The Melbourne-born actor had his first big break by featuring in the Australian hit tv show “Home and Away” but his big breakout role came with Thor. Chris Hemsworth has also featured in films outside of Thor, with roles in “Snow White and the Huntsman”, “Rush”, “In the Heart of the Sea”, “Ghostbusters” (2016), “Extraction 1 & 2” and “Men in Black – International”. Hemsworth’s charismatic performance and natural charm have made him a fan favorite on and off the screen.

Chris Hemsworth is not only known for his acting skills but also for his dedication to portraying the given role, sometimes undergoing rigorous physical training. The impressive physique he built for Thor along with his acting skills has solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s leading actors, all the while earning a significant fanbase worldwide.

Off-screen Chris Hemsworth is known for his philanthropic efforts and advocacy for environmental conservation, using his massive following to raise awareness about climate change and wildlife preservation. One of Hemsworth’s hobbies offscreen is his love for luxury timepieces. The actor has quite a taste, with pieces ranging from Audemars Piguet, Rolex to Bvlgari. Below we’ve showcased the pieces that he’s been spotting wearing, whether it’s on set, on the red carpet, or just out with family and friends. Just like his Mjölnir in Thor, Chris Hemsworth knows how to swing beautiful timepieces in real life.

1. Rolex Day-Date Platinum 228236

2. Rolex Submariner 126618LN

3. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked black ceramic.

4. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 26420RO

5. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 26331OR

6. Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 102946

7.  TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer Limited Edition

8. TAG Heuer Carrera Automatic Chronograph CBN2012.FC6483

9. Casio G-Shock GW-9400-3 RANGEMAN

Watchadvice has covered a few variations of this watch, which you can find here. The CasiOak is a versatile timepiece exceptional for outdoor activities and sports. The CasiOak can certainly be used as a daily beater. Still, using a carbon fibre-reinforced resin case, rubber straps, and colourful appearance did limit its use outside of recreational activities and work wear, where luxury watches can’t be worn. 

Casio seems to have addressed this issue firsthand by releasing the latest CasioOak models. This new collection of three timepieces, the full metal GM-B2100 series, is Casio’s answer to stylish yet luxury watches for the G-shock. 

Modders outside of Casio have been serving up models like these for quite some time now. If one can spare the extra change, you can buy a full modded CasiOak with a metal case, bezel, and bracelet. Now, Casio has released this as an official model.

The three variants include a gleaming silver model (GM-B2100D), an all-black IP (GM-B2100BD) and lastly, a full rose gold IP (GM-B2100GD). 

Casio has given the bezel of the watch an attractive circular hairline finish, blending into a smoother mirror appearance on the case itself. The bracelet features a differentiated hairline and mirror finishes. 

To complement the watch’s exterior, each of the three models has a detailed surface finishing on the dial to give it a more metallic appearance. 

Even though these new models offer a new look from the original, they still come with the same rigid and heavy-duty construction CasiOak is known for. Casio has made new protection elements for these steel watches as well. Using buffering components made of fine resin and installing them between the stainless-steel bezel and case offers further protection to the module from shock. 

This new update to the CasiOak line is a welcome and refreshing change to the collection. While it was certainly great to see Casio releasing different original colours over time, these new models will serve the existing customer base and cater to a new crowd that wants a more luxurious finish. 

Now, Casio has released the GA-2100 model with a touch of metal. These new models have been renamed to be part of the GM series as GM-2100, with variations for different coloured models. The GM-2100 models come with all the features of the original GA-2100 series, but now with a metal bezel. Unlike the watch rubber bands on the GA-2100 model, the GM-2100 comes with a resign band with a grid-like texture, in different colours to sometimes match the model’s dial colour. 

The GM-2100 models will measure at 49.3 x 44.4 x 11.8 millimetres and weigh roughly 72 grams. As mentioned earlier, the features will be the same as the GA-2100 model, which includes 200-meter water resistance, shock resistance, world time, stopwatch, countdown timer, 5 daily alarms, hourly time signal, 12/24 hour format, hand shift function, auto-calender, button tone on/off and the double LED light. The battery life of the GM-2100 models is expected to be around 3 years. 

Personally, these new models are certainly a fresh change on the existing GA-2100 series. The initial colours offered for this metal “CasioOak” are certainly appealing as well, with the choice of silver dial black band (GM-2100-1A), grey IP bezel, blue dial and black band (GM-2100N-2A), black IP bezel, green dial, and green band (GM-2100B-3A), and lastly the black IP bezel, red dial and black band (GM-2100B-4A). Our personal favourite among these four models has to be the silver dial, as it just seems like a natural fit with the silver bezel.

Expect these models to be selling fast once they hit Australian shores. A metal-covered “CasioOak” model was only going to be a question of when, not if, and it seems like we will be getting it sooner than we thought. 

Australian Retail Pricing: TBA

Availability: August 2021

Casio states that “These timepieces combine the toughness that has been very much a part of the G-SHOCK since 1983 with designs and hues that bridge the gap between urban and outdoor, everyday and extraordinary, and a wide range of different fashions.”

Compared to some of the other popular colour variations released for the G-shock GA-2100 series, such as the yellow, green, black and camo, the all-grey look is certainly refreshing for the GA-2100 collection. Subtle yet still certainly noticeable, the all grey “CasiOak” is quickly becoming a fan favourite of ours. 

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The dial and strap almost have matching grey hues, while the bezel is a darker tone which helps to break up the grey tones. The hour markers are done in a darker grey tone as well, which makes the readability of the time easier. The white lume on the hands do also help with the readability factor of the dial. The day indicator at the 9 o’clock position could have been done a little better as due to its light grey colour, it somewhat blends with the dial background. 

While it may not be as popular as the black models, all grey certainly provides a subtle yet different take. If you are after a model from the GA-2100 series and want a colour that’s not so “in your face” and provides good readability, then look no further than the GA-2110ET-8A!

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Australian Pricing: $269

For stocklist visit G-Shock Australia

Releasing each Friday, we will be showcasing watches at three common tax return price points. Watches that can be purchased come July 1^st, for under $500, under $2000 and finally under $5000.

So, to kick things off, here are some top contenders for your tax return cash, all available for under $500.

Seiko 5 Sports

Released in 2019, the Seiko 5 sports range is the successor to the wildly popular and successful SKX series. The fresh take on entry level dive watch saw Seiko take the brand in a more fashionable direction. Gone are the days of the hardcore tool watch aesthetic bore by the SKX, the 5 Sports line seeks to balance itself in the worlds of high street fashionistas and serious watch enthusiasts.

The range offers a stunning amount of variation, from relatively plain jane black on black diver, to ‘spot it from across the room’ bright orange dials. 

Upgrades have been made to the movement, with the Seiko calibre 4R36 offering hacking and hand winding capabilities. Something not available with its predecessor.

However, it is worth noting that some features of the previous SKX series are noticeably absent from the new line. The Seiko 5 Sports offers only 100m of water resistance and loses the screw down crown in favour of a standard pull out crown. Hardcore diver this watch is no longer, but its hard to argue against its looks.

The Seiko 5 Sports can be purchased from $499.00 AUD.

Casio G-Shock GA2100

Few watches landed in 2019 quite like the Casio G-Shock GA2100 series. Coined the ‘Casioak’ for its resemblance to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the watch has proved so popular that for months after its release, finding one in the wild was a rare event.

Things have slowed down a little since its initial release and Casio has launched multiple different colourways over the past year.

The watch is credited with being the thinnest G-Shock to date and offers an exceptional wrist presence at only 11.5mm thick. The GA2100 series also saw the debut of Casio’s new Carbon core technology, meaning the watch offers even more toughness than previous G-Shock models, despite its smaller size.

A raft of variations in the line ensures that there is a ‘Casioaok’ for everyone, whether you’re into a stealthy black on black, or bright bumblebee inspired yellow and black.

The GA2100 series are available for $249.00 AUD.

Tissot PR 100

The Tissot PR 100 is undoubtably an elegant watch, designed to seamlessly transition between the boardroom and the beach. At 39mm and just 9mm thick the watch has no trouble sliding under a cuff, yet offers more than enough wrist presence with a sunburst blue dial and full bracelet. 

The PR 100 also features a respectable 100m water resistance, making it a great choice for an everyday timepiece, especially if this is your first dive into the world of watches. The only compromise to be had at this price point is the quartz movement, but what the PR 100 lacks in mechanical complexity, it makes up for in style.

The Tissot PR 100 is available for $450.00 AUD

Bulova 96B290

From Bulova’s classic collection, this Tonneau shaped timepiece showcases an elegant art deco inspired design. Stark white roman numerals arrayed outboard of the black dial, with the added functionality of a 3 o’clock date window. The watches sizes up at 37x44mm and only 8.5mm thick, it is a fantastic choice for a more formal occasion. 

Bulova are a brand with real heritage dating back to 1875 and the brands inception in New York City, that NYC heritage is on full display here with the 96B290.

The Bulova 96B290 is available for $350.00 AUD.

Swatch System 51

In what surprisingly, could be the most innovative and historically important entry to our list. The Swatch System 51 is an entire range of mechanical automatic timepieces, assembled by robots and fixed together with one single central screw. 

Ranging from elegant rose gold coloured metal cased designs, to more recognisably Swatch, plastic quirky goodness, the System 51 hits the spot like so few other watches. 

The collection is a fun reminder of why wearing a watch can be so enjoyable. A movement made of 51 individual parts, assembled one atop the other, then screwed into place without ever meeting the hands of a human, Swatch provide the world with an affordable and diverse range of wristwatches that everyone can enjoy.

For as little as $210 you can enjoy a true piece of watchmaking history.

G-shock still to this day continues to push the boundaries of toughness and original designs with their watches. Ever since the first DW-5000C was released back in 1983, G-Shock has produced a variety of styles for both men and women. What lies at the core of all these models, however, is what the brand is famously known for: toughness and reliability.

We have previously reviewed the GMW B5000GD-1 from G-Shock, which was the all-black ion-plated finish of the original GMW-B5000 model. This piece was another excellent example of a watch not compromising a brands core values while giving an updated and modern look. You can find the full review here .

What we have on our hands today is one of the more popular models released from G-Shock in August 2019; the GA-2100-1A. This model has been so popular that it was almost sold out the moment it hit the stores.

So why the hype?

The massive interest in this watch boils down to one design element: the casing. The octagonal shape that G-Shock has given this model resembles the iconic case of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Although the two watches are worlds apart, the design similarities cannot be ignored. Therefore, watch lovers and enthusiasts around the world have been jumping at the chance to buy one from local stores or online. A watch with the toughness and reliability of a G-shock, along with design cues from an iconic luxury brand? Sign me up please!

Like most G-Shock models, the GA-2100-1A retains the mixture of analog and digital on the dial. Three analog hands help tell the hour, minute and a day indicator, which is positioned at 9 o’clock. The digital dial located between the 4 o’clock and 6 o’clock position is stacked with a variety of functions, which will be touched on later in the article. The G-Shock GA-2100-1A is part of a three-model range, which includes an all-red model (hands, hour markers, watch strap) and a trendy all-black look model (only the hands are grey).

The GA-2100-1A has distinguishing white hour markers and hour and minute hand, which against a black dial stands out well. The contrasting colours is further enhanced with the words “G-Shock” and “Protection” written in white on the octagonal case. On the octagonal case, we also have the inscriptions “light, start, mode and adjust” in clockwise order. Unlike most other G-Shock models with analog dials which tend to have busy dials, this model is kept clean and simple. Due to this simplicity, reading the time is all the easier.

The toughness of the GA-2100-1A comes from what G-Shock calls “Carbon Core Guard Structure”. This carbon core guard structure protects the module of the case by surrounding it in a carbon case. The case is made of fine resin which is a method of plastic casting, where a mould (which in this case is the watch structure) is filled with liquid synthetic resin, which eventually hardens.

However, before the resin hardens, carbon fibres are embedded in the mould. This is how the superior strength, along with crack resistance for the GA-2100-1A, is formed. The watch also comes with outstanding shock resistance against impacts and vibrations. So overall, a very tough gadget indeed!

Being a G-Shock, the GA-2100-1A is packed full of functions to make your life easier. Starting with world time, which includes 31 time zones (48 cities + co-ordinated universal time) the G-shock GA-2100-1A has the following functions:

• Daylight saving on/off
• 1/100 second stopwatch
• Countdown timer
• 5 daily alarms
• Hourly time signal
• Hand shift feature
• Full auto-calendar (maxing out at year 2099!)
• 12/24-hour time format
• Double LED light 

The great thing about the G-shock GA-2100-1A is its flexibility to be worn on many different occasions. It can be worn well matching with sporty or casual outfits. The G-shock GA-2100-1A fits perfectly for people that have an active work-life, being on-site or have outdoor jobs in general where luxury watches are not the right choice. It’s also an excellent weekender watch, where you may constantly be running errands, doing jobs around the house or hitting the gym hard, this watch caters for all those needs. With a 200m water resistance, it can even be worn for a small dip in the pool, for those warm summer days!

The watch measures roughly 48.5mm x 45mm for case size, which sounds enormous, but this is just an illusion. Thanks to the slightly curved lugs, the watch fits comfortably well, even on a small 7inch wrist. The watch strap is also made of resin material, making it very tough and durable. This does not mean that the strap is stiff — quite the opposite as its very flexible. In case you missed it, the watch strap takes design cues from Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, giving it a very classy finish.

As the G-Shock-GA- 2100 comes in three colour variants, this provides even more versatility and caters for everyone’s personal preference. If you’re in the market for tough, reliable timepiece with design cues resembling the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, then look no further than the G-Shock GA-2100 collection.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s only $99 USD/ $250 AUD?

The G-Shock DW-5000C served me well throughout my schooling and university years, and I remember wearing it to almost every occasion possible; sports days, swimming, cross country running to the less physically inducing desk work and social gatherings. These watches are known to have an incredible shock resistance, which gave me the flexibility to wear it to any occasion. I mean the G-shock does after all hold the Guinness world record for the heaviest vehicle to drive over a watch, so me wearing it to sporting events and a little dip in the pool was like a walk in the park for the DW-5000C. The functionality of the watch, such as the stopwatch features and the alarm clock was just as good as the mechanisms inside protecting it too. It’s safe to say the G-Shock DW-5000C was my all-round daily beater. 

Fast forward a decade and I was in search once again for a watch that would suit all purposes of my life. After I tragically lost the DW-5000C, I moved onto trying other watches. Seeing my brother’s watch collection at the time and trying to collect my own, is what eventually lead me into the world of horology. It’s funny though because most of the pieces in my collection at the time were never really able to replicate the uniqueness of the G-Shock DW-5000. To be able to wear a watch to any occasion and put it through its paces without needing to worry of it breaking down is something not a lot of pieces in my collection had a reputation for.

Luckily for me, in 2018 Casio released the GMW-B5000GD-1, a 35 year anniversary revamp of the original DW-5000C released back in the 1980s. I almost instantaneously fell in love with this model thanks to its all-black “murdered” out look and also for the fact that the watch face closely resembled the old DW-5000C I used to own. 

The DLC finish given to this piece certainly gives the watch a smooth black finish with the casing having a shinier finish. While it may seem that it’s hard to actually tell the time in poorly lit areas due to the screen being blacked out as well, this is easily fixed with a quick rotation of the wrist, whereby the screen lights up automatically. 

What I loved about this piece was that the square case design, screen along with the bracelet feels like the original G-Shock DW-5000C I had when I first got into watches. The main exterior feel of this watch is that it carries more weight compared to the original DW-5000C, which makes sense as the GMW-B5000GD-1 is completely made from stainless steel, from the casing to the bracelet. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the presence of this watch is definitely noticeable on the wrist, even if it is trying to achieve the opposite effect by being all black. 

Thanks to the scratch-resistant coating, you won’t need to worry too much about getting nicks and dings from everyday wear. I’ve been able to wear this watch to sporting activities, and its almost always my go to gym watch as I can be rest assured that it’ll hold up through the rough workouts I’ll go through. It’s interesting to note though that for Casio to make sure that the GMW-B5000GD-1 is highly shockproof, there is a fine resin cushioning material inserted between the stainless steel casing and the bezel, with the module closed in a protective shell. The final product is a shock-resistant structure, that is protected by a steel case, providing a level of toughness most watches dream of. The steel bracelet is connected to the casing using a three pronged structure, which helps distribute the pressure when under heavy shocks. To provide strong resistance to abrasion and scratches, the back casing of the GMW-B5000GD-1 has also been coated in DLC. 

The functionality of the G-Shock GMW-B5000GD-1 is almost as good as the protection surrounding the watch. The watch comes packed with features such as five world times, 1/100-second stopwatch, daily alarm and the use of a smartphone app to send reminders of dates to the watch. These reminders will appear on the watch in the form of a title display and special light emission pattern on the watch screen. The stopwatch feature along with the daily alarm really does come in handy. 

Personally, for me, this watch will always have a special place in my collection thanks to its all-round versatility. What started my love for watches with the very first G-Shock DW-5000C has now made a return with the all-new and updated GMW-B5000GD-1. I now have a timepiece that I am proud to wear to any occasions including luxurious events.

Kikuo Ibe wanted a watch that would have water-resistance of 10 bar (100 meters), triple 10 resistance (10-year battery life) and to be able to survive a 10 feet fall. Kikuo Ibe put together a team of 3 individuals to test 200 different prototypes, to be able to meet all three criteria as set out by the engineer. Unfortunately, the team after vigorous testing were not able to meet these requirements. 

The idea for the final design of the G-shock watch came when Kikuo Ibe observed a rubber ball in motion. He discovered that in a rubber ball, its centre is unaffected when the ball is moving and doesn’t suffer any shocks when it’s bouncing. Kikuo Ibe implemented this idea and was finally able to achieve all three criteria in the first G-shock model released in 1983; The G-shock DW5000C. 

There have been many different designs of G-shock watches over the years with nearly all of them sharing the core principles that originated from the very first model; toughness, durability and reliability. In 2018, Casio released a set of GMW-B5000 watches which came with a solid stainless steel face and bracelet or rubber strap to suit. The GMW-B5000 models have the iconic square face design and the shock resistance of the original G-shock (DW-5000C). The release of the GMW-B5000 models was so popular among consumers that they sold out almost immediately. The models were so sought after that Casio had to ramp up production on the GMW-B5000 to meet the demand of the public.  

In 2018, Casio released the GMW-B5000GD-1, a black ion-plated finish version of the original GMW-B5000. The all-black finish of the Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000GD-1 does make it stand out when compared to the rest of the G-Shock line up and gives the watch a more “sophisticated” look. While it may seem that it’s hard to tell the time in poorly lit surroundings due to the screen being blacked out as well, this is fixed with a quick rotation of the wrist, whereby the screen lights up automatically. The square case design, display and the bracelet also reflect the G-shock watches produced by Seiko during the early 1980s. 

The all-black look is also becoming a very fashionable piece and has a great look when seen in person. While it doesn’t Shine like the other full metal G-Shocks from the GMW-B5000 range, the GMW-B5000GD-1 with its all-black finish is by no means dull and does subtly give off a beautiful glossy shine.

To make sure the GMW-B5000GD-1 is highly shockproof, Casio has a fine resin cushioning material inserted between the stainless steel casing and the bezel. Casio has used innovative band connections which have the TROGAMID polymers to lessen the effects of impact on the band pipes. The final product is a shock-resistant structure, that is further protected by a steel case, providing a level of toughness most watches can only dream of. The steel bracelet is connected to the casing using a three-pronged structure, which helps distribute the pressure when under heaving shocks, ensuring it won’t unclip easily. The back casing of the GMW-B5000GD-1 is also coated in diamond-like carbon (DLC), to provide strong resistance to abrasion and scratches.

When worn on the wrist, the G-shock GMW-B5000GD-1 does feel like it carries a bit of weight thank to the highly protective casing and stainless steel bracelet, however, this is a good thing. It lets its presence be known. Thanks to the scratch-resistant coating, you don’t need to worry about getting scratches and nick from everyday wear. The watch can be worn for sporting events and even the gym as you can rest assured that it’ll hold up with the rough workouts you go through. 

The operational functions of the GMW-B5000GD-1 equally match the features that highlight the outside of the timepiece. One of these functions is the G-shock connected app. The G-shock connected smartphone app lets you control various functions from the watch, such as: reminder setting, time and place log, automatic time adjustment, world time for over 300 cities, localised calendar setting and even a phone finder. Other functions include being solar powered by Tough Solar and the other standard features that can be seen on G-shocks; 1/100-second stopwatch, daily alarm, full-auto LED backlight (Super Illuminator with a fade in and out function) while also have a 20 bar (200 meters) water resistance. 

The Casio G-shock GMW-B5000GD-1 comes packed with a lot of features that can be helpful to the everyday wearer. Combine this with a superior protective shell, shock resistance and elongated battery life, you can be rest assured this timepiece will keep up with whatever you put it through.