Manga Casioak Watch Review - Casio G-Shock GA-2100MNG-7A

No, I didn't buy another Casioak! My blue Manga edition is my favorite of all of the G-Shock GA2100 watches that I've owned, but I couldn't pay over MSRP twice. Luckily, a friend let me borrow the white version (GA2100MNG-7A) to review.

At this time, neither color has been released in the US, and they are sold out from every authorized dealer that I'm aware of. I couldn't confirm if Casio will be making more of them. To get the blue one, I went against my own recommendation from my original review of the Casioak and paid over MSRP (I also recommend reading that article if you're not familiar with the Casioak line). I preferred the blue, plus it was less expensive than the white. My friend didn't care, however, and paid even more than I did for his!

Although StrapHabit doesn't currently sell straps to fit this watch, you can view our favorite straps for your other watches at the links below. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap.
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If you'd like to learn about some other great watches under $500, you can read the StrapHabit Top 10 list, or view other reviews of watches under $500.

First Impressions of the Manga Casioak GA2100MNG

The cartoon look seen in the press photos really comes through in the resin. It really pops as soon as you open the box. I mentioned that the blue one looks similar to the D1 Milano Sketch, but the white is an even closer match. It looks fresh and modern, yet slightly worn at the same time

Manga Casioak GA2100MNG Details

Small black dots with black shading on every hard edge provide a three-dimensional cartoon look.

The bezel text looks like cartoon speech, looking like the watch is covered in legible labels describing its origin story.

If that's not enough, check out the speech balloon day indicator.

The hour markers also look sketched in, despite being separate pieces of plastic. It's as if someone had drawn them to be three-dimensional instead of actually being raised.

The caseback features engraved katakana characters. I still haven't figured out what it means!

Beyond that, it's traditional Casioak. Polished metal button caps activate the functions, menus, and backlight. The resin strap also features a polished metal buckle (some Casioaks have plastic). The keeper doesn't apply any graphics.

Wearing the Manga Casioak GA2100MNG

Standard Casioaks at 51g wear light on the wrist, making them quite comfortable despite the large. Its thin profile keeps its weight flat on the wrist too.

Some of the Casioak models (especially the Midnight Fog) use hand colors that blend into the dial, looking cool but compromising legibility. While the hour hand can blend in even more against the white dial compared to blue, it's still easy to see. Instead of red, the white Manga Casioak uses a yellow minute hand. this is the only color difference beyond the changes from blue to white.

The day display is also quite easy to read, and the bezel markings are the easiest to read of any G-Shock I've owned.

The LCD screen uses a negative display. It's not as easy to read as a positive display, but it is typically displaying less critical information. I think that it was the right choice in this case as it matches the style of the watch better.

The hands have the same lume as other standard Casioak models. It is decent, but not extremely bright.

As with all Casioaks, this one has LED illumination for its dial as well as a backlit LCD screen.

Conclusion

I'm still happy that I chose the blue version, but the white gives it a more traditional printed cartoon look. It has a greater appeal, which is likely why they are more expensive on the second-hand market.

You can't go wrong with either color. While a bit childish, they are fun to wear and should attract comments from watch collectors and "normies" alike.

Manga Casioak GA2100MNG Specifications:

Name: Casio GA-2100 Series
Reference Number: GA-2100MNG-7A
Price: $Not Available
Width: 45.4mm
Height: 48.5mm
Thickness: 11.8mm
Weight: 51g
Movement: 5611
Battery Life: 3 years
Water Resistance: 200m
Crystal: Mineral
Strap: Resin