Inspired by the classic '80s Casiotone SK-5 sampler.
You mightn’t be able to play guitar like John Mayer – let’s face it, few of us can – but here’s a pretty cool alternative to channeling your inner Mayer this Christmas.
Teaming up with Casio and New York watch website Hodinkee, John Mayer has debuted the brand new Ref. 6900, a Casio G-Shock wristwatch that draws inspiration from a classic sampling keyboard produced by the company in the 1980s.
With its unique grey colour palate and yellow push-buttons, the Casiotone SK-5 was the first musical experience for many a child growing up in the 1980s – including Mayer – acting as a gateway into the world of sequencing, sampling, synthesis and beyond.
Now, the keyboard has been immortalised in the form of a limited edition timepiece designed by Mayer, a fervent watch collector himself, which he dubs “the perfect bridge between my double life as a musician and watch-enthusiast.”
“Whenever someone asks me to collaborate on a design, I like to find my footing in a place of authenticity,” Mayer said of the collaboration.
“I think the “why” is as important as the “what,” and when I thought back on my relationship to Casio products, their keyboards came to mind as much as the watches did. Then I remembered how important the Casiotone SK-5 was in my life, and it got exciting really fast.”
The Ref. 6900 watch itself features a Japanese-made quartz movement with a 24-hour clock, stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm and EL backlight.
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Read more about the collaboration and order one for yourself via Hodinkee’s website.
