G-Shock Unveils the $80,000 USD MRG-D5000 Crafted Entirely in Blue Sapphire

Limited to just 20 pieces, the record-breaking model borrows from traditional Japanese timber joinery to withstand high impacts.

Summary

G-Shock has officially unveiled the MRG-D5000 featuring an outer case and bezel rendered entirely in synthetic blue sapphire crystal

Conceived by brand creator Kikuo Ibe in 2017 the shock-resistant timepiece required nearly a decade of technical development

Production is strictly limited to 20 pieces globally with each watch hand-assembled by a single master technician at Casio's Yamagata factory

Casio G-Shock has officially revealed the G-Shock MRG-D5000 Blue Sapphire, marking the most expensive production watch in the brand’s history. Priced at $80,000 USD (£67,000 GBP), the record-setting model turns a long-standing concept envisioned by brand creator Kikuo Ibe in 2017 into an ultra-exclusive reality.

Constructed entirely from lab-grown blue sapphire crystal across its outer case and bezel, the G-Shock MRG-D5000 measures 16.45mm in thickness to accommodate the material’s structural requirements. To prevent fracturing without relying on traditional drill holes or screws, G-Shock engineered an interlocking assembly framework inspired by traditional Japanese timber joinery. Each sapphire element interlocks like a three-dimensional puzzle to absorb and disperse impact forces while maintaining 200-meter water resistance and solar-powered functionality.

The design stays faithful to the original 1983 square silhouette, featuring a blue vapor-deposition brick-pattern face detailed with 24-carat gold lettering. Flipping the watch over reveals a Grade 5 titanium caseback set with sapphire crystal, engraved with “DREAM PROJECT” alongside its individual edition number from 1/20 to 20/20. Every timepiece in the 20-piece release is hand-assembled by a single senior technician at Casio’s Yamagata facility.

The G-Shock MRG-D5000 Blue Sapphire is available in an ultra-limited production run of 20 pieces globally via G-Shock.