A new G-Shock is on the way, and it’s drawing immediate comparisons to one of the most coveted luxury sports watches ever made. Leaked images of Casio’s upcoming GMC-2500 and GAC-2500 series show a design with prominent shoulders on either side of the case, echoing the look of Patek Philippe’s famous Nautilus. Watch fans on Instagram have already nicknamed the pieces the “CasioNaut” and “CasioTilus.”
The design language follows the same playbook as the popular “CasiOak,” the GA-2100 introduced in 2019 that earned its nickname thanks to an octagonal case reminiscent of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Both the Royal Oak and the Nautilus trace back to watchmaker Gérald Genta, who sketched the Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet in 1972 and the Nautilus for Patek Philippe in 1976, helping define the luxury sports watch category.
Pricing and Availability
According to the leaked details, the GAC-2500 is a resin analog lineup, while stainless-steel versions carry the GMC-2500 label. Four resin colorways are expected to arrive in November in white, black, green, and yellow, priced at 20,900 Japanese yen each, or roughly EUR 115. The metal versions are estimated to retail for about EUR 275 and are expected to offer a choice of colors along with bracelet or strap options.
The rumored release date for the entire CasioNaut range is November. Casio did not respond to a request for comment on the leaks.
Design and Specifications
One of the most notable aspects of these watches is that they are fully analog, a rarity for G-Shock. The brand has traditionally included a digital display somewhere on its main lines, including the CasiOak. The GAC-2500 lineup is reportedly built from the DNA of the DW-5000C, the original G-Shock released in 1983.
The models feature a two-eye dial layout, with a small seconds subdial on the left and a date window on the right. A “Shock Resist” mark sits on the tail of the seconds hand. The watches also appear to use Casio’s Magnetic Holding Structure, in which the hands are held magnetically rather than fixed to a shaft. This allows the hands to absorb impacts and resist breaking when the watch takes a hard hit.
The metal GMC-2500 measures 46.7 x 43.8 x 12.9 mm (H x W x D), while the GAC-2500 is slightly thinner at 46.7 x 44.5 x 12.7 mm.
The Nautilus that inspired these comparisons was reportedly influenced by the portholes on transatlantic ocean liners. As the story goes, Genta conceived the design during dinner at a hotel, spotting Patek executives across the restaurant, and sketched the future icon in just five minutes.
