It’s safe to say that Casio’s GA2100, better known as the “CasioOak” has been one of the brands most popular and successful releases of all time. With new colorways hitting social media seemingly every other week you’d think it would be hard for one to standout in the lineup. Well think again…as the GA2100 Transparent managed to appear out of nowhere capturing the attention of many worldwide. Today we have a hands on review to see just how good this watch is.
We are looking at 5 criteria that should provide a comprehensive overview of the watch and aid anyone who is considering adding it to their collection. Use our quick links below to help navigate;
History of the G-Shock GA2100 Transparent (SKE-7A)
Released in 2019 the GA2100 was a winner from the very beginning, quickly becoming a favorite among watch and G-Shock enthusiasts alike (two very different crowds). The watch took the impressive functionality from the classic G-Shock square form factor and repackaged into a more modern design. Due to the watches octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet it did not take long for the GA2100 to draw comparisons to the famed Audermars Piguet Royal Oak, quickly earning the nickname “The CasiOak”.
The GA2100SKE-7A was released in February 2021 as part of a “transparent” pack alongside a DW5600 & GA700 that got the transparent treatment as well. Since its release, this watch has been quite hard to track down due to its immense popularity.
Case & Bracelet
The GA2100 is one of those watches where the dimensions sound daunting on paper, however, it tends to wear much smaller on the wrist. Coming in at whopping 45.4mm in diameter, 48.5mm lug-to-lug and a thickness of 11.8mm, the watches overall thinness, short lug-to-lug and fixed bracelet make it sit very close to the wrist.
The GA2100 Transparent consists of a watch module in the center, surrounded by a rugged carbon reinforced resin exterior and a bracelet that is designed to take a beating. Being a G-Shock, the watch is engineered to withstand anything thrown its way, boasting both superior shock resistance and an impressive 200 meters of water resistance.
Casio does have a history of producing other transparent style watches over the years, however they were known to turn yellow or patina over time. Casio says it’s gotten the resin material just right to the point where this will no longer be an issue, only time will tell how this watch ages.
Dial
For all the information the dial provides, Casio does an amazing job keeping it relatively simple. The watch uses analog hands for the hours, minutes and day of the week indicators and a small digital screen at the bottom right of the watch face to display the endless features the watch has to offer.
The GA2100 Transparent dial goes for a stealthy look with matte black everything paired with a negative digital display. Normally I’m a huge fan of the stealth dial, however, in this instance it can be a little tricky to tell the time with many elements fading together and the negative display screen needing to be viewed from the right angle to make out the time. Additionally, the watch only utilizes lume on the hours and minutes hands which doesn’t make it the easiest watch for a quick time check, rest assured there is a backlight that can be used when all else fails!
Finally, keeping on the trend of ruggedness, a shatter resistant acrylic crystal is used to house the GA2100 Transparent’s dial.
Movement
The GA2100 Transparent is equipped with the ever reliable Casio 5611 module. This module is feature rich, some of its highlights include; analog and digital time, a stopwatch, world time, perpetual calendar, five daily alarms, and a countdown timer. The movement is powered by SR726W batteries which will keep the watch running for a whopping 3 years. The movement is made in Japan.
Wearability
The GA2100 Transparent is a watch that wears much smaller than the dimensions would suggest, given its compact lug to lug, thinness and angled bracelet. The clear exterior actually makes it look and feel smaller on the wrist than its colored counterparts, as it blends right in to the wearer’s wrist! For reference all photos in this post are taken on a 6.25 inch wrist.
In terms of versatility…the GA2100 Transparent has very little…there should be no illusions about what this watch is. I’d compare it to an action movie – entertaining, fun and one-dimensional. While it’s not going to be the best money you’ve ever spent…you sure as heck won’t be sorry that you spent money on it. Also…similarly to an action movie, it’s probably not the best choice for a first date!
It’s safe to say that GA2100 Transparent’s wrist time is reserved for those low stress, casual weekends hanging with friends, running errands or catching some rays poolside.
Verdict
For $110 USD there is a lot to love about this watch! It’s reliable, well made and funky as hell…in a good way of course. The GA2100 Transparent is by no means a one watch collection candidate but more of a unique inexpensive piece to throw on from time to time when relaxing. It is sure to get a conversation started and to stand out from the rest. For these reasons this watch is a CLEAR winner in our books!
Case: 45.4mm