At first glance, the pairing of a GPS-enabled, solar-powered watch, with a direct lineage to an 800-year-old family tradition in one of Japan’s most culturally important crafts might seem odd, but that’s precisely what we’re looking at with this high-end Casio MRG-G2000GA ‘Gassan’. Before we get to the sword side of things, let’s have a look at the timekeeping side of the equation. The case of this imposing watch is made from titanium, but not just any titanium. We’re talking about recrystallised titanium, which gives the metal a unique surface finish, reminiscent of the tempering of a Japanese blade. Moreover, it’s been treated with an arc ion plating (AIP) process to give it a vivid grape colour which is funky, fresh and unusual. The unorthodox materials don’t end on the case — the bezel is made from Cobarion, a cobalt chrome alloy that’s twice as hard as steel and possesses a platinum-like lustre. I didn’t test the first statement, but the metal has certainly been given the platinum treatment with a sophisticated mix of radial brushing and clean mirror polishing. The dial is a little more de rigueur for a high-end Casio offering, with plenty of digital bells and whistles,…
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