A Japanese watch brand established in 1995 continues to release collections themed around "Made in Japan," featuring domestically produced movements, materials, production, assembly, and design. At the time of its founding in 1995, watch production within Japan was dwindling due to the influence of factories in China, aiming to reduce costs and supply more items inexpensively. Amidst this backdrop, young enthusiasts from Japanese watch shops and manufacturers conceived the product concept "GSX" with the following objectives:
"Create watches with character"
"Focus on crafting desired watches rather than cost"
"Utilize Japan's delicate design with Japan's delicate technology"
This concept led to the launch of a series starting in the summer of 1997, characterized by "purely domestic production" and "complete original design of GSX," which continues to this day.
The GSX036, designed for S.T.A.R.S. members for missions in the jungle, is an improved version of the watches from the 1960s.
In the 1960s, particularly in humid and wet tropical environments like jungles, watches often suffered from issues of poor sealing and shock resistance, leading to frequent malfunctions. The volume of repair requests became so overwhelming that it was difficult to keep up. To address this, at that time, watch cases were made of plastic to absorb shocks. Integrated cases were designed without a back cover, preventing moisture from penetrating the interior and thereby improving water resistance.
While the original model had a diameter of 35.5mm, the GSX037 was enlarged to 43mm to enhance visibility. Additionally, advancements in current technology allowed the integrated case to be replaced with a screw-down back, making overhauls possible.