cardboard box from a delivery service, I understood from its size what value was inside. I was struck by a huge black case with a folding part, in which the watch is so carefully wrapped and even there is a separate mini box for instructions – all this is done in black with red lettering and looks really premium. Considering the cost of the MTG-B1000 [we have about $ 1,500], the cost of such a complete set is more than justified and did not particularly affect the final cost of hours – but you will not forget the first impression.

Finally, having reached MTG, they immediately realized the whole essence of the premium series they represent – the design is really worked out to the smallest detail. I was looking for a long time to find fault with what, well, everything could not be so perfect, but from a visual point of view, the MTG-B1000 is my ideal. Just take a look at this detailing – the dial with a diamond-shaped lattice, and under it another smaller “hair” texture, the same texture is on the hands, hour markers, in add. windows, and generally everywhere.

The premium segment assumes a shift in emphasis from the traditional G-Shock “power” towards the appearance and functionality. It’s as if everything is clear – the watch is designed mostly for a business audience, it’s hardly possible for anyone to go in for sports in such a watch or climb into the dirt with it. Another thing, the 1000s, for all of their business appearance and pretentious details, remain “shocks” in the usual sense – in impact resistance, they are not inferior to the more robust-looking brethren. It is a fact.

I have long wanted to see with my own eyes the vaunted polishing according to the Zaratsu technology, which Casio use only in the premium segment – MTG, MRG and Oceanus. The mirror edge of the bezel and the front parts of the case – the surface and the truth reflects the smallest details, and hell, it looks just amazing. The case, of course, made of solid metal. This is where Zaratsu’s proprietary polishing technology comes into play using special tools and a coating of microscopic diamond particles. And the smaller these particles, the better, because the diamond itself is very hard and it is easy for them to scratch almost any material “ugly”. But the Japanese are well aware of their work, and as a result – a perfectly flat and smooth metal surface. This is especially noticeable on the edge of the bezel – there polishing got a mirror effect.

The screws on the front of the case act as holders for the very plates connecting the bezel and the case. By the way, the inner surface of these screws was also subjected to special processing called “honing”, thereby eliminating any, even the smallest metal roughness. The side of the body received a rough surface in the form of a fine spray. This option is more resistant to scratches than the mirror finish, because we are not dealing with a titanium case, and steel – this metal is still subject to domestic mechanical damage.

The buttons were also surprised – with a very soft stroke and without any backlash.

I originally wanted to feel the option with a strap and not a bracelet – a watch of this level with polyurethane looks very unusual, we are all accustomed to the composite, which is considered almost the perfect bracelet options. I realize what the challenge was for Casio engineers to make the strap as close as possible to the MTG status, while taking into account the fastening mechanism, which should be as strong and reliable as possible. I consider the task accomplished, because I have no questions about the strength of the fastening parts of the strap – everything looks more than worthy to the touch.

The strap, by the way, is attached not to the body itself, as it may seem, but to a special “plug”, inside which there is a layer of red polyurethane. “Because of their contradictory properties, metal and rubber cannot be connected only with screws,” says Masayoshi Masaaki. “The rubber will in any case stretch and shrink, no matter how you fix it. But we found a way out – in the place where the strap was attached to the case, we soldered a more durable reinforced plastic. ” This is a red insert, through which those three screws that secure the strap to the case come.

At the same time I will show the principle of fastening the strap, but it is far from the simplest here:

The fastening is performed in two planes – on the side and on the bottom, thus completely eliminating the “falling out” of parts of the strap under heavy loads on the pins [for example, during extreme stretching]. The side screws are recessed into steel “covers” that rotate freely in different directions, while performing both decorative and protective functions. Both parts of the strap are almost completely immobilized – not only can the watch not be positioned horizontally [and why, I wonder?], But it is also difficult to just pull the strap up and down. At first, I considered such a decision well, very doubtful from the point of view of wearing comfort, but did not feel any discomfort as such.

If you look at the clock from the side, you can see a thin red layer sandwiched between the bezel and the Core Guard plate – this is all the same reinforced polyurethane that acts as a damper for two steel parts. enclosures. Upon impact, the steel transfers all the mechanical load on this layer, and that, due to its high elasticity, absorbs this load, not allowing the module to feel external impact.

It’s hard not to notice the powerful and thick back cover. Here we can read about all the functional virtues of the watch and see the premium engraving in the form of a letter G. It is very important to pay attention to the inscription Made In Japan on the fastener – all MTG representatives are made and assembled at the Yamagata factory in Japan where they undergo the strictest quality control. I do not question the quality of the models made in factories in China, but here the manufacturer’s completely different attitude to watch products – elite watches must correspond to their status.

Spherical sapphire glass is expensive, reliable and simply beautiful.

It’s time to start my favorite part of the review – the analysis of the functional. The cherished Bluetooth icon on the dial makes the heart beat faster – wireless technologies greatly expand the capabilities of the watch, while the management of functions is simplified to the maximum. To pair, simply install G-Shock Connected on your smartphone. Immediately make a reservation – if the connection is successful, the time is synchronized with the phone automatically, without requiring any action. Watching the movement of arrows is a pleasure. I pinch the bottom left button of the clock for 3 seconds, a beep sounds, and the clock connects to the phone without any problems. The application menu is divided into separate sections – Guide [quick guide “for lazy, Status, World Time and Utility. Now about each in order.

In the “Guide” mode, we see an interactive model of watches with the signatures of buttons and their names for each of the modes – world time, stopwatch, timer, and alarm clock. It also describes in detail what buttons to press, how many seconds to hold, etc. In general, paper instruction is now out of work.

The “Status” column includes three parameters – Self Adjust [self-tuning], Self Charge [battery charging] and Self Update [time zone time setting table].

The self-tuning history is displayed as a graph with the number of automatic adjustments of the time [Bluetooth or radio signal] by day. It also indicates the date and time of the last adjustment.

The “Self Charge” submenu displays information about the battery charge level and the amount of energy generated in the form of a graph. That is, roughly speaking, the graph shows the degree of “congestion” of hours at specific time intervals — how often the time adjustment was used, how often the timer started, or the backlight triggered. Information, though not the most detailed, but it is enough to evaluate its model of using watches. Here you can see a message about the low battery and the need to recharge it.

The “Self Update” item is responsible for a detailed report on the results of the time adjustment within specific time zones.

The world time section provides the ability to switch to the time of any of the 300 cities around the world. Choose a city on an interactive map, send the setting to the clock and voila – the time has changed. It is very simple.

Timer with alarm – activate, set the time and welcome to use.

The stopwatch works separately from the application, in any case, I did not find the corresponding section in the G-Shock Connected application. Go to the stopwatch mode by pressing the lower left button and then use the upper right to start the completion of the countdown. Indication occurs in add. In windows, the second hand shows seconds, and the lower window is responsible for minutes and hours. The current time is displayed on the dial.

If you do not have a smartphone, you can use the Smart Access crown to set the current time, world time, and other watch functions. To get started, the head must first be unscrewed, and then “pulled out” until it clicks – this way the water tightness is realized. After finishing work, be sure to tighten it back. I did not manage to launch radio synchronization – apparently in my edges with this thing problems. Well, okay, there is a more advanced and “smart” alternative [Bluetooth].

The MTG-B1000 case is protected by Triple G Resist technology [shocks, vibrations and centrifugal force] – this property is also enjoyed by expensive aviators. I do not know who will use this watch in conditions of extreme overloads, but such protection will not be superfluous. I liked the backlight – smooth activation and shutdown, plus a very bright LED that reaches all corners of the dial.

Separately, it is necessary to show the lum [a light-accumulating coating on the arrows and marks].

A couple of hands-on photos:

I forgot to say about the technology of Tough Movement, which includes radio synchronization of time, solar power and auto-correction of the arrows [for example, with a strong blow, the arrows can “get lost”]. Another indicator of MTG exclusivity.

“Specifications of MTG-B1000”]

  • Case / bezel material: Resin / Stainless steel
  • Resin Band
  • TRIPLE G RESIST (Shock resistant, Centrifugal force resistant, Vibration resistant)
  • Neobrite
  • Sapphire Glass with non-reflective coating
  • Screw Lock Crown
  • Spherical Glass
  • 200-meter water resistance
  • LED light (Super Illuminator)
  • Afterglow
  • Tough Solar (Solar powered)
  • Time calibration signal reception:
  • Auto receive up to six* times a day (remaining auto receives canceled as soon as one is successful)
  • *5 times a day for the Chinese calibration signal
  • The latest signal reception results
  • Time Calibration Signals
  • Station name: DCF77 (Mainflingen, Germany)
  • Frequency: 77.5 kHz
  • Station name: MSF (Anthorn, England)
  • Frequency: 60.0 kHz
  • Station name: WWVB (Fort Collins, United States)
  • Frequency: 60.0 kHz
  • Station name: JJY (Fukushima, Fukuoka/Saga, Japan)
  • Frequency: 40.0 kHz (Fukushima) / 60.0 kHz (Fukuoka/Saga)
  • Station name: BPC (Shangqiu City, Henan Province, China)
  • Frequency: 68.5 kHz
  • Mobile link (Wireless linking using Bluetooth®)
  • The auto hand home position correction
  • World time
  • 39 time zones* (27 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off, auto summer time (DST) switching
  • *May be updated when connected to a smartphone.
  • 1-second stopwatch
  • Measuring capacity: 23:59’59”
  • Measuring modes: Elapsed time
  • Countdown timer
  • Measuring unit: 1 second
  • Countdown range: 24 hours
  • Countdown start time setting range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute increments and 1-hour increments)
  • Daily alarm
  • Battery level indicator
  • Power Saving (hands stop to save power when the watch is left in the dark)
  • Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
  • Date display
  • Regular timekeeping
  • Analog: 3 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 10 seconds), second)
  • 4 dials (24-hour, day, dual time hour and minute, dual time 24-hour)
  • Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month (with no signal calibration and mobile link function)
  • Approx. battery operating time:
  • 5 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge)
  • 18 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)
  • Size of case : 55.8×51.7×14.4mm
  • Total weight : 123g

Conclusion

MTG-B1000 fully confirms its status of premium watches – both externally and internally. Understandably, not everyone can afford to dump in the order of $ 1500 hours [so much they stand at our office. sellers], but here is a calculation on the business class, where there are very different requests and opportunities. The Japanese have not set such a price tag “from the ceiling” – you pay for elite materials, appearance and advanced MTG functionality. The model from the category of “bought and forgot about the problems” – everything is done with the mind, and it is unlikely that something will happen with this watch in the next few years after the purchase. The smart stuff associated with Bluetooth makes it so easy to use a watch that you never want to adjust it manually.

Read Quick News on MTG-B1000:

All News on MTG-B1000 →

Firstly published, but we carefully translated into English.

Some FAQ moments about G-Shock MTG-B1000 Series


What is 200 Water resistance?

G-Shock MTG-B1000 is suitable for professional marine activity and serious surface water sports, but not suitable for diving.


What is G-SHOCK Connected App?

This is the basic application for connecting and communicating with a Bluetooth(R) v4.0 enabled CASIO watch. Pairing your watch with a smartphone enables use of a variety of different Mobile Link functions that greatly enhance the smartphone experience. The G-SHOCK Connected app also simplifies certain watch operations by letting you perform them on your phone screen.


What is Mobile link (Wireless linking using Bluetooth(R)) ?

Wireless function link with mobile phones that support Bluetooth®.


What is Smart Access?

This ground-breaking CASIO system for analogue movements achieves multi-functionality and easy operability simultaneously through a combination of multiple motors and an electronic crown.


What is Tough Movement?

TOUGH MOVEMENT is a CASIO-original thin analog movement that is packed with a host of amazing features and functions. A MULTIBAND 6 function makes it possible for the watch to receive calibration signals for Japan (two signals), China, the United States, England, and Germany, for true international timekeeping. Movement durability and integrity are ensured by hybrid mount construction to protect against damage and by auto hand home position correction to keep settings accurate. A Tough Solar power system generates power from even small amounts of fl uorescent lighting and stores it in a secondary battery to help keep power-hungry functions running. The result is a totally new thin analog radio-controlled solar movement that embodies some of the very best technology that CASIO has to offer.


What is Tough Solar?

CASIO’s original solar-charging system converts not only sunlight but also light from fluorescent lamps and other sources into power.


What is Radio-controlled Watch; Multi band 6?

This watch receives time calibration radio signals that keep the displayed time accurate.


MTG-B1000 Profile / Casio G-Shock
Average Amazon Price: $750 (yes, we may earn a commission on qualifying purchases from our links to Amazon). Check the Price on Amazon →
Year of first release: 2018
Lineup: MTG (MTG means METAL-TWISTED G-SHOCK. All watches incorporate new core guard structure. An inner case is installed in a box-shaped frame formed by screws that securely connect the bezel, case back and band connection pieces. A stronger structure is realized by absorbing shocks with the exterior instead of the core. Besides, MTG watches belong to PREMIUM line and have the best materials, functions and technologies.) All G-Shock MTG Watches →
Best for: Office and Formal Wear, Top in G-Shock Lookbooks
The most distinctive specs:
200-meter water resistance (good for swimming but not for deep diving)
G-SHOCK Connected App (you may manage all watch settings through your phone)
Mobile link (Wireless linking using Bluetooth(R)) (for time sync with your phone data)
Smart Access (the system for analogue movements achieves multi-functionality and easy operability simultaneously through a combination of multiple motors and an electronic crown)
Tough Solar (CASIO’s original solar-charging system converts not only sunlight but also light from fluorescent lamps and other sources into power)
Radio-controlled Watch; Multi band 6 (additional way for time sync. This watch receives time calibration radio signals that keep the displayed time accurate)
TRIPLE G RESIST (Shock resistant, Centrifugal force resistant, Vibration resistant)
Core Guard structure (integrates the lugs and pipes that connect the band into single pieces, creating a wall that isolates the watch’s module from impact. The resin of the center case is also reinforced with carbon fibers, which further enhances module protection, while reducing overall weight)
Other colors and full specs: MTG-B1000 Wiki Page
Only Limited Editions: MTG-B1000 Limited Editions

G-Shock MTG-B1000 Rating System

Size★★★★
Weight★★★★★
Functions★★★★★
Materials★★★★★
Battery Years★★★★★
Price★★★★

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