Very,very nice

 

My god 😍 just perfection

 

A very nice and thorough write-up.

 

It's as beautiful watch. Thank you for sharing. I don't dislike the bracelet as much as when the watch had been announced, and you're write-up confirm my mind. It's very tempting. Is the yellow colorway, same as the ti you regret flipping, helped you to pull the trigger ? I really love that scheme too.

 

I’d say the gold on the MRG pops a little more. TB has the gold Protection and G-Shock and mutes the gold in the screen, I’d also say it’s probably a little more on the yellow where the MRG is a little more of a truer gold tone.

 

Is anyone else having problems seeing the pictures? I see the first two, and then a bunch of blank space. Seems like the forum is having problems on all posts?

 

I’m seeing everything in the Fora app.

 

Good review, Doug.

 

I loved this when I saw it. I can't decide if it's worth "trading up" from the TB. Given the titanium bracelet too.

How is the DLC colour vs TB? I understand different finishing, but I'm thinking the tone, as some images look darker and others more grey

 

I loved this when I saw it. I can't decide if it's worth "trading up" from the TB. Given the titanium bracelet too.

How is the DLC colour vs TB? I understand different finishing, but I'm thinking the tone, as some images look darker and others more grey

TB is matte black. The MRG is very finely brushed. Looks black in some lights, and kind of dark gunmetal in others. I was always a little nervous of marking up the TB. The titanium they used in this seems much stronger. It’s so hard to really reflect the high quality in photos.

 

Beautiful watch!

 

Solid piece. Definitely one of my favorite metal G's so far along with the TB, TVA, and the Tran Tixxii. (Not that I own any of em. Just wishful thinking.)

Just wish the pricing wasn't so steep but to be expected of the MRGs.

 

He'll of a watch, and a nice spread of squares.

 

Congrats. I love these squares. I have the titanium camo and I absolutely love it, but yours is another level obviously, and I have a lot of respect for anyone that springs for the mrg squares. It's such a unique choice for a nice watch.

 

I love my MRG square!

 

This is the amazing thing about these finishes and how they play with the light! It looks like 2 different watches!

 

Beautiful watch and nice write-up and photos. Thanks for the taking the time to share, and enjoy that beauty.

 

I started my watch collecting with G-Shocks over 20 years ago. One of my all time favorites is my DW-5600C. It’s over 35 years old, I got it NOS and had it for 15 years. Last year I had Casio do the restoration program, new battery, seals, o-rings, straps, and bezel. Is is like a brand new watch.

A couple years ago, I got the GW-5000U. To me, it’s a perfect modern version of the original. Screwback with the DLC case, soft rubber like straps, the modern features including solar and mult-band. I enjoyed having the old and new. I’ve had and flipped some of the metal G’s. The Titanium was the only one I regretted flipping.

Casio released the MRG-B5000 watches a couple years ago, and I loved the concept. I liked the black, but not the high polish. My eyes struggle with negative displays, so the black/blue couldn’t happen, and I prefer black over the metal finish. At this price range I need to love it. This month I saw the version on rubber released. Brushed matte finish with positive display, this now prompted me to research further. My main curiosity at this point was the straps. When I read they used Fluoroelastomer, I knew it should be comfortable, but with the thickness, how firm would it be? There weren’t a lot of reviews, the few I saw in different languages showed the flexibility. With that thickness, I preferred the cutting it vs adding thickness with the pin buckle.

I called the dealer, negotiated a trade, and excitedly accepted delivery on Wednesday. Opening that white cardboard box to reveal the premium piano black wooden box, I was so impressed! It’s a special few watches I’ve collected over the years that exceed my expectations. We see the video and photo reviews, and we have the idea of what we are getting. But some watches have these special details and how they play with the light, you like the media, but appreciate it in hand so much more.

This MRG-B5000R has that effect. I removed the watch from the box and inspected every angle. Now, the commitment….cutting to size. Using my hobby knife, I carefully cut piece by piece alternating sides until I found a good fit. I have a 7 1/2 inch wrist. Cutting 5 pieces off seemed good enough, but as I wore it over 2 days, I cut off one move bit, adjusted the micro adjustment, and found it to be ideal. I do miss the signature clasp lock they use on the MRG bracelets, and the clasp is longer than the bracelet versions. It sits curved and comfortable against the wrist. No sharp spots. It has the 3 micro adjustments for the sizing, I do wish they integrated an extension, but not a dealbreaker. I’ll confirm by the way, though thick, the strap is not stiff at all. It wears like exactly what it is, a premium durable rubber strap. They are textured on both sides of the strap, that texture on the back holds it against the wrist and keeps it from moving around. The straps are secured to the case with gold plated screws, and spring bars at both sides of the clasp.

The case is finely brushed. It appears more towards a dark gunmetal color than black. As many have read, it’s hand assembled with 25 pieces. Each piece incredibly finished. The case has detailing with brushing and angles you won’t find on the single piece cases on the other squares. The bezel is not high polished by the way. It is flat, and has the engravings with the protection and G-Shock. It shows as a muted glare in certain lights, but not high polished, and I prefer that. The 4 round dimples on the case are screws, and the rubber has the dimples stamped in for continuity.

The sapphire display has AR coating on both sides. The gold in the lines, shock resist logo, buttons and screws shine in the light. It’s done so well with class. The screwdown caseback is engraved.

I’m always happy to get a new watch. This has been one that’s got me a little more excited than usual. It’s dominating wrist time and has me looking at it often. Sometimes I find myself taking it off my wrist to look at all the angles and appreciating what these designers created. I’ll be releasing a couple videos on it soon. For anyone that may had felt the same about the first 3, this may just be what you were hoping they’d release.

Well, I was on the fence for exactly the same reasons you mentioned about the various MRG-B5000, and was intrigued by the R as well when it was announced. Read your excellent review, and boom, it pushed me to the abyss and pulled the trigger. I am glad I did, it is a very handsome watch, very stealth, over all is great.
I just have a few Cons with it, first the Gold Chevron of Shock Resist on the top left looks like a gold blob, not very legible, and is not sharp enough, so it is like the lip mole of Cindy Crawford, sexy at first but I bet tiring after first impression (not from experience ) should have made it in silver.
Second, the buckle I think it is a bit oversized for the watch, it is a beautiful buckle no doubt, but I think Casio pulled it from its bin of parts from other MRGs and added to it. Think they should have made one specially for the 5000R, but sometimes the bean counters win some battles. Lets say that in the MRG-B2000R it looks proportionated to the size of the watch (it is the same buckle), but on the 5000R is a bit much, not a deal breaker, but hope Casio in the next iterations look into it, (ha).
And finally, a grudge that I have with the Bluetooth in some of my other cheap 5000 is that they took the battery level from the screen, and have to use the App Think it would be more functional if they added a function in the Mode cicle called Battery Level and done. Do not like going to the App just to check on the battery level, it is kind of silly.
And for the question that everybody asks, is it worth the $3,100 plus tax? It is very subjective, I am on kind of struggling a bit with that, maybe $2,500? I do not know, but I do not regret paying that, I am very happy with it, nobody knows that is that expensive, might pass as just a Casio. Fine with me, that was what I am looking for.
Again, thanks Doug for your review, have watched your videos since 2008 or so, I feel I know you well
Best

 

Can’t argue with MiamiJAGs observations for possible improvements but I’m a sucker for MRG squares. The resin squares were my favorite G-shocks in the 90s and the MRG squares feel like a big-boy-toy version for me.

 

Is it the case that you need to get one of these if you live in NJ?... (noticed the OP and most recent poster have usernames that suggest they're in NJ). I guess that means I should get one soon too!

 

This must be the case, since I am in NJ and also have one.

 

the B5000R - pretty neat, no doubt.

 

the B5000R - pretty neat, no doubt.

Nice lineup. I'm honestly curious why they're all displaying a different time though. Do you live in a faraday cage?

 

So... I've since ordered a replacement strap for the B5000R - as the existing strap wears too tightly. Does anyone know the precise way to remove a strap from this watch?

I'm assuming you just need to unscrew the screws at the lug-points that presumably attach the strap to the case body. However, both have sides are screw-heads?.. are they connected to each other, where you need to hold one end static while unscrewing the other?

Perhaps most importantly, what is the correct size screwdriver so that the screw-heads don't get marred?

Thanks!

 

So... I've since ordered a replacement strap for the B5000R - as the existing strap wears too tightly. Does anyone know

How does it wear too tightly when it has to be cut down to the size of the owner's wrist?

 

ngl I want that band for my GW-5k....

 

Thats a problem I highlighted with these kind of straps when this variant was announced.

There's no question that it's a drawback of the type (cut to size) of strap. But hey, at least it's not an Aquanaut strap. =) Though a bit perversely, the B5000R strap is essentially the same price as an Aquanaut strap at retail. I had known going in (given the watch was purchased used) that I'd likely have to buy a replacement strap [and factored that against the sale price]; I suppose the silver lining, if any at all, is that the two strap sides, when purchased new, are identical in length, so I think I can get away with cutting just one of the new sides (without too much resultant asymmetry), leaving the other as a 'spare.'

Not a fan of needing to cut the strap to size by any means. Seems to be a shortcut, also I agree the clasp is too big and tends to spoil the aesthetic. If was opting for the MRG I'd go for one on a bracelet for, I have the GMW-B5000-D1 which scratches my itch for an all metal Square.

Q-6

 

I own the bracelet Black/red one. Are you able to put on any regular 22mm strap on this watch? I looked at the back and it looks like the case has a middle piece where the springbar would normally go.

 

If the question was whether the B5000R rubber strap would fit onto the other MRG squares, the answer would be yes. (I haven't bothered doing so yet, but it should work, in principle)
As to whether any 'regular' 22mm strap would fit, I'm not certain. It's been a while since I took apart the mechanism on my B5000R, so I can't quite recall any limitation that would preclude one from doing so. The conventional (non-MRG) squares require adapters to mount normal straps - and that could be the case here..

 

...I think the next question, which I don't actually know the answer to, is whether the 'clasp' from the full metal MRG squares will retrofit with the fluoro band of the MRG B5000R. (as this would conceivably save someone the $320 that the B5000R clasp costs). They appear to both be the same width, but not sure I want to take all this stuff apart just to verify.

And that's something I haven't explored yet. The B5000R clasp does not come with the lock, which I found to be a bit annoying (isn't the lock function of the deployant part of what makes an MRG an MRG?...).

 

I recently came across a picture in another forum that also shows the converse is possible. (mounting a B5000B bracelet onto the MRG B5000R)
I can't say I'd be a big fan of the look, given the mismatch in glossy vs matte finish.

Probably a better solution would be to put the 5000TB bracelet on the B5000R, if one wanted that appearance.

 

I recently came across a picture in another forum that also shows the converse is possible. (mounting a B5000B bracelet onto the MRG B5000R)
I can't say I'd be a big fan of the look, given the mismatch in glossy vs matte finish.

Probably a better solution would be to put the 5000TB bracelet on the B5000R, if one wanted that appearance.

I mean, you could but the sheer difference in finishing is something of a turn off. However, what you have confirmed opens up another possibility that the rubber strap from the B5000 might have a chance to fit on this square, giving the user the option of a conventional rubber strap as well.