Casio 5610 Vs 5600
Can’t choose between G-Shock GD-100, GW-7900 and G-2900? Enjoy our comparison table and the best features unique list of each series.Want to compare some other features? Please, comment and we will improve our table. GD-100 ProfileAverage Amazon Price: $140 (yes, we may earn a commission on qualifying purchases from our links to Amazon)Year of. Casio G-Shock GWM5610 Review. This is our review of the Casio G-Shock GWM5610 Solar Sports Watch which is considered by many to be the best outdoor watch for the money. One of the smallest G-Shock Watches available for men, the Casio G-Shock GWM5610 is ideal for people who have smaller wrists or just don’t like big watches.
Having now owned several G-Shocks I've come to appreciate certain features of various models. For most part all I care about primarily is 'size'. Features are secondary and so long as it has World Time, I'm happy.
Size (5600 wins)In terms of size the 5600's are my favorite, but the convenience of the illumination button front and center on the 6900 is beautiful.
The compromise? It has to go to the 9000 series Mudman. While the buttons are difficult to press it is the right size and button arrangement that just connects with me as one of my favorite G-Shocks thus far. Now Module versions this is probably a bad selection to compare as I have a GLX, G and DW types. But form factor wise they are roughly equivalent representatives of their model series. There are certainly much larger G-Shocks, but for me the 6900 is where I will draw the line for now.
Features (G9000 Wins, GLX5600 Good Second)
Casio Dw5600 Vs 5610
Most G-Shocks have the standard basics down pat and all I care about in addition is World Time as I travel quite a bit and often deal with contacts in foreign locales on a regular basis (iPhone clock doesn't cut it anymore, partially because with each iOS Upgrade they keep changing the interface on me..).
The GLX, GWM and G satisfy that need. I made the exception with the DW-6900 only to understand its limitations and in hindsight should have sprung for a G6900 or GWM6900.
Closing (G9000 Wins)
Any G-Shock will serve its primary purpose of telling fairly accurate time. The only considerations after that are size, button arrangement and features. Trying several models helped me get a feel of what I like and want in a watch and led me to my current favorite the Mudman G9000 Series.
I'm still a bit iffy on the Negative LCD display, but will endure it for a while before possibly swapping out the housing with a standard G9000.
This post contains affiliate links. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page.
If you don’t have a Casio G-Shock, you don’t have a complete watch collection. I sincerely believe that. Some people would tell you that you need an Omega Speedmaster or a Rolex Submariner, but let’s realistic about this – those are great watches, but I think one of the foundational cornerstones to any watch collection is a solar, atomic, G-Shock.
Casio G-shock 5600 Vs 5610
In 1981 Kikuo Ibe set out to design a resilient watch after experiencing an unfortunate incident with a mechanical timepiece. Ibe wanted his watch to be thin, able to withstand impacts, and water resistant to a respectable depth. The first model of Casio G-Shock to come out was the DW-5000, and the watch we’re looking at today is roughly based on that watch. The GW-M5610BC-1JF is one of the classic “square G’s” with a couple special tweaks that we’ll get into later… First some specs:
(All Measurements are my personal measurements and may differ from manufacturers specs)
- Case Width: 43.2mm
- Case Thickness: 12.7mm
- Lug to Lug: 47.7mm
- Depth Rating: 20Bar (200m)
- Weight: 4.2oz on the Combi-Bracelet
- Movement: Casio 3159 Module
- Lug Width: N/A — I know some folks swap out the straps/bracelets on their G’s, I don’t and it looks hard to do.
Fit
I have previously reviewed one of Casio’s Master’s of G, which while very cool in terms of functionality and robustness, can often times require a compromise when it comes to comfort. That is not the case with the 5600 Series watches. They are very trim at 12.7mm thick, and all of the band options that Casio offers are quite comfortable.
These watches likely are some of the most worn timepieces in existence with their entry-level brethren being available from places like Target and Walmart for sub-$50 (See the DW-5600E-1V). I feel like a good amount of this success has to be due to their unobtrusiveness on the wrist. They really are the put-on-and-forget type watches.
Movement
The GW-5610BC has Casio’s module 3159 inside of it. As with all of the Casio modules, there is an enormous amount of functionality packed into this watch including but not limited to a world time view, 4-alarms, chronograph (stopwatch), and a countdown timer. All of these functions are powered by G-Shock’s solar technology meaning that the watch’s face acts like a solar cell and can charge the battery when exposed to light.
Lastly, my favorite feature of this particular watch, the atomic-syncing functionality. The 3159 receives time calibration radio signals syncing the time with the atomic clock once a day. Effectively making the timekeeping accuracy of the movement a moot point when you factor that any deviation would be corrected every 24-hours.
Casio Gwm5610 1 Manual
Case and Crown
If you’ve ever handled a G-shock you are probably familiar with their rubber/resin coated bodies, buttons on either side to use the features, and recessed flat dial. The 5610BC is no different, and has a result it retains of the biggest flaws present on the smaller G-Shocks; there are four buttons on either side of the watch that activate the features, cycle through modes, and turn on the backlight. On the 5610BC the buttons are fairly small and recessed, this keeps them safe from damage or accidental actuation, but it also makes them difficult to use. I generally have to press them with my fingernail, not a deal breaker but worth pointing out.
The case itself is very nice. Thin, not super big, wears much smaller than the numbers would suggest. The size, as I discussed in the fit section, is probably what makes this model so popular. The dial is nicely recessed and protected by a resin bezel. As with other G’s Casio has used a steel case-back as well. I would imagine this helps to ensure the water resistance (20Bar).
Dial, Bezel, & Crystal
Unlike most other watches this portion of a 5600 series G-Shock is pretty straightforward. The bezel is integrated into the case and really only serves to protect the crystal/display. On the display you have two primary pieces of information being communicated: In the top right you’ll see the day, month, and date. Then filling the lower half of the display is the time, or if you’re in another mode whatever salient piece of information you would expect at that point. At the very bottom you have a couple small indicators for the charge level of the solar battery, and then a notification of the alarm status (so you can see if an alarm is activated before heading into a movie or something).
The crystal is called “inorganic-glass,” which leads me to believe that it is likely a mineral glass crystal. This is fairly unremarkable, and I feel pretty confidently that if the crystal encountered anything with any real force it would mark or break. That being said, the G-Shock’s design excels at diverting damage away from the face of the watch, I’ve never had a problem with it.
Strap/Bracelet
Most G-Shock’s come on a perfectly acceptable rubber style bracelet that’s built more-or-less integrally into the case. The particular variant we are discussing today comes on Casio’s rather brilliantly designed Combi-Bracelet. As the name suggests, the bracelet is a combination of polymer and steel, the outer links being for former and the center links being the latter. Each link is held together by a set of small spring bars.
I haven’t seen a bracelet constructed in this manner before. I’m not positive on the strength of this construction, but the bracelet is comfortable to wear and easy to adjust. The biggest difference in my experience with this bracelet is, it really makes the G-Shock feel like a “real” watch. I’m not really sure how else to describe this sort of intangible, but there’s a different feeling with the bracelet compared to one without.
Casio GW-M5610BC Review – Final Thoughts
Bobcat Toolcat 5600 Vs 5610
So, what’s the deal with the 5610BC? I think when it’s all said and done you’re getting one of Casio’s most capable G-Shock models, that includes their solar and atomic technology while also including a bracelet. This is my favorite iteration of the classic G-Shocks, and while they may be difficult to find, they are generally available on amazon.com or eBay. Everyone needs a G in their collection. I suggest this one.
Editor: I recommend purchasing the Casio GW-M5610BC at Amazon or Jomashop. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Also, if you like the watch reviews, here is a link to all our watch reviews.