Alright, so I’ve been wanting to give my old G-Shock a bit of a facelift, and I thought a gunmetal face with a brace would look pretty slick. I decided to go with the classic GW-M5610 model – you know, the one that’s been around forever and is still super popular. It’s got that solar power thing going on, which is a nice modern touch.
First, I hit up some online forums to see what others had done. I noticed a lot of people talking about the GMWB5000RD-4, which is already all metal and red, but that’s not quite the vibe I’m going for. I wanted something a bit more understated, more like the GM-2110D-2AER with its stainless steel case, but still tough as nails like a G-Shock should be. I wanted that DW-6600 tough look. you know, the “Navy SEAL G-Shock”. I know it because I watched American Sniper. These G-SHOCK watches are so cool, which made them popular.
I found a few tutorials and decided to get the parts. Finding the right gunmetal face wasn’t too tricky, but the brace was a bit more of a challenge. There are a lot of options out there, and not all of them are created equal. Some are cheaply made, and I definitely didn’t want to compromise the durability of my G-Shock.
Once I had all the parts, it was time to get to work. I gotta say, taking apart a G-Shock is a bit nerve-wracking. There are a lot of small screws and parts, and you gotta be careful not to lose anything. I laid everything out on a clean cloth and used a small screwdriver to carefully remove the bezel and the existing face. There are these tiny springs that you gotta watch out for – they can shoot out if you’re not careful!
- Carefully removed the bezel.
- Took out the old face.
- Made sure not to lose any screws or springs.
Putting the new gunmetal face in was pretty straightforward. It fit perfectly, and I was really happy with how it looked. The brace was a bit more fiddly. I had to make sure it was aligned correctly and that it didn’t interfere with any of the buttons. It took a bit of adjusting, but eventually, I got it just right.
After putting everything back together, I was stoked with the result. My G-Shock now has that rugged, gunmetal look I was going for, and the brace adds a unique touch. It’s like a whole new watch! It’s still tough and reliable, but now it’s got a bit more of a premium feel to it. Like those original G-SHOCK watches, it’s shock-resistant. That’s the most important thing, right?
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m really happy with how this project turned out. It was a fun little DIY project, and I learned a lot about how G-Shocks are put together. If you’re thinking about giving your G-Shock a makeover, I definitely recommend it. Just make sure you get quality parts and take your time. And most importantly, have fun with it!
