G-Shock x Joshua Vides: The Street Art Collab That Launched in the US First
Casioak Studio — March 26, 2026
Table of Contents
- Background: Who Is Joshua Vides?
- The Two Watches
- Design: Making a 3D Watch Look 2D
- A US-First Launch
- Part of a Bigger Trend
- Specs and Price
- Sources
Background: Who Is Joshua Vides?
Joshua Vides is a Los Angeles-based visual artist best known for his “Reality to Idea” concept — a technique that applies bold black outlines and two-dimensional cartoon-like rendering to real, three-dimensional objects. His work has appeared on everything from Nike sneakers to Ferrari cars and luxury goods collaborations, earning him a reputation as one of the most recognizable artists working at the intersection of street culture and product design.
For his G-Shock collaboration, Vides applied that same graphic philosophy directly to two of the brand’s most iconic silhouettes, turning functional timepieces into wearable illustrations.
The Two Watches
The collaboration produces two limited-edition models:
- DW-5600JV-7 — Based on the square DW-5600, the silhouette that started G-Shock in 1983. Arrives in white with heavy black marker-style strokes across the bezel and band. The graphic treatment extends across the strap, making the entire watch feel like a sketch pulled off a page.
- DW-6900JV-1 — Based on the round DW-6900, known in the community as the “Three Eyes” for its triple-graph dial. This version uses an inverse colorway — black base with white line work — for a more subtle take on the same concept.
Both arrive in custom co-branded packaging designed by Vides, making them collectible as objects even before being worn.
Design: Making a 3D Watch Look 2D
The core visual trick in both watches is the illusion of flatness. By applying Vides’s signature black outline strokes across curved resin surfaces, the watches appear to defy their own geometry — looking more like a hand-drawn illustration on someone’s wrist than a physical object. The effect is most pronounced on the DW-5600JV-7, where the bold white case and thick black strokes on the bezel closely mimic a marker drawing on paper.
Handwritten text elements are incorporated into the graphic treatment on both models, adding a layered, personal finish consistent with Vides’s broader body of work.
A US-First Launch
In a notable departure from standard G-Shock release strategy — where new models typically debut in Japan — Casio launched the Joshua Vides collaboration in the United States first. The watches debuted exclusively at a pop-up event in Los Angeles on March 13 and 14, 2026, before rolling out nationwide on March 16 via Joshua Vides’s own channels, the G-Shock SoHo Store in New York, and select retailers across the country. Both models retail for $180 each.
Part of a Bigger Trend
The Vides collaboration is the latest data point in a growing movement within watchmaking: applying two-dimensional, illustrative aesthetics to three-dimensional watch objects. Gear Patrol noted that the DW-5600JV-7 and DW-6900JV-1 follow in the footsteps of the D1 Milano Sketch watch and G-Shock’s own Origami Series, all of which use flat graphic treatments to challenge the visual expectations of what a watch should look like on the wrist. If the pattern holds, expect more brands to explore this direction through 2026.
Specs and Price
Despite the art-forward design, both watches are fully functional G-Shocks. The DW-5600 and DW-6900 platforms are among the most proven in the lineup: shock-resistant construction, 200-meter water resistance, 1/100-second stopwatch, countdown timer, and multi-function alarm. Both are priced at $180 and available now in the US at select retailers and gshock.casio.com.