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- Casio has unveiled the G-Shock 2500 Series, a nine-watch analogue range that’s already picked up the nickname “CasioNaut” from enthusiasts.
- The range is built around a new quartz module, magnetically held hands and a date window that doubles as a stopwatch readout.
- Prices in Australia start at AUD$289, and the watches are due to land from 7 November 2026.
When the first leaked images of the G-Shock 2500 Series surfaced, the watch internet was quick to dub it the “CasioNaut” and with good reason. Its case sides unquestionably bring to mind a certain luxury sports watch, and hype has been slowly building ever since.
Now Casio has made it official, with nine references across resin, resin-and-steel and full stainless-steel configurations. The “CasioNaut” nickname does the series a slight disservice, though. Looking beyond that case shape (as hard as it’s working to goad us into making comparisons), this is a fully analogue G-Shock with some genuinely clever goings-on.
It’s also the latest in the lineage of the DW-5000C, the original G-Shock, reinterpreted without a single LCD. Let’s take a closer look.
9 G-Shock 2500 Series References
The range splits into three tiers, each sharing the same core layout. First, we have four all-resin models. Second, three that combine resin and stainless steel. And finally, a pair of all-steel models.
G-Shock GAC2500 Key Specs:
- References: GAC2500-1A (black), GAC2500-3A (green), GAC2500-7A (white), GAC2500-9A (yellow)
- Construction: Resin case and band
- Size: 46.7 x 44.5 x 12.7 mm (per Casio Japan)
- Weight: 47 g (per Casio Japan)
- Water resistance: 200 metres
- Price: AUD$289
G-Shock GMC2500 Key Specs:
- References: GMC2500-1A and GMC2500-1A8 (balc and silver, AUD$459), GMC2500G-9A (gold ion-plated, AUD$499)
- Construction: Stainless steel bezel, bio-based resin case and band
- Dial: Brass, with a sunray or honing finish
- Size: 46.7 x 43.8 x 12.9 mm
- Weight: 68 g
- Water resistance: 200 metres
- Price: AUD$459 – AUD$499
G-Shock GMC2500D Key Specs:
- References: GMC2500D-1A (black), GMC2500D-1A2 (blue grey)
- Construction: Stainless steel case and bracelet
- Size: 46.7 x 43.8 x 12.9 mm
- Weight: 138 g
- Water resistance: 200 metres
- Price: AUD$559
Dial, Case, and Strap Options Aplenty
To provide full transparency, I’ve had several of the 2500 Series references on my desk for the last couple of weeks, and while this isn’t a review (you should keep an eye out for that in an upcoming instalment of The Wind Up for that), I have some preliminary thoughts.
First of all, I should plainly say that I really like these. That surprised me. They’re not the kind of thing I’m normally drawn to, but I appreciate the analogue approach and dial execution. It retains its G-Shock-ness, but exercises a level of restraint not seen in some of the brand’s other lines.
The cases wear smaller than their dimensions would suggest, and the tapering around the pushers helps in this regard, while giving them the shape that earned their “CasioNaut” nickname.
There are some limitations as well. The stopwatch function is very clever (more on that in a moment), but it stops at 31 minutes and 59 seconds, because the date wheel has no numbers past 31. That rules it out for timing longer sessions. It offers 200-metre water resistance, but the pushers can’t be used underwater.
If I were shopping for one, I’d skip the all-steel model and go for an all-resin or steel-resin option. The steel bracelet just feels a bit cheap, whereas the other models, while also cheap, feel comparatively premium in their execution.
All that said, I do, in fact, like these watches. Below are a few features of which I’m particularly fond.
A Stopwatch Hidden in Plain Sight
The watches introduce the new Casio 5757 quartz module, and it’s a clever thing indeed. On the face of it, the watch offers hours, minutes, a small seconds subdial and a date display. Cycle through the modes, however, and the three-cell date wheel at 3 o’clock and the small seconds at 9 o’clock join forces to create a stopwatch function.
To activate it, press the pusher at 8 o’clock. This resets the small seconds hand to zero, while the date wheel rotates to “ST”. Start the timer with the pusher at 4 o’clock, and the seconds hand rotates, counting seconds, while the date wheel counts elapsed minutes. The central hands carry on telling the time as normal throughout.
It’s a way of integrating a stopwatch into a dial with no screen and no dedicated subdial, and the minutes appear as an actual number rather than a hand pointing at a tiny scale. Very shrewd, Casio.
Full Auto-Calendar (to 2099)
The date wheel performs an extra duty when you set the calendar. It’s used to pick the year, month and date. The full auto-calendar runs through to 2099 and is perpetually calibrated to jump every odd-length month and leap year between now and then.
It’s another welcome piece of clever design from G-Shock’s team that helps the 2500 Series deliver more than meets the eye.
Throwing (Shock-Proof) Hands
A final nifty inclusion here isn’t new to the 2500 Series, but it is new to me, so I’m going to talk about it. Analogue hands are a component that’s particularly susceptible to damage when a watch is dropped. To address this, Casio has deployed its Shock Release Hand system, which debuted with the GA-V01 in April, 2025.
If the watch takes a particularly hard knock, the hands can shift with the force, then snap back into place. Casio says the hand may briefly shake or sit slightly off after an impact, but will correct itself within a few minutes — a fair trade-off for the added protection if you ask me.
Price and Availability
The G-Shock 2500 Series is expected to arrive from 7 November, 2026, with Casio Australia currently listing models as “Coming Soon” on its online boutique. Local pricing is as follows…
- GAC2500 (resin): AUD$289
- GMC2500-1A, 1A8 (steel and resin): AUD$459
- GMC2500G-9A (gold ion-plated): AUD$499
- GMC2500D (full steel): AUD$559
If you want a Nautilus-shaped watch, but the original is a little beyond your pay grade, you can sign up for G-Shock 2500 Series availability alerts via the link below.
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