A Dash Of Pistachio: Hands-on with the G-Shock GM-2110D-3A
G-Shock sometimes reminds me of BMW a couple of years ago, when the brand was at the forefront of filling every nook and cranny of its lineup. If you liked a coupe but preferred to drive an SUV, they had your back. G-Shock is in that matter similar, as they really make sure that there is something for everybody in their collection, and the GM-2110D is the perfect example of this.
When G-shock launched the 2100 collection three years ago, it became an instant favorite. Its octagonal shape and ani-digi dial setup gave the watch a charismatic presence that is also very affordable in the all-resin configuration. G-Shock has the good fortune that they can rely on a new generation of fans, but they also have maintained strong ties with collectors who grew up with the brand. While they have often also experienced high-end Swiss brands, their love for G-Shock remained strong. For those clients that are often also willing and capable of spending more, G-Shock launched the Full Metal GMB-2100D.
The GM-2110D cleverly occupies a middle ground between these two watches. Like the Full Metal GMB-2100D, it features a metal bracelet and case but retains its resin body on the inside. This means that it maintains superb shock resistance at a more modest price but is also 19 grams lighter and 1mm thinner than its Full Metal sibling. On the technical side, it also lacks a Bluetooth function, and it gets its power from a battery (which should last about 3 years) instead of solar cells on the dial. While these functions are nice to have, you don’t really miss them on the GM-2110D.
The bracelet is executed in a slightly simpler style than that of the GMB-2100D but still wears very comfortably, thanks to G-Shock’s efforts to polish the links soft and smooth. They are held together by pushpins, which makes sizing the bracelet much easier compared to the pins that you need to hammer out. The clasp is relatively simple, but with two buttons to open, still well above par, given the retail price of this watch.
On paper, the dimensions of most G-Shocks are daunting, while they tend to wear much smaller on the wrist. The GM-2110D is no exception, as the 44.4 mm wide case sits on the wrist like a 42mm. The height is a pleasant 11.8mm, and the watch has enough heft to be pleasant but not enough to become bothersome. Its water resistance is a superb 20 ATM/200 meters, and the built-in light ensures that even the digital readout can be seen at night. Thanks to the ana-digi combination, the GM-2110D has a wide array of functions to offer, including a countdown timer, 1/100th chronograph, five daily alarms, and world time.
G-Shock offers the GM-2110D in five different colors. Some are classic favorites, like silver and navy blue, but others make a more colorful statement. The bright orange dial draws attention, while the sky blue one does the same in a more modest way. G-Shock refers to this green dial as lime, but the play of light on the sunburst finish makes it more of a pistachio, in my opinion. That is just a name, as the dial is very lively, and the green is refreshing but doesn’t overtake the whole design of the watch. It is quite easygoing, as is the GM-2110D as a whole. It is a watch that you can wear without worry, not only because of its water and shock resistance but also because it is a comfortable timepiece that will always make a pleasant statement. At $300, for either dial color, is the price also pleasant, as the GM-2110D offers a lot for that money.
For more info, visit G-Shock, here.