G-SHOCK watches are nothing if not rugged and reliable, often fashioned with inspiration across Japanese culture. The new G-SHOCK MRGB2000KT3A is entirely otherworldly in its own way, crafted by Japanese metalsmiths and boasting an appropriately upscale price tag.
The Japanese watchmaker is no stranger to the wonders of rugged luxury on a wrist, from its refined G-Steel lineup to the dependable G-SHOCK Frogman collection. On the other hand, just 800 examples of the striking G-SHOCK MRGB2000KT3A just hit the market, each finished with a handcrafted, phoenix-engraved green DLC-coated bezel resting atop deep-layer-hardened titanium.
The remarkably intricate process was led by accomplished metalsmith Kobayashi Masao, with a delicate gradient finish worthy of a closer look. “The gradated color of the dial ring captures the dynamic beauty of the phoenix’s graceful flutter,” G-SHOCK said, while emerald-inset bezel screws nod to the power of truth and wisdom, the company notes. “These dazzling elements come together to create one of the most luxurious designs in the MR-G lineup,” the watchmaker added.
The case itself boasts a crystallized pattern developed from heating pure titanium, all the better to showcase the “shimmering beauty of the crystalline nie patterns on a Japanese sword blade.” The case also features a further deep-hardened treatment to give its brown AIP coating a “coppery hue,” a perfect interplay between the emerald green found throughout the durable case and its vibrant green rubber strap.
For good measure, the strap resists staining, aging and discoloration, G-SHOCK added. No detail was left to chance even when crafting the band, which boasts a geometric bishamon kikko tortoiseshell pattern, while the outer edge of the case nods to Japanese screens or folding fans.
A gold-plated retainer lends itself to durability, while anti-reflective sapphire coating aids in protecting the dial itself. Radio-controlled calibration teams with Bluetooth technology for a dash of technical performance alongside luxury, G-SHOCK says, calling the latest addition to the MR-G roster “the embodiment of the strength, beauty, and precision that come to life when Japanese technology meets Japanese aesthetics.”
Each watch boasts a limited-edition engraved plate on the side of its copper-toned case, all the better to lend suitable rarity to one of the most covetable watches in the G-SHOCK lineup (if not the most covetable). Other editions of the MRG-B2000 Series lineup retail for about half as much, none perhaps quite as memorable as the phoenix-engraved G-SHOCK MRGB2000KT3A. With a mere 800 units available, the race is on to secure a jealousy-inducing new G-SHOCK watch.
