Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something through one of our links, we may earn commission.
G-Shock’s latest limited-edition MR-G Frogman looks like it’s carved from Arctic ice – and only 800 collectors will get one. Created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the brand’s luxury MR-G line, the new MRG-BF1000EB “Brinical” transforms one of nature’s rarest underwater phenomena into a $9,500 titanium dive watch that’s loaded with blue sapphires, hand-crafted details, and serious tool-watch credentials.
“Brinicle” occurs when surface water freezes. The salt brine then concentrates and causes the dense salt water to flow toward the ocean floor. Since that salty water has a low freezing point, it turns the sea water on contact with the solid, forming a hollow stalactite of ice that is able to reach the bottom.
To awaken the pillars spinning beneath the sea ice, Cassio turned to komatsu kazuhitoA Japanese cutting and polishing artisan who created the “swirl” facet pattern cobarian Bezel. The intricate shapes and spiral design of polished surfaces on the super-hard alloy reflect light in incredibly intricate patterns. This is an advanced technique that is often used on gemstones and is incredibly labor intensive. Therefore only a few bezels can be completed per day. Once the cutting and polishing is complete, the bezel is arc ion plated to give the metal a blue color.
courtesy image
The “Brinical” 56 × 49.7 × 18.6 mm asymmetric, two front screw on titanium case is set with a 57-facet, round, brilliant-cut lab-grown blue sapphire that enhances the brilliance of the facet-cut bezel.
To aid legibility, G-Shock chose a sandblasted matte black dial with oversized silver hands and indexes, constructed in lightweight carbon to promote legibility underwater. The hour markers are coated with NeoBrite phosphorescent paint, applied in thick layers by hand for low light conditions.
The dive-focused watch is water-resistant to 200 meters and includes the usual suite of MR-G Frogman refinements – including the brand’s hallmark shock-resistant structure, ISO 764-compliant magnetic resistance, a smartphone link, auto hand home position correction, a hand shift feature, dive time measurement, surface interval time display, diving log, a tide graph, dual time, stopwatch, countdown timer, an alarm, LED light and date and Includes day display function.
courtesy image
The analog quartz watch runs on the brand’s Tough Solar technology. A full charge will keep the “Brinicle” running for about five months, (a power saving mode extends the run time to 29 months.) Six band radio control allows the Frogman to sync with an atomic clock. Outside of signal range, the G-Shock still delivers an accuracy rate of ±15 seconds per month.
The MRG-BF1000EB comes on a super flexible, stain-resistant Dura Soft, white rubber strap. As a bonus the “Brinical” also comes with an interchangeable titanium bracelet that can be extended to fit over the wetsuit. Both are equipped with a quick change system, making swapping very easy – simply remove the side pins while pressing the button under the lugs.
The screw-lock case back is constructed in Grade 5 titanium alloy and set with a special blue vapor-deposited sapphire crystal engraved with the model’s signature diving frog character, along with a limited edition number of 800 pieces worldwide, and “MR-G30TH” celebrating the special anniversary. As a bonus, this piece comes in a special box co-developed with Japanese accessories brand Proteca.
MRGBF1000EB-1A NOW AVAILABLE gshock.comat the G-Shock Soho store, and $9,500 at select retailers nationwide.
