Casio Launches Its Most Expensive G-Shock: The $80,000 Sapphire MRG-D5000

Nine years after unveiling its sapphire G-Shock concept, Casio is launching the Blue Rose Project—a three-watch collection showcasing what happens when G-Shock toughness meets advanced Japanese watchmaking technology.

The flagship model is the $80,000 MRG-D5000, Casio’s most expensive G-Shock to date and the first retail G-Shock with an outer case and bezel carved entirely from blue sapphire crystal.

Casio’s Blue Rose Project Makes the Impossible Possible

The collection takes its name from the blue rose. Because blue roses do not occur naturally, they are often viewed as symbols of making the impossible possible.

Alongside the $80,000 sapphire MRG-D5000, Casio is releasing the $9,500 MRG-B5000SA-2 and the $850 GMW-B5000SB-1A. Only 20 examples of the full-sapphire MRG-D5000 will be produced, making it an exceptionally limited luxury G-Shock.

At $80,000, the rugged luxury watch enters the same high-end price conversation as watches from Patek Philippe—and costs more than many luxury vehicles. That is a striking leap for a brand also known for watches priced below $90.

How Casio Made a Sapphire G-Shock Tough Enough

The 2017 concept watch required metal reinforcement to secure its sapphire crystal section, contributing to its failure during G-Shock’s rigorous toughness testing. The new MRG-D5000, however, is a fully functional G-Shock built using engineering lessons from Casio’s MR-G team.

The team discovered that dividing the outer case into multiple interacting components could disperse impact more effectively than a traditional single-piece construction. This approach forms the foundation of the watch’s redesigned multi-guard structure.

A Multi-Guard Structure Inspired by Japanese Woodworking

G-Shock enthusiasts may already recognize this technology from the titanium MRG-B5000. For the sapphire MRG-D5000, Casio redesigned the structure specifically to work with sapphire crystal.

The construction draws inspiration from traditional Japanese wood-frame techniques, using interlocking sections instead of placing additional stress around screw holes and other details that could lead to cracking. The result is a limited-edition sapphire G-Shock designed to combine luxury materials with the brand’s signature durability.