G-Shock was born from a dropped watch — Casio nearly killed the project that became iconic

In 1981, Kikuo Ibe was a young engineer at Casio's watch division. He dropped a prototype watch and it shattered. The watch was supposed to be a durable product, but it broke from a simple drop. Ibe was frustrated. He set himself a goal: build a watch that could survive a 10-meter drop onto concrete. The project was called 'G-Shock' — short for 'Gravity Shock.'

Ibe spent two years developing the watch. He created a free-floating module design: the internal mechanism was suspended inside a hollow case, absorbing impact through a cushion of air. The prototype survived drops from 10 meters. But Casio management was skeptical. The watch was bulky and ugly compared to the sleek digital watches of the era. Management nearly canceled the project several times.

The first G-Shock, the DW-5000C, launched in 1983. It was a commercial failure in Japan. The design was considered too large and too ugly. Casio considered discontinuing the line. But the watch found a following in the United States, where police officers, firefighters, and construction workers discovered its durability. Word of mouth spread. The G-Shock became a cult product.

G-Shock became a global cultural icon. The watch was adopted by skateboarders, military personnel, and streetwear enthusiasts. Casio has sold over 100 million G-Shock watches worldwide. A watch that was born from a dropped prototype — and nearly killed by its own company — became one of the most recognizable watches in history. The accident that broke a prototype created a legend.