Gerard’s GADA Watch — The G-Shock Square GW-M5610U-1

Go anywhere, do anything… Please rethink that. Honestly, what watch would be suitable to literally go anywhere and do anything a person could go and do? There are very few watches that you can use anywhere, in any situation, and for any purpose. And I even think there’s only one. But the expression, although nicely coined, often isn’t used literally. Many in the watch community use a more general meaning.

So this article isn’t about an ancient Indian mace made of wood or metal, nor is it about an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo. Instead, it’s about the watch I’d wear in situations where my watch is likely to struggle.

Gerard’s “go anywhere, do anything” watch

Let me first get my sub-heading out of the way. Which watch is the only one that can live up to the phrase “go anywhere, do anything”? In my book, that could only be a G-Shock, preferably a solar-powered “Square.”

G-Shock GW-M5610U-1 by Casio

Be it in space or meters below the water, in heat or cold, and in bright sunlight or the dark, a G-Shock Square lives up to its tasks in all situations. Dust or sand won’t hurt it. And — as its name implies — it’s very good at taking shocks. Besides all this, partly due to its low weight, the GW-M5610U-1 is highly comfortable and suitable for virtually anyone.

This G-Shock is great for all these challenging situations, but how about daily life? Here as well, the watch performs. No one will condemn you if you wear it to a birthday party, wedding, funeral, office, or nightclub. It could even be seen as hip or cool.

Specific features

Going anywhere and doing anything might require specific features from your watch. The G-Shock’s Casio 3495 module has got you covered. It shows the time either in a 12- or 24-hour format. The date is available in DD/MM or MM/DD format. It has a world-time list of 48 cities plus GMT. Four alarms and an hourly chime are available as well. It sports a stopwatch and, last but not least, a timer. Oh yes, of course, the backlight automatically illuminates in dark conditions when rotating your wrist toward your face to read the time.

More generic GADA watches

But even if, in my book, a G-Shock is the only actual GADA watch, I also thought of other watches for the more generic meaning of the term. So, although the assignment was to choose only one watch, please forgive me for choosing a few more. I couldn’t think of just one watch — not even the GW-M5610U-1 — for all the places I go and all my activities. Let me explain.

I’d choose a so-called GADA watch when setting out on journeys where I do not always know beforehand what kind of activities I will face, like holidays. A few years ago, almost without exception, I would have chosen my trusty old 1990 Rolex Submariner 14060. It fits nicely under the sleeve of my motorcycle jacket, it’s not afraid of water, it’s very readable, etc. Only when traveling to an area where a Rolex is seen as an exorbitant luxury and could be a reason for assault or worse would I choose something else. In this day and age, that could be Amsterdam, London, or, for instance, South Sudan.

If not a Rolex, then what?

Depending on any foreseen activities during the upcoming trip, my most “natural” choice would be a used-and-abused Omega Speedmaster Professional. That’s a watch I don’t have to think about; it’s just so “me.” It’s probably suitable to go anywhere, but I am aware that a Speedmaster Professional isn’t suitable to do anything. The first thing that comes to mind is scuba diving. Although I use my Speedmaster when swimming — follow this habit at your own risk — it’s unsuitable for diving. And even when wearing a Speedmaster with its scars and dents, I’m always aware of wearing it. That’s definitely not a bad thing, though, since realizing that I’m wearing a Speedmaster always makes me smile.

If not an Omega Speedmaster Professional, then what?

When I don’t want to think about the watch I’m wearing but prefer hands instead of the digital display of a G-Shock Square, I’ll wear a Christopher Ward field watch. It’s a C65 Sandhurst if I’m not mistaken, and with this dial and handset, this one is out of production. It’s slim and light enough to wear comfortably, and it’s water resistant to 150 meters. It also has a sapphire crystal, is incredibly readable, and, luckily, has no date.

The Sandhurst is my only GADA watch on a leather strap; I don’t like a metal bracelet on this type of field watch. A leather strap makes a watch less suitable for getting wet, which I experienced a few times during my review. But, of course, water-ready options like a rubber or nylon strap are available instead of a steel bracelet.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the only literally correct choice for a GADA watch is a G-Shock. And I must compliment my colleague Thor Svaboe on his choice here. But the GADA expression often isn’t used all too literally. Some people use it to designate a one-watch collection, and some use it for the watch they would pick as number one from their collection. What is clear is that a GADA watch should be fit for challenging and somewhat-rough situations. So far, I’ve not seen anyone choose a flimsy, thin dress watch. And that’s why my choices are watches that have earned their spurs, whether in the water, in the air, or on land.