The DW-5600 has been the legendary - signature model of G-Shock for decades. Next to it is the other sibling - the DW-6900. The base model DW-5600 has been upgraded with the latest features and functions, which can be found in a series of new models. Another reason why many watch enthusiasts love the DW-5600 is because of easily available spares like the module (the movement), the hard case, and the BNB (bezel and band). As a watch collector, a DW-5600 is a must-have. I call my DW-5600 'the morning watch' . Semi-retired, my morning routine - is exercise, house cleaning, or gardening. My 5 cents WIS. Hoped you will love it.

 

You’ve got the OG one!

 

The first three paragraphs should explain it sufficiently.

 

Reliable, rugged, and very affordable. One of the best watches ever made IMO. A highly functional 200m water resistant watch that can be bought for under $50 on Amazon.

It's also probably the most affordable NASA flight certified watch you can buy.

 

There are a number of G-Shock models that have features that are found on the DW-5600. In fact, some have more than that. So why is the DW-5600 range so famous? Is it cause of its size? Price?

FYI the wife just bought me a DW5600 HR-1 for my 33rd Birthday so I am buzzing for it to arrive!

Because it cheap, has a lot of colourful LEs and made stylistically similar to first Casio G-Shock. It not the most popular Casio model. Though, i think it in top 7.
Plain DW5600 is not popular. Though it is forum favourite recommendation, there are not many of them in the wild.
For every 5-10 solar powered squares you will find 1 DW or less in "classic" colours. I see 5610 more than i see DW5600.
It makes about 0 sense to buy "plain" DW when extra 40$ get you solar, MB6, modern module and better strap. That, if you looking for function. LEs are different story. Nobody buying Mario themed DW5600 because of functionality. Mario is the main attraction and reason why people choose it.

It is cool retro watch to have and true to the roots as it can be. In this sense it total style icon. I think most purchases are driven by desire to have this archaic experience.
Which is totally fine. I love my calculator Casio watch and it gets most attention of any watch i have. Calculator part there is for the style and not really give any functional reason to buy it.

I have two. Plain and LE. Plain i don't wear much at all. LE gets more wrist time due to funky looks and higher quality of strap (less stiff, less sharp edges).

 

Because it cheap, has a lot of colourful LEs and made stylistically similar to first Casio G-Shock. It not the most popular Casio model. Though, i think it in top 7.
Plain DW5600 is not popular. Though it is forum favourite recommendation, there are not many of them in the wild.
For every 5-10 solar powered squares you will find 1 DW or less in "classic" colours. I see 5610 more than i see DW5600.
It makes about 0 sense to buy "plain" DW when extra 40$ get you solar, MB6, modern module and better strap. That, if you looking for function. LEs are different story. Nobody buying Mario themed DW5600 because of functionality. Mario is the main attraction and reason why people choose it.

It is cool retro watch to have and true to the roots as it can be. In this sense it total style icon. I think most purchases are driven by desire to have this archaic experience.
Which is totally fine. I love my calculator Casio watch and it gets most attention of any watch i have. Calculator part there is for the style and not really give any functional reason to buy it.

I have two. Plain and LE. Plain i don't wear much at all. LE gets more wrist time due to funky looks and higher quality of strap (less stiff, less sharp edges).

I agree. I own several G5xxx but not a single D5xxx. Event though it's cheap, it's a throwback that holds no real attraction for me other than historical. This alone is not enough to motivate me to add it to my collection.

 

You can see the most popular DW-5600 back from the 80's , 1987 to be exact if i'm not mistaken from the thread below

Which version of the DW5600 is this?

Smithsonian listed as donated by Nasa to the museum. I know it is a DW5600, but which version and is it still available? And if not, what is the closest modern equivalent?

www.watchuseek.com

 

The basic DW-5600E is not popular? Amazon shows nearly 14,500 ratings for it. And that doesn't count the truckloads that are bought at Walmarts, Kohls, or the local PX on any military base.. I got mine on sale for around $30 some years back.

It's popular because it's cheap, tough, has basic functions that ppl want, and won't break the bank if it needs to be replaced down the line.

And btw, this is the G I wear if going to be doing some rough activity where there's a good chance the watch can get smacked, hit, scraped, or otherwise abused.

I'll also mention, for the newer guys who may not know - the DW range allows the light to stay on for as long as the light button is pressed..

 

it's the iconic G-Shock model. The one that closely identifies with the company values and design philosophy. Just like Rolex is well known for its Submariner, Omega with Speedmaster, and Seiko with SKX007.

 

OG

 

It's also probably the easiest to customize, with the plethora of aforementioned available spare parts.

Here's my custom square.

 

It's super comfortable to wear and designed to feel like it belongs on your wrist. What I mean is it doesn't get in the way. Funny thing is that at the time of its original release in 1983, it was considered a fairly large watch. First version was the DW-5000; and this year marks its 40th anniversary. Today it's the smallest G-Shock available.

 

The best of all things digital wrapped up in a single watch....

 

It's everything a Swiss watch is not.

 

I have several DW-5600's.

All of them are LE's:

CASIO seems to prefer the DW-5600 for their LE's.

I expect a 40th anniversary DW-5600 this year.

 

More profits. Plus square is hip again.
There been few BT resin squares among LEs and for sure all titanium ones, but these for sure not on the level of DW variety. It is relatively new thing. Before it was mostly 6900/100/110 varieties and few occasional others. Even in 2015 DW5600 LE was not a thing. Though is started around that time with few crazy color variations.

 

Rugged and affordable. What more could you ask in a gshock?

 

the square g shocks fit a wider range of wrist sizes. I prefer the DW6900, particularly with the steel aftermarket lugs I added. enables wearing it with a normal dive strap.

 

to me its the best looking.. super practical.. the shape makes it easy to wear in more occasions than the larger Gs.. and I dont need all the fancy features the other ones have.. my choice is always for the GWB/GMW variants cuz I like the added features they have over the basic square.. but you cant go wrong with any square IMHO..

 

The Standard DW-5600, along with the Timez Iron Man, Omega Speedmaster Prof. and Omega Speedmaster X-33 is one if the few officially listed watches approved for Space Operations. Not to say you can't wear another watch...

 

I created thread of watches on NASA pictures and despite "common knowledge" about DW5600 it not the most common Casio out there by any stretch. Not sure NASA really tested it the way they did Omegas.
In 90s Timex was official watch with Datalink later substituted with Omega. Casio watches seem to be personal choices. So i think Timex was actually tested because it was standard issue.

 

I like it because it's affordable, rugged and pairs well with my sweatpants. I don't actually have one, however...LOL. I do have the GW-M5610 though.

 

I wear mine to work as a builder. I wash it in the shower when I get home, bit of soap and a toothbrush, and it looks brand new, doesn't matter if I was mixing tile adhesive or concrete or cutting plasterboards all day. I wouldn't care so much if I destroyed it, because it's so inexpensive, but there's practically no way to destroy it. It's just about perfect, the "I don't care" factor makes up for no solar or atomic.

 

The new high-end MR-G square probably won't be produced if the DW-5600 don't exist.

 

The new high-end MR-G square probably won't be produced if the DW-5600 don't exist.

DW5600 would not been existing if not for DW5000C...
Not even sure who was first with square design, but DW1000 predates first G-Shock while having a lot in common.
So i think MRG should be traced to DW5000C as real source of them all.
Respect the elders!
Even Casio states MRG relation to 5000C

G-SHOCK unveils $4,000 MR-G watch in the style of its original DW-5000C

New MRG-B5000 use cutting-edge metals finishes polished by master craftsmen at Premium Production Line at Yamagata Casio.

usa.watchpro.com

 

Iconic, durable and inexpensive. You can't go wrong. While I don't have one, I have a 5000u which I absolutely adore. Same DNA. Squares are awesome 👍.

 

Tons of colors, fun to mod, very addicitve

[edit] Check out how many posts we have in the custom square thread:
Custom Squares: Q&A, show em here, fuel addiction

 

They're just (relatively) basic, good & inexpensive.

You can pound them & not worry.

The Japanese like baseball:

"Home run!"

 

DW-5600 was my first G-shock and bought it in a Target for around $30. It's no frills, does what most people want a watch to do without being expensive, pretentious and isn't like wearing a satellite on your wrist. It's the ultimate cheap, modern tool watch on a budget IMHO.

Some people don't want or need to spend a couple hundred bucks for a watch they are actually going to use at work, don't care about impressing others, and just need the time, day and date. As a critical care RN who has worked in critical care transport, intensive care and in the emergency department this really is all the watch I need, takes a beating, don't have to worry about bumping it into anything, can get wet from washing my hands often, can wipe it off with caustic sanitizing wipes without worry and if I lose it I can just buy another one.

I've also worn my in many firearms classes (handguns, rifles and shotguns) and this watch has never let me down. I've traveled to different states for these classes and if I lose the watch or leave it in a hotel it's no big deal and will jsut buy another.

 

OG, best size - what else??