Casio launches GW-9503KJ-2 G-Shock Mudman inspired by an endangered shoebill bird

Casio is releasing a new G-Shock in Japan this month, and the design inspiration is surprisingly specific. The company has partnered with environmental NGO Earthwatch Japan to create a customized version of the Mudman watch (GW-9503KJ-2) centered entirely around the shoebill, a large, vulnerable bird native to African wetlands.

Design details

It’s an unusual choice for a watch face, but Casio has translated the physical features of the bird pretty directly into the hardware. The main body of the watch is a muted blue-grey to match the shoebill’s plumage, while the metal bezel has an ion-plated finish to give it a slight sheen. To represent the bird’s massive beak, Casio added gold accents to the dial ring and front buttons, along with a light beige loop on the watch band.

Aside from the custom colors, this is the same Mudman hardware that Casio has been making for a while. It uses the company’s Carbon Core Guard structure, which basically means it’s built to survive heavy impacts, thick mud and water up to 200 meters.

For outdoor tracking, the watch includes Casio’s standard triple sensor setup. There are special buttons on the side of the case that allow you to use a digital compass, check the altitude and barometric pressure or read the temperature. Because it has a duplex LCD screen, the watch can display these sensor readings on a separate visual layer directly above the standard time display without making the screen look too cluttered.

You also don’t really have to worry about charging or setting the time manually. It runs on Casio’s Tough Solar System, which keeps the battery powered by ambient light. On a full charge, it can last about six months with regular use. It also uses multiband 6 radio technology to automatically synchronize the time with global transmission towers every day.

Since this is an Earthwatch collaboration, the watch has some environmental ties. The resin parts of the case and band are made from biomass plastic instead of traditional petroleum-based plastic, and the packaging is made from recycled paper.

Prices and availability

The NGO’s logo appears on the screen when you press the backlight button, and part of the ¥64,900 ($410) asking price goes towards funding Earthwatch field research. It’s now up for pre-order on Casio’s Japanese website and will ship later this November.

In related news, Casio recently launched three Baby-G BGD-565FG watches with a ’90s faded denim look, alongside premium titanium watches with mother-of-pearl dials and solar charging.

(Casio)