Just curious. Interestingly for a mass market consumer item some Casio GShock watches are highly collectible. In musing whether to indulge myself in getting a few and betting they would be worth more later, I’m wondering how the mainly plastic components would stand up over time.
In my experience about 10-15 years out (often sooner) from the date of manufacture a lot of flexible plastic items tend to become brittle and cracked. Will this happen to the material of the G-shocks? What about the electronic modules?
Anecdotal evidence only, I know, but I’ve owned a relatively cheap (~$30 US) Casio G-SHOCK digital watch (model GW-330A) for more than ten years, I wear it everywhere and it’s pretty beat up from the outside but still works perfectly.
I happen to have been wearing the same Casio G-Shock for around 15 years now (don’t remember model number.) I just a few weeks ago put a new band on it after that many years of constant use (worn out, but not cracked and brittle.) Electronics are still fine. I’m nearing the end of the life of my 3rd battery.
Funny you should ask: just this year I replaced my G Shock that I had enjoyed for about nine years. And just as you suggest, the plastic inserts that carry the metal band decayed (UV attacks all plastics) to the point of breaking open. You can still buy replacement parts but after I found a replacement watch for ~$70 I went for the new watch option. They are great watches, to be sure.
Never had a GSchock; too big and globby for me. But I have worn black plastic Casios of one sort or another for 40 years now. Still have a couple of old ones laying around in desk drawers.
The plastic stays flexible for decades. Spots that get flexed hard tear eventually; I’ve retired a couple when the bands failed at the fold by the buckle and I couldn’t get an exact nicely-fitting replacement band.
I’ve not tried putting a fresh battery in an ancient one, but I’d bet they’ll be fine. Your biggest risk might be leaving the battery installed in a watch stored long-term. I’ve not seen watch batteries leak, but it seems possible / probable if given enough time.
