decrypt.co
Japanese electronics company Casio has launched an exclusive collection of digital art collectibles featuring its iconic G-Shock brand of watches, with a fresh set of incentives tied to the Ethereum NFTs.
The limited-edition set of 2,000 NFT art pieces in a pair of futuristic “Virtual G-Shock” designs went on sale at 10pm ET Thursday. This marks Casio's second foray into the NFT space following September’s debut of free G-Shock Creator Pass NFTs on Ethereum scaling network Polygon.
Owners of the Ethereum NFTs will gain access to exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences with Casio, including a tour of the G-Shock Endurance Test Laboratory in Tokyo that showcases the durability testing the brand is known for. Collectors will also attend a roundtable discussion with designers to learn about the creative process behind the virtual G-Shock models.
Furthermore, owners will receive behind-the-scenes design materials tied to the Virtual G-Shock watches, along with the first right to buy the next wave of Virtual G-Shock NFTs. Additionally, Casio has hinted at future opportunities for NFT holders to collaborate on creating new digital Casio products.
“These special incentives for collectors show our passion for innovation in both the digital and physical realms,” said Oh Takahashi, Casio’s Senior General Manager of Timepieces. “We aim to deepen our engagement with the G-Shock community, bringing them into the heart of our innovation process."
Two Virtual G-Shock designs are available: The VGA-001 with its “balloon concept” and the VGA-002 with a “leaf spring concept.” Both imagine fantastical designs that wouldn’t be possible with traditional physical materials.
There are 1,000 editions of each available for 0.1 ETH, or nearly $230 as of this writing. Owners of the earlier Polygon passes were given advance opportunity to purchase the Ethereum NFTs.