We have teamed up with California-based beach utility brand Western Hydrodynamic Research (WHR) to release a limited-edition surf watch.
Join us as we sit down with the Founder of WHR - Pat Towersey, to dive into the story behind our exciting new collaboration, exploring the origins and inspiration that brought this unique partnership to life.
Tell us your G-SHOCK story – when did you discover your first G?
“I’ve been wearing G-SHOCK since I was 12 years old. There was a lot of pride as a kid wearing my G-SHOCK watch down at the beach and travelling around, so it was super cool to flex my G-SHOCK. At that time too in the surf community and beyond, G-SHOCK was at the premiere and is still the watch to have. Number 1, the technology was superior and number 2, how long it lasted compared to other watches the surfers used. They lasted maybe a year tops but a G SHOCK watch would last you forever, so it was cool to have that and I was always super proud of my G-SHOCK. It was the watch with the big G on it, and when you pressed the G it’d have a surfer go across the screen. It was so crazy and I just loved that watch.”
How did this collaboration come about? What does it represent?
“There is a list of brands that I would dream to collaborate with and G-SHOCK was on that list. So our brand pairing with G-SHOCK is a big deal for us, really special. For the last five years, I’ve been wearing the GLX-5600 surf watch and have literally worn it for 5 years straight. My tan line is imprinted with the watch band. I love that watch, in particular the tide feature on it is super special, because our lives revolve around the tide and time, and we always look at how the tide is going to be tomorrow. I make sure to clear my schedule and have my surf time between those hours.
When we work on products, we love to incorporate sustainability into them, whether that means using top grade materials or bio-based ones. What we use for the G-SHOCK watch has minimal environmental impact, which is incredible to be able to infuse into the watch’s design. It really makes a big difference for us, so it’s really cool. This watch in particular is the manifestation of our belief system around sustainability and the ‘take only pictures, leave only footprints’ project. We try to do the least amount of harm when we are working on something. G-SHOCK was at the top of the list because, as surfers and as a brand, we believe in beach utility and essential things we need as surfers and beach- goers. This surf watch is a particular one of those pieces because time and tide are key.”
What interests you the most about the UK surf scene? Any particular traditions you love?
“I’ve spent some time in the UK. My dad's from the UK and for surf trips I’ve had here, I really love the Fringe Surf communities. We grew up in the heart of the surf industry which can be really saturated, and there’s also a level of taking it for granted. When you come to places like the UK and visit surf communities out in Cornwall and some of these other places, everything revolves around The Wave and it’s so cool. What I so appreciate is that the UK surf scene is such a tight community of people. It’s been an incredible experience to work with you guys and I can’t say thank you enough for believing in us and putting this together, it's been incredible.”
You’ve heard of The Wave before – How do you feel inland surfing is helping preserve the oceans?
“We had this on the list of places we wanted to go for a while, so just being able to come out here and experience The Wave and the incredible job they’ve done has been great. Carving out this place from a beautiful piece of nature and respecting that by going all solar and just having beautiful design makes a huge difference. The experience lives up to that and it’s been incredible.”
Your brand, Sustainability, Surfing – these are all highlighted in this timepiece – tell us what this watch means to you
“The WHR purpose is to create community, inspire change and that’s our main thing - to bring people together for experiences and create a community around our brand. For me, surfing is like a meditating art and a creative outlet, so as an extension of that I really want to create products that echo the same sentiments I wanted to bring into the world, and that’s kind of how the journey started. Western Hydrodynamic Research are surfers, beach goers and nature people. We are the first responders in understanding what’s happening in the environment; so I thought that was pretty perfect.”
What makes a good surf watch?
Thanks to their robust water resistance, G-SHOCK watches make fantastic companions for holidays or exploring near the ocean. From our latest surf watches in the G- Lide series to our surf-ready GBX range - we remain a favourite choice among the world's top surfers, boasting features like :
- 200-metre water resistance
- Shock resistance
- Double LED light
- Tide Graph
- Moon Data
- Bio-based resin
Introducing the GLX-5600WHR24-2ER- The ultimate sustainable surf watch
This collab surf watch, GLX-5600WHR-2ER features a deep blue design with a 20-bar water resistance, plus critical tools for surf and marine sports like tide and moon graphs. Expressing the passion shared by all ocean lovers, the design embodies harmony with nature. The bezel and band are made with bio-based resins, produced using renewable and organic plant resources, helping to reduce the ecological footprint of the timepiece. The watch also features a Super Illuminator (high-brightness LED backlight) for readability in the dark, a custom watch strap, a decal with the WHR motif on the watch face, and an engraved back plate with the WHR logo.
Are G-SHOCK surf watches waterproof?
All G-SHOCK watches can withstand water resistance up to 20 bars – 200 metres – 20atm – as standard, which means they are suitable for swimming, non-professional diving, showering and swimming in the sea without having to worry at all.
The G-SHOCK x WHR surf watch combines sleek design with eco-friendly materials, reflecting our shared commitment to sustainability. Don’t miss out on this UK exclusive limited-edition drop, with a strictly exclusive capsule collection available in-store or online whilst stocks last.
Get yours now.
