It’s 2003. You’ve just dropped your skateboard, patched up your scraped palm with a couple of Band-Aids from the bathroom, and grabbed your PlayStation 2 controller. Time to fire up Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. You're about to button-mash your way from grind to nose manual, tossing in a few treflips as you skate the level from end to end. After crushing a Capri Sun, you throw on that new skateboard movie Grind.
Man, life was simpler.
If this watch existed back then, I would’ve rocked it without question. Casio’s G-SHOCK collabs have always been more than just watches, they’re cultural time capsules. And few embody that better than the Casio x Wasted Youth DW-5900WY-2. With its full-lume, punk-inspired design, it feels like it rolled right out of the back of a skate tour van (Or the Super Duper Skate Teams Van!) in the early 2000s.
Launched in December 2022, this limited-edition release marked Casio’s first partnership with Wasted Youth, the rebellious Japanese streetwear and skate collective founded by graphic artist Verdy. The result is a wearable tribute to DIY culture, misfit energy, and late-night gas station stops that seem pulled from my childhood. With a glowing cream dial, a subtle “W.Y.” backlight, and packaging resembling a vintage beer can you might find on Sweet Lou’s nightstand, this isn’t just a G-SHOCK; it’s a statement about lifestyle.
Case on the Casio X Wasted Youth
The DW-5900WY-2 is based on the dependable DW-5900 platform. This classic G-SHOCK shape first came out in the '90s, during the rise of skateboarding in popular culture. It measures 51.4mm x 46.8mm x 15.5mm. It’s unapologetically chunky, much like the oversized pants and skate shoes worn by Eric Rivers and his friends. I wore Etnies. (Did you know they’re back?)
Despite its size, the resin construction makes it light and comfortable on the wrist. It’s perfect for long sessions at the skate park or racing down hills to catch the attention of your dream sponsor. The case and strap come in a deep navy blue, which contrasts well with the vibrant dial. This gives the watch a grounded, wearable look.
Wasted Youth’s signature polygon “bowtie” logo appears subtly throughout the design. It’s embossed on the strap keeper, ghosted into the dial, and printed across the background. It’s like a perfectly placed sticker on a worn deck: it’s cool if you notice it, and even cooler if you keep it to yourself.
Dial on the Casio X Wasted Youth
This dial deserves its own sponsor tape. Set against a cream-colored backdrop, the entire face is coated in full lume. When the lights go out, it glows like the deck lights at the end of a late-night skate session. The polygon logo pattern repeats across the dial, adding texture and visual rhythm, like grip tape underfoot.
The digital layout follows the DW-5900’s iconic three-eye design, featuring a split-screen time display. It’s functional and fun to look at. Then there’s the backlight. Press the EL button, and “W.Y.” appears on the screen. It’s a hidden nod and a cheeky Easter egg for fans of the brand. This detail feels like a secret handshake between Verdy’s world and Casio’s.
There’s a touch of chaotic charm here, too, similar to Grind's mix of underdog hustle and random road trip mishaps. This watch doesn’t care about being sleek or minimal. It wants to be seen. It wants to have a story. And it definitely wants to be on your wrist when you’re doing something you’ll laugh about later.
Movement & Features
Behind the rebellious design is the classic G-SHOCK digital toolkit. The DW-5900WY-2 runs on a quartz movement and includes all the expected features: shock resistance, 200-meter water resistance, a 1/100-second stopwatch, countdown timer, multi-function alarm, and a full auto calendar preset to the year 2099. That's plenty of time to start your own skate crew.
The backlight has an afterglow feature that works well with the glow-in-the-dark dial. You can switch between 12-hour and 24-hour formats, and you can turn off the button tone if you want to be stealthy. Power comes from a long-lasting CR2025 battery that lasts around five years. That's enough juice to get you through multiple summers of chasing your dream. It may not come with a tour van, but it has everything else you’d need to pull a grind in style.
Beer Can Packaging and Wasted Youth
You can’t talk about the DW-5900WY-2 without mentioning the packaging. It comes in a custom beer can-style container, which nods to late-night road trips and Verdy’s earlier collaboration with Budweiser. It fits perfectly with Wasted Youth's vibe: fun, raw, and carefree. You can almost imagine it rolling around in the back of Matt Jensen’s car, alongside a box of stickers and a half-eaten bag of sunflower seeds.
Wasted Youth, founded by Verdy in 2016, isn’t just a brand. It’s a skate team, a design studio, and a mindset. The name is ironic; it celebrates the idea that no part of the journey is wasted. That reflects a skater’s philosophy completely. The collaboration with Casio feels natural. Both brands focus on accessibility, culture, and practicality. The DW-5900WY-2 embodies that underdog spirit—the same spirit that drove the Grind crew as they pursued their skate dreams, one broken demo at a time.
Final Thoughts
The Casio x Wasted Youth DW-5900WY-2 is more than just a collaboration. It’s a time machine that takes you back to when skating wasn’t polished, fashion wasn’t planned, and your crew mattered more than your following. It’s full of surprises: the glowing dial, the W.Y. backlight, the custom packaging, and the Verdy design style. Yet, it remains a sturdy G-SHOCK underneath.
It won’t appeal to everyone. Some might find the dial too bright or the backlight harder to read than a traditional G. But for those who remember late-night skate sessions, gas station snacks, and dreaming big from the backseat of a minivan, this watch will feel just right. It’s a bit Grind, a bit gallery, and 100% G-SHOCK.
Being that this was a limited release in 2022, it's sold out on the Casio website. However, you can still pick it up around retail price of $130 on secondary sites. For more information, visit the Casio website.
Specifications
Brand: Casio
Model: DW-5900WY-2
Release Date: December 2022
MSRP: $130
Case Size: 51.4 × 46.8 × 15.5 mm
Weight: 60g
Case Material: Resin
Strap: Resin strap with custom Wasted Youth branding
Color: Navy blue case and strap
Dial: cream-colored full-lume dial
Display: Digital (DW-5900 triple-eye layout)
Backlight: backlight with afterglow; reveals “W.Y.” when activated
Water Resistance: 200 meters (20 bar)
Shock Resistance: Duh G-SHOCK standard
Functions: 1/100-second stopwatch, Countdown timer, Multi-function alarm, Full auto calendar (pre-programmed to 2099), 12/24-hour format, Button operation tone on/off
Battery: CR2025 lithium battery
Battery Life: Approximately 5 years (how much you use the backlight dependent)