Surfers who want tide, moon and sunrise data without moving to a full smartwatch now have a new Japan-only option from Casio: the GBX100SFJ-1, a blacked-out G-LIDE collaboration with Surfrider Foundation Japan.
The model is priced at ¥29,700 (~$186) and is available for pre-order in Japan, with sales scheduled to start later this month, according to Notebookcheck. Casio has not confirmed global availability.
Casio puts the GBX100SFJ-1 on Japan pre-order with an all-black surf build
The GBX100SFJ-1 is based on the GBX100-1, but Casio has pushed the new edition into a darker, collaboration-heavy direction. The watch uses an all-black body, a negative display, and Surfrider Foundation Japan branding across the case back and band hardware.
The positioning is clear. This is not a general-purpose digital watch with a water-resistance badge. It is a G-LIDE surf model built around ocean timing data, outdoor readability and water exposure.
Casio lists the watch at 50.9 × 46 × 14.7mm and 66g, keeping it relatively light for a rugged digital model. The case and bezel use resin / stainless steel, with biomass plastic included, while the soft urethane band also uses biomass resin.
The design avoids bright surf-watch colors. Instead, Casio uses a stealthier black finish and small visual signals tied to the collaboration, including color-filled bezel sections treated with phosphorescent paint for visibility in the dark.
“#oceanfriendly lifestyle”
That tagline appears on the strap keeper, according to the source material. The watch also ships in special packaging made from recycled materials and includes a custom Surfrider Foundation Japan pouch.
For readers tracking Casio’s broader watch output, this release lands far from the dressier territory of Two Textured Dials Make Casio Edifice Look Pricier and the budget-watch angle in £35 Casio MQ-24 Bets Steel Can Beat Cheap-Watch Shame. The GBX100SFJ-1 is a surf-specific tool first, with collaboration branding layered on top.
Tide graphs, moon data and Bluetooth make this more than a black G-LIDE
The key hardware feature is the high-visibility MIP LCD, which Notebookcheck says is designed to be readable in direct sunlight. That matters for a surf watch because glanceability is the product, not a bonus.
Casio gives the GBX100SFJ-1 a 20 ATM water-resistance rating, equivalent to 200 meters in the supplied specifications. It also has the expected shock-resistant structure for a G-Shock-family surf model.
The surf tools are the main reason this release exists:
| Feature area | GBX100SFJ-1 capability | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Surf data | Tide graph, moon data, sunrise and sunset times | Session planning around ocean conditions |
| Location support | Tide information for approximately 3,300 locations worldwide through the app | Easier setup for supported surf spots |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Mobile Link via the CASIO WATCHES app | Automatic time correction and watch settings |
| Water use | 20 ATM / 200 meters | Built for heavy water exposure |
| Training | Accelerometer-based distance, speed, pace and calories | Running and general fitness logs |
Bluetooth pairing through the CASIO WATCHES app lets the watch sync time automatically and configure tide data. The app also supports easier watch settings and a Find My Phone function.
The GBX100SFJ-1 does not include a heart-rate monitor. That is a meaningful omission for buyers comparing it with more sensor-heavy fitness watches, but Casio still includes core training functions.
A built-in accelerometer logs distance, speed, pace and calories burned. The watch can track daily steps, store up to 100 runs, and keep up to 140 laps per run in the training log.
Other training features include auto/manual lap, auto-pause, target arrival alerts and customizable training displays. Daily functions include alerts for incoming calls, emails, SNS messages, calendars and reminders.
Battery life is listed at approximately two years from a standard battery. There is no solar charging onboard.
Biomass plastic gives the Surfrider edition its material hook
Casio’s collaboration with Surfrider Foundation Japan gives the GBX100SFJ-1 its identity beyond the spec sheet. The foundation branding appears on the stainless steel case back, while the ocean-themed message appears on the band loop.
The material story is more restrained than the branding. The case and soft urethane band use biomass plastic, which fits the conservation theme, but the supplied material does not quantify emissions impact, recycled content in the watch itself, or any donation structure tied to sales.
That distinction matters. The watch is sustainability-themed, not proven carbon-neutral or presented as a complete environmental solution in the available source material.
Casio also uses recycled materials for the packaging. Combined with the custom pouch, the product presentation is clearly meant to reinforce the Surfrider connection before the buyer even reaches the watch.
From an analysis standpoint, the strongest part of the release is the alignment between function and theme. A surf watch with tide cycles, moon phase, sunrise/sunset data, water resistance and ocean-conservation branding has a cleaner message than a generic collaboration colorway.
The weaker point is availability. A Japan-focused pre-order limits the immediate audience, especially for international G-Shock buyers who may care about the Surfrider branding or the blacked-out GBX100 design.
The open question is whether Casio takes this G-LIDE beyond Japan
For now, the GBX100SFJ-1 is a Japan pre-order release. Official sales are scheduled to begin later this month, but Casio has not confirmed a wider launch in the supplied information.
That leaves several practical watch points for buyers:
- Availability: Whether Casio lists the model outside Japan.
- Retail timing: When units move from pre-order to regular sales.
- Supply details: Whether quantity limits emerge.
- Regional support: Whether international Casio sites add the model.
- Import practicality: Whether global buyers can access it without waiting for local distribution.
The watch itself is straightforward: 20 ATM water resistance, MIP LCD, Bluetooth syncing, tide and moon data, fitness logging and Surfrider Foundation Japan branding in a 66g black case.
The next signal is not another spec. It is distribution. If Casio keeps the GBX100SFJ-1 Japan-only, the release remains a targeted surf collaboration. If the company lists it more widely, the model becomes a cleaner global pitch: a conservation-branded G-LIDE with real surf utility and fewer smartwatch distractions.
Key Takeaways
- Casio is giving surfers tide, moon and sunrise data without requiring a full smartwatch.
- The Japan-only pre-order and unconfirmed global release may make the model harder for international buyers to get.
- The collaboration highlights more sustainable materials through biomass resin and recycled packaging.
