G-Shock’s Upscale CasiOak Looks Like a Tactical Dress Watch Hybrid

The best-looking addition to Casio’s MR-G collection features an inky blue lattice textured dial.

a close view of the coroner of a black casio g-shock watch

Published February 18, 2025

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Updated February 18, 2025

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From “Batman” bezels to “Turtle” cases, watch enthusiasts love cleverly nicknamed treatments. One of the best is “CasiOak,” which refers to a group of Casio G-Shock B2100 watches that resemble Audemars Piguet’s revered Royal Oak.

Meanwhile Casio’s MR-G series elevates G-Shock designs to the highest possible standards.

Put the two together and you have one of the brand’s most compelling collections: the MR-G B2100 series.

a black casio g-shock watch with a blue dial — The MRG-B2100 *Ao-Zumi* has a blue lattice texture dial inspired by traditional Japanese calligraphy.

What’s interesting is that while CasiOaks are typically more affordable, Audemars Piguet sits at the opposite end of the financial spectrum

However, the MRG-B2100 series narrows the gap with high-performance materials and elevated craftsmanship.

A new member of the family, the MRG-B2100 Ao-Zumi, just became available to the American market. It adds an intricately designed and brilliantly colored dial to the mix, making it the most luxurious-looking G-Shock out there.

A zen dial

Casio explains that the rich blue dial color was inspired by the ink used in traditional Japanese calligraphy and painting.

More specifically, it references the zen concept of “devotion to contemplating one’s own nature.”

Japanese calligraphy isn’t just the practice of creating decorative lettering. It is the artistic rendering of deep thoughts with words drawn out in a way that emphasizes their meaning.

Both the act of creating this calligraphy and reading it are meant to create a feeling of zen and a deeper understanding of life.

The color of the ink used in the process is an important component, and the dial of this watch is supposed to reference, if not outright evoke, that same feeling.

the back of a black casio watch with a black rubber band — The case back features the MR-G logo etched in.

Even if the dial color does not promote a feeling of zen for you, it is still beautiful to behold.

The intricately designed lattice pattern plays with the light at various angles, creating a shimmering effect reminiscent of the dials on luxury watches from labels like Grand Seiko and Patek Philippe.

The ultimate G-Shock

Most G-Shock watches have a single-piece case with smaller elements like pushers, a crown and case back added on. In contrast, the MRG-B2100 case is assembled from 27 individual titanium pieces.

the separated case parts of a black casio g-shock watch — The MRG-B2100 *Ao-Zumi* case is made up of 27 individual titanium pieces.

By breaking the case down into smaller components, Casio is able to apply a range of hand-polishing techniques that create different textures across the surface of the case. Four corner pieces have a blue ion-plated finish that complements the dial.

The bezel is made from Casio’s proprietary Cobarion alloy, which the brand claims is four times harder than titanium. It also has a lustrous finish that does not require shining to maintain.

the blue dial of a black casio g-shock watch — The MRG-B2100 *Ao-Zumi* bezel is made from a proprietary alloy that is four times harder than titanium.

Inside this tough-as-nails case are all the classic features of the G-Shock 2100 collection.

It runs a solar-powered quartz movement that synchs the time to a radio signal six times a day, so you don’t have to bother setting it.

Additionally, it connects to the G-Shock smartphone app via Bluetooth to adjust the time and date and monitor the battery charge. The dial is illuminated by an LED bulb concealed alongside the day sub-dial.

side view of the crown on a mr-g casio g-shock watch — The MR-G logo always aligns perfectly when the screw-down crown is secured.

The band is made from a resin called Dura Soft with strong flexibility and a soft feel. It is attached to the case with titanium hardware, and the three-fold clasp is made of titanium alloy.

One final interesting feature is a mechanism that ensures the MR-G logo on the screw-down crown always lines up perfectly when secured. It may be small, but it is visually satisfying to see.

Availability and pricing

The Casio G-Shock MRG-B2100 R-2A Ao-Zumi is available now from Casio and authorized retailers for $3,800.

It joins two existing watches in the MRG-B2100 series, a black titanium case and a silver titanium case, each with a black lattice dial and matching titanium bracelet.