Master of G - History

History

The Master of G series began in 1985 with the G-Shock II, model number DW-5500C. This was a classic square G-Shock, but the bezel contained softer parts and slipped over the buttons. This way Casio created a Mud Resistant structure. The DW-5500C was therefore nicknamed "Mudman". It took until November, 1993 before Casio came up with the Frogman model, however at this stage the watch was not called a Frogman, except in Japan where the case-back did feature the word "FROGMAN" and a small figure of a diving frog. The Frogman was a heavy divers model that featured a unique asymmetrical design of thick rubber shielding around a self-contained module, with titanium screw-back case—an unusually high-cost design. A thick double-tang resin strap and multitude of digital features including dive timing completed a competent diver's watch. The Frogman proved to be very popular, and this is presumably one of the key reasons why at some point between then and 1995 Casio decided to produce more high-end premium models, and with them limited edition colour variants that, due to their scarcity, have in some cases become very valuable indeed.

It seems that the last of the "first wave" of Masters watches ceased production around 2000, but there are signs Casio is keen to keep the range alive, not just with limited edition releases but with re-designs of some of the old Masters, such as the new Mudman models released in 2006, followed by new Gulfman models in 2007.

Three of the current Masters of G have been included in a new collection launched on February 2009, the Men In Rusty Black (MIRB) series. The watches under this theme, which include the Riseman (GW-9200MS), the Frogman (GW-200MS) and the Mudman (G-9000MS), are said to feature a military-inspired look.