Casio G-Shock DW-5000C

Name: Casio G-Shock DW-5000C-1B (1983 Original)
Brand: Casio

Stollenbaeck, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Engineer Kikuo Ibe dropped a watch his father gave him and watched it shatter on the floor. That moment of loss became an obsession: build a watch that can't break. After two years and over 200 failed prototypes - many dropped from the third-floor bathroom window of Casio's R&D building - Ibe's "Team Tough" created the DW-5000C. Released in April 1983, it was the first G-Shock. The line has since sold over 100 million units worldwide. An original 1983 DW-5000C in dead stock condition can now fetch $10,000 to $20,000+.

Quick Value Summary


Item	Casio G-Shock DW-5000C-1B
Year	1983
Category	Watches - Digital
Manufacturer	Casio
Original Retail	~$50
Condition Range
Worn, Working, Replacement Band	$500 – $1,000
Good Original Condition, Working	$2,000 – $5,000
Dead Stock / NOS with Packaging	$10,000 – $20,000+
Rarity	Rare (original 1983 production; survivors in good condition are very scarce)

The Story

Casio's design goal was audacious: "Triple 10." The watch had to survive a 10-meter free fall. It had to resist 10 bar (100 meters) of water pressure. And it had to run for 10 years on a single battery. In 1983, those specs sounded impossible for a $50 digital watch.

Ibe's breakthrough was a hollow structure that suspended the module inside the case - like an egg yolk floating in egg white. The resin case and band absorbed shock before it reached the electronics. The screw-back case sealed against water. The quartz module sipped battery life.

The DW-5000C launched in April 1983 in Japan. Its square case design - angular, chunky, unapologetically industrial - became the G-Shock silhouette. Every square G-Shock since traces its DNA to this module 240 original.

It wasn't an instant hit. Early sales were modest. Then the watch found its audience: military, law enforcement, construction workers, athletes - anyone who destroyed regular watches. Word spread. By the late 1980s, G-Shock was a cultural phenomenon. Today it's one of the most successful watch lines in history.

How to Identify It

Key Features

Module 240 (displayed in settings mode or printed on caseback)
Model designation: DW-5000C-1B
Square resin case - the original G-Shock shape
Screw-back case (important - this distinguishes it from later snap-back models)
200m water resistance
Functions: Stopwatch, alarm, calendar
Resin band with specific buckle design

1983 Original vs. Later Remakes

Casio has reissued the square G-Shock design many times:

DW-5000-1 (2001): Faithful remake, but module and construction details differ
DW-5000SP (2003): 20th anniversary special edition
DW-5000ML (2005): Metal-bezel limited edition
Modern 5000 series: Current production, completely different internals

The original 1983 DW-5000C has module 240, a screw-back case, and 1983-era resin. If yours says anything other than DW-5000C on the caseback, it's a later version.

Condition Red Flags

The biggest issue with 40+ year old G-Shocks is resin degradation. The case and band are made of organic resin that breaks down over time. Bands crumble. Cases become sticky or chalky. Many surviving examples have replacement bands. Dead stock (never-worn) examples with intact original resin are exceptionally rare.

Value by Condition

Condition	Description	Value
Working, replacement band	Band replaced, case shows age	$500 – $1,000
Working, original band (worn)	Shows age-appropriate wear	$1,000 – $2,000
Good, mostly original	Original case and band, working	$2,000 – $5,000
Excellent, original	All original, minimal wear	$5,000 – $10,000
NOS/Dead Stock with packaging	Never worn, original packaging	$10,000 – $20,000+

What drives the spread: It's all about the resin. An original DW-5000C with intact, non-degraded original resin is exceedingly rare. The case and band crumble with time, so most survivors have been modified. A truly original, unworn example with its original packaging is a collector's dream.

Authentication & Fakes

Verify module 240 through settings mode or caseback inspection
Check for correct DW-5000C-1B model designation on caseback
Original resin should show age-appropriate patina - fresh-looking resin on a "1983 original" is suspicious (likely a remake)
Screw-back case is mandatory for the original
Compare to known genuine examples. The G-Shock collector community is knowledgeable and can help verify
Be cautious with eBay listings. Many "original DW-5000C" listings are actually later remakes or tributes

Where to Sell

eBay - Active G-Shock collector market
Chrono24 - Growing market for vintage digital watches
G-Shock collector forums and groups - Dedicated community of enthusiasts
Japanese vintage watch dealers - Strong market in Japan where G-Shock has cultural significance

Not sure what your G-Shock is worth? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is an original 1983 G-Shock worth?

Working with replacement band: $500 to $1,000. Good original condition: $2,000 to $5,000. Dead stock with packaging: $10,000 to $20,000+. The key factor is how much original resin has survived.

How do I know if my G-Shock is from 1983?

Check the caseback for "DW-5000C" designation and module 240. The screw-back case is also a key identifier. Later remakes (DW-5000-1 from 2001, etc.) have different model numbers and modules.

Why are old G-Shocks so valuable?

The DW-5000C represents the birth of the G-Shock concept. It's the first of its kind - the watch that launched a 100-million-unit product line. Original 1983 examples are scarce because the resin degrades over time, destroying most surviving watches.

Is the 2001 DW-5000-1 remake worth collecting?

Yes, but it's in a different price category. The 2001 remake sells for $300 to $800 - a fraction of the original. It's a great way to own the DW-5000 experience without the five-figure price tag.