What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Casio’s MRG-D5000 Blue Rose costs £67,000 and is limited to 20 numbered watches. The remarkable part is not only the price: it is the engineering needed to put a scratch-resistant but brittle sapphire case and bezel around a watch expected to meet G-SHOCK’s shock-resistance standard. T3’s Matt Kollat reported on the project after handling a pre-production showpiece, not one of the 20 customer watches.
Why does this G-SHOCK cost £67,000?
The MRG-D5000 is a luxury MR-G built around a difficult materials problem. Sapphire is highly scratch-resistant, but that hardness does not make it impact-proof: sapphire is brittle, and a hard material can still crack under a sharp blow. Casio’s task was to make sapphire work as the outer case and bezel without abandoning the shock resistance associated with G-SHOCK.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
According to T3’s Matt Kollat, the project took eight years. Casio had presented a sapphire concept in 2018, but it did not then meet the company’s shock-resistance requirements. The price reflects an unusually complex construction and slow, selective manufacturing as well as the watch’s scarcity; the available account does not break down the £67,000 into individual cost components.
How did Casio make a sapphire G-SHOCK tough?
Separate components manage impact
T3 describes the MRG-D5000’s Multi-Guard Structure as a system in which the bezel and outer case are divided into interacting components intended to absorb and disperse impacts. The interlocking construction draws inspiration from kigumi, a Japanese timber-frame technique. Rather than treating the sapphire exterior as one rigid shell, the design uses a more intricate structure around it.
#1 Best Overall
![Casio MTG-B3000PRB-1AJR [G-Shock Aurora Oval Concept Design Special Model] Bluetooth Watch Japan Import June 2023 Model](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sXbJlnERL._SL160_.jpg)
- Immerse yourself in stunning structural and luminous beauty — metal meets resin in a very special textural MT-G timepiece inspired by the aurora borealis.
- The stainless steel bezel is treated first with recrystallization and deep-layer hardening processes, then a rainbow ion-plated (IP) coating is applied for an extraordinary top bezel developed with just this design in mind.
- Each timepiece is a one-of-a-kind, thanks to the unique differences in crystalline grains*1 and rainbow IP colors.*2
- 1 The stainless steel is processed into components and then recrystallized, yielding unique differences in crystalline grain that make for subtle differences in pattern, color tone, and luster from part to part.
- 2 The look of the rainbow ion-plating color will vary from watch to watch.
This is an engineering approach, not a claim that sapphire cannot break. Casio’s broader G-SHOCK development story describes the original design challenge as making “a tough watch that doesn’t break even when dropped.” The company explains the concept through soft shock-reducing material paired with a hard frame, with the module supported at a few points and space around it. That corporate description gives context for the brand’s design philosophy; it is not a laboratory guarantee that every G-SHOCK survives every impact.
Growing and shaping the sapphire takes time
Casio told T3 that it developed new machinery and processes for the watch. Sapphire ingots take months to grow, and only sections that meet colour and transparency requirements are selected. The chosen material then has to be shaped carefully to reduce chipping. Those steps help explain why this is not simply a conventional G-SHOCK case made from a more expensive material.
Rank #2
- Construction Shock-resistant; vibration-resistant Performance 200-meter water resistance, low-temperature resistance (-10C / 14F) Radio Frequencies 77.5 kHz (DCF77: Germany); 60 kHz (MSF: UK); 60 kHz (WWVB: USA); 40 kHz (JJY: Fukushima, Japan) /
- Countdown Timer Measuring unit: 1 second (maximum 60 minutes) Alarm 5 independent daily alarms; hourly time signal Other Functions Full auto-calendar; 12/24-hour format; battery level indicator; button operation tone on/off; full auto double LED back
- Power Source Tough Solar power system (high-capacity solar-charging system)
- Radio Wave Reception Automatic reception up to six times a day (except for use in China: up to five times a day); manual reception Digital Compass Measures and displays direction as one of 16 points with the second hand; measuring range: 0 to 359;
- Altimeter Measuring range: -700 m to 10,000 m (-2,300 ft to 32,800 ft.); measuring unit: 1 m (5 ft.); manual memory measurements (up to 30 records, each including altitude, date, time); auto log data (high/low altitudes, cumulative ascent and descent
Details beyond the sapphire
T3 reports a Grade 5 titanium screw caseback with a blue sapphire insert, and lettering including “MR-G” and “Shock Resist” in 24-carat gold. The familiar brick-pattern face receives a blue vapor-deposition finish. A newly developed Dura Soft rubber strap carries a raised brick motif.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →T3 also reports that the MRG-D5000 and its two Blue Rose companion models retain shock resistance, 20-bar water resistance, solar power and radio-controlled timekeeping. Those shared features do not make the watches equivalent in materials, construction or price.
Rank #3
How many MRG-D5000 watches are being made?
Casio is making 20 production examples, numbered 001 to 020. T3’s reporter handled a watch numbered 000, described as a pre-production showpiece. That sample is separate from the 20 numbered customer watches.
T3 reported the MRG-D5000 at £67,000 on 1 October 2026. That is a publication-time reported price, not confirmation of current stock or an active offer. Casio has not announced whether the machinery, sapphire expertise or structural ideas developed for this watch will be used in future models. T3 notes that earlier work dividing a case into components informed the titanium MRG-B5000 in 2022, before the approach was further developed for sapphire; wider transfer remains a possibility, not a promise.
Rank #4
- Metal-clad daring meets sophisticated gleam in this Casio G-Shock that delivers Smartphone Link via Bluetooth(R) and Tough Solar charging system, all in a meticulously finished metal design with iconic octagonal bezel
- This model features a blue metallic vapor deposition dial that is complemented by a black band made of environmentally responsible bio-based resin
How does it compare with the other Blue Rose G-SHOCKs?
T3’s 1 October 2026 report named two less expensive Blue Rose alternatives. Their reported prices and production quantities are shown below; they are not guaranteed current prices or availability.
| Model | T3-reported price and quantity | Reported materials and details | How it wears the square G-SHOCK design |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRG-D5000 | £67,000; 20 examples, numbered 001–020 | Blue sapphire outer case and bezel; Grade 5 titanium screw caseback with blue sapphire insert; 24-carat gold lettering | The most materially transformed and exclusive of the three, while retaining the brick-pattern face and G-SHOCK identity. |
| MRG-B5000SA-2 | £7,600; 500 examples | Two two-carat blue sapphires; COBARION top bezel and Grade 5 titanium components | A titanium MR-G interpretation of the square, with sapphire accents rather than a sapphire outer case and bezel. |
| GMW-B5000SB-1A2 | £680; production quantity not stated by T3 | Four round brilliant-cut blue sapphires in the bezel; black ion-plated stainless-steel case; inverted LCD and black urethane strap | The closest to the familiar square G-SHOCK look among these details, with a conventional steel case and gem-set bezel. |
If the appeal is the Blue Rose styling rather than the MRG-D5000’s sapphire engineering and extreme rarity, the GMW-B5000SB-1A2 is the more accessible named alternative in T3’s comparison. Its reported £680 price is not a guarantee that it is currently available at that price.
Best Value
- Rugged & Sporty Design – Matte black finish with bold digital display, built for tactical, military, and extreme sports enthusiasts.
- High-Brightness LED Backlight – Features Super Illuminator LED with a light guide plate, ensuring exceptional visibility in low-light conditions.
- 200M Water Resistance – Engineered for swimming, snorkeling, and outdoor adventures, this shock-resistant watch is ready for action.
- Extended 7-Year Battery Life – Powered by a CR2025 battery, offering years of reliable performance without frequent replacements.
- Shock-Resistant Structure – Built to withstand extreme conditions, making it ideal for sports, military, and rugged outdoor use.
Where the MRG-D5000 fits in G-SHOCK history
Casio says G-SHOCK launched in 1983, after the original challenge of making a watch that would not break when dropped. The company’s development page reports more than 160 million G-SHOCK watches shipped worldwide as of the page accessed in 2026. That is a cumulative shipment figure, not annual sales.
The MRG-D5000 belongs to a different category from an everyday G-SHOCK: it is a 20-piece engineering and luxury showcase whose central challenge is reconciling sapphire’s scratch resistance with the impact demands of the brand’s design brief. Casio’s one-off 18K gold G-D001 provides a separate example of an exceptional G-SHOCK, but not a like-for-like price comparison: Casio says it sold for $400,050 including buyer’s premium at a 2024 charity auction, with proceeds for The Nature Conservancy.
Sources: T3, Matt Kollat, 1 October 2026; Casio G-SHOCK Development Story; Casio, 9 January 2024, G-D001 auction report.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
