Non-Stop G-Shocks: DW-6900M-8T Eric Haze

Welcome to the end of the line. Not the complete end, mind you, but the end of the Non-Stop G-Shocks. Today I'm wearing my last G, a DW-6900M-8T from 1999. It was designed in collaboration with Eric Haze and bears his "tag" on the face and strap. You might not be familiar with his name, but you've probably seen album covers, posters, sneakers or other items designed by him, many of which are shown on his website. He also designed another G-Shock model released in 2006, the G-Shock 25th Anniversary logo and packaging and a not-yet-released Eric Haze Signature Model G-Shock. Today's watch does have some similarities to Haze's other G-Shocks, but it has a unique metallic silver finish. The finish looks good, but can wear off over time, although with the pampered life most of my watches lead, I'm not concerned. The watch also has a mirror-backed LCD (like the Ocean Grey 5600) which is a little difficult to take good photos of. Sjors did a good job here. I bought my DW-6900M-8T brand new pretty recently, but the EL backlight wasn't working. This is the watch for which this watch gave up it's functioning backlight. It seems lately that I've really grown fond of the 6900 design watches, so I can definitely see more of them in my future. If I get any more you'll be sure to see them here.

Non-Stop G-Shocks: DW-6900-1V

Today I'm wearing a watch with a story more interesting than the watch itself. It's a slightly beat up DW-6900-1V, the basic version of one of the most popular G-Shock designs (even if you don't count all the terrible fake BAPE 6900s.) I've fitted a pair of aftermarket strap adapters and a 22mm military-style strap with a black buckle that seems to match nicely. I did this because in addition to being well-used and "stealthed" (it has had the colored paint removed from the bezel lettering so it's now all black,) this watch came to me missing the strap and the bezel screws. So, here's the story: A little while ago I bought a limited edition 6900 that had a non-functional backlight. I really wanted to remedy this (and my initial thought was there was just a dirty contact or a spring missing) but the EL light was really and truly dead. So, before I spent the money on a brand new 6900 only to tear it apart, I posted to the Watchuseek G-Shock forum to see if anybody had a 6900 "beater" with working backlight that they'd like to sell. I was very surprised to be offered this 6900 with a perfectly good module for free, including free shipping, by a fellow forum member. Because the model I was fixing had a special LCD as well as a special bezel and strap, I had to switch the LCD display between the two modules (just a matter of 4 screws and pretty easy if you're careful) then switch the modules between the watches. The swap went very smoothly, and rather than keep this watch for pats, I thought I'd put a band on it (I was eager to try out the adapters anyway) and wear it a little bit. It works great, except for the backlight, of course. I think I forgot about this watch and my other 6900 a few days ago when I mentioned I was on my "third-to-last" G-Shock, so I think I actually have two more (the other 6900 I mentioned here and another one I received today) then I'm done with Gs until I get something new.

Non-Stop G-Shocks: DW-6900WC-3T W.C.C.S.

Today I'm wearing another W.C.C.S. G-Shock, this time a DW-6900 in a very pleasing and summery translucent turquoise. Like my other World Coral-Reef Conservation Society watches, this one has the special markings on the band and caseback as well as the rays in the EL backlight. I just got this recently (it was sort of an "impulse buy" when I was buying some other more expensive Gs) and it was brand new even though it was originally released in 1997. While the 6900 is a pretty common G-Shock, I believe this W.C.C.S. model was not released in the U.S.A. If it was, it must have been very limited because I've never seen one in a shop. Like the W.C.C.S. DW-9600, this 6900 was also available in a number of translucent colors. They do show up occasionally on eBay (usually from Japan) so if the price is right I could see getting a couple more. The 6900s don't normally have the appeal of the Frogmen or DW-9600s (since the latter are titanium with screwbacks) but I really like this watch regardless. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the stingrays.

Non-Stop G-Shocks: DW-6900WCJ-9ER 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™

Today I'm wearing the companion piece to my DW-5600 FIFA G-Shock, the DW-6900 from the same series. Just as the 5600 uses the German national football uniform for the color scheme, this 6900 uses the colors of the Brazilian team. Even the "G-SHOCK" printing at the top of the face is in the bright blue just like the player's shorts. Like the 5600 this one is also made in Japan, features GOLEO VI and Pille in the EL backlight and has FIFA and 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ in various places on the watch. This seemed to be a more popular color combination than the black and white Germany 5600, but both of them were purchased at heavy discount from an eBay seller in Germany. I find the color scheme very attractive (as is the Brazilian flag from which the uniforms draw their inspiration) but it's definitely bright, probably too bright for most people to wear every day, including myself. I do enjoy wearing it though, when the occasion and my wardrobe allow.

Non-Stop G-Shocks: DW-6900R-7 Rastafarian

Today I'm wearing another recent G-Shock acquisition, my 6900 from the Rastafarian Series. As I mentioned when I wore my Jam'in Color 6900, I really like this design. It is a true classic like the 5600, but is larger and chunkier so it fits in with the larger watches that are popular today. This particular one is unique in a few ways. It has a white finish that is best described as "semi-gloss" with dark green text around the bezel and a dark grey face with gold text over a gold LCD. All of these colors work great with the gold buttons and buckle and are accented by the tri-color nylon keepers in the colors of the Jamaican flag. The backlight features and image of the Lion of Judah, a symbol of importance in the Rastafari religion. I believe the other two watches in this series, the DW-5600R-3 and G-5500R-1, also share this backlight image as well as some other features. Casio had previously released a few Rastafarian or reggae models, but I think they were a little too loud and looked slightly slapdash. None of them really excited me like this collection does.

Casio G-Shock DW6900MC-7A

I still haven't set out a schedule to what kind of watch I wear on each day of the week, and I have to say, it is becoming increasingly difficult to pick a watch. Sure, I always have watches I like and like to wear (at least until I start running out of them) but I know once I wear it, that's it, it's going back in the box/drawer/case and won't appear on this blog again. My goal is actually to wear a different watch every workday for a year. If I make it that long, who knows what will happen after that. I'm aware when I'm choosing a watch that today is the day I write up something about it, so yes, I'm being picky, and I don't want to "waste" some of my favorite watches just because I couldn't choose something different. Does that make sense or just sound crazy? I just re-read it and it sounds crazy to me.

So, today I'm wearing a DW6900MC-7A, part of the "Jam'in Color" series. This is a watch that I wear very rarely for no particular reason (other than I have too many watches.) I actually like it a lot. It is my only G-Shock 6900 and I'm always surprised at how large this case design is on the wrist. The Jam'in color watches came out in 2006 and employed a brand new molding technique that injects two colors of plastics into the mold to make a pattern that's part camouflage and part tie-dye. Because the mixing is random, no two Jam'in Color watches are exactly alike. Released at the same time were purple and red versions which are also very nice looking. Casio has also made some Baby Gs, Mudmen and 5500s using the same case molding technique. I didn't realize before reading this page that all of these Jam'in Color 6900s are made in Japan (I don't know about the other Jam'in Color models.) Typical "cheap" G-Shocks are made in China or Malaysia (and probably other places) while higher-end G-Shocks usually come from Japan. The quality and fit and finish are usually just a little nicer on the Japanese-made watches. This watch doesn't have all the fancy features that some of the newer or more expensive Gs do, but it still does more than I normally would need it to. As seems to be my habit now, after this write-up I have an increased fondness for this watch and wouldn't mind adding some other Jam'in Color 6900s, other Jam'in Color models or other 6900s to my collection.