Casio Celebrates 30 Years of MR‑G with Limited MRG‑B2100HR‑1A

Casio’s high‑end MR‑G line reaches its thirtieth anniversary this year, a moment that reflects how the company has shaped the idea of a premium Japanese watch built on toughness and advanced engineering. Casio introduced G‑SHOCK in 1983, and over the following decade the brand grew into a symbol of durability and innovation. MR‑G arrived in 1996 as the flagship expression of that philosophy, presenting G‑SHOCK in full metal for the first time and establishing a space where Casio could combine precision machining, refined finishing, and its most advanced shock‑resistant structures. Casio often describes MR‑G as the pinnacle of G‑SHOCK, the place where the company brings together its most ambitious materials research and its most refined metalwork. The series has become a showcase for how Japanese engineering and traditional craft techniques can coexist inside a single object.

To mark the anniversary, Casio is releasing the MRG‑B2100HR‑1A, a limited model with eight hundred pieces available worldwide, scheduled for release on November 13. The price is set at 1,100,000 yen, which feels surprisingly accessible for a watch that blends limited production, advanced metalwork, and hand‑applied foil detailing. The design draws inspiration from kigumi, a traditional Japanese architectural technique that joins wooden components without using nails or metal fasteners. The octagonal bezel is built from twenty‑seven separate parts, each polished and assembled with care. The bracelet uses high‑hardness alloys such as COBARION and DAT55G. COBARION is a cobalt‑based alloy developed in Japan for medical and precision applications, chosen here for its strength and mirror‑like finish. DAT55G is a titanium alloy known for its durability and resistance to scratches, produced by Daido Steel. Both materials allow MR‑G models to achieve a refined surface while maintaining G‑SHOCK’s toughness.

The watch also uses structural color technology, a method where color is created not by paint but by microscopic surface structures that reflect light differently depending on the angle. This gives the bezel and bracelet a shifting tone that changes subtly as the watch moves.

The new model belongs to the 2100 family, one of Casio’s most recognizable silhouettes. The 2100 shape has become a favorite among fans because of its clean octagonal form and its connection to the original G‑SHOCK design language. It balances simplicity with presence, and seeing that familiar outline translated into MR‑G’s full metal construction gives the anniversary model a sense of continuity, as if the past and present of G‑SHOCK are meeting in the same frame.

A major highlight of this anniversary model is Casio’s collaboration with Hiroto Rakusho, a Kyoto‑born metal‑leaf artist known for expanding traditional foil techniques into contemporary design. The three‑dimensional plate on the dial is finished with platinum foil, producing a subtle shimmer that shifts as light moves across its surface. Rakusho also applies his sunago technique, sprinkling fine metal‑leaf powder to create delicate texture and depth. His craftsmanship brings a human warmth to the MR‑G’s technical precision, blending traditional Japanese artistry with the series’ engineering‑driven identity. Rakusho established his own studio in 2002 and continues to explore new expressive possibilities in foil work.

For readers in Japan, there is something familiar yet refreshing about seeing Casio return to the roots of Japanese craft for a milestone model. The blend of kigumi, structural color, and advanced metalwork feels like a reminder that even in a digital age, the country’s most forward‑looking products often carry the fingerprints of traditional artisans. With only eight hundred units worldwide, it would not be surprising to see collectors move quickly. Once pieces reach the secondary market, the story tends to shift and the price follows its own path. For anyone who appreciates the way MR‑G brings together tradition and innovation, this anniversary model may be one of those releases that rewards early attention.