G-Shock turns 30

Sydney does pomp well. We love our men in suits guarding doors, we love logo walls, women with clipboards and velvet ropes. Los Angeles does it approximately 30 percent better. After visiting G-Shock’s 30-year anniversary party, it is obvious we are very poor at pomp. New York City does it best. Logo walls are actually streets. Velvet ropes look like immigration queues. And, uh, clipboards are Ipads. Guest performances aren’t from a member of Sneaky Sound System or an early-departing contestant of an Idol series. They bring in ol’ Slim Shady. But, back to the story. This is about the celebration of the G-Shock and 30 years in the biz. It’s about the work of Kikuo Ibe, G-Shock’s original designer, who themed watches not from gaining inspiration by trawling the net or taking a buying trip round the world, but because of genuine innovation and unique design. In a world where trends are followed and mimicked in the turn of a season, it’s rare and refreshing to see a brand stick to its core and succeed. We certainly were thrilled to come along for the ride. See the full gallery here.