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Iconic. Simple. Unpretentious. If I say digital watch, chances are you’ll envisage something that looks like this.

Nearly 30 years after its initial release, the Casio F-91W still remains arguably the most popular digital watch in the world; with the company still reportedly pumping out over 3 million units of the F-91 per year. This watch has a true cult following and is particularly popular with those looking for a low-cost, reliable, accurate timepiece for daily usage. In this article, I review this legendary Casio watch (F91W) to see what makes it loved by so many.

Price

The Casio F-91W has often been referred to as the ultimate every-man’s watch…and the price perfectly reflects the audience Casio have targeted with this model. The Casio F91W was one of the world’s first mass produced, low cost digital watches and has been available for comfortably under £20, usually under £10 since release. Essentially, this watch is the definition of affordability. Regardless of your income, you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these digital retro Casio’s and when your watch costs the same as a Big Mac meal, it’s bound to have plenty of people willing to at least give it a try. This also means this cheap Casio watch is easily replaceable if lost or damaged, it may even prove cost effective to just buy a fresh watch once the battery expires.

A side benefit of a super low-cost watch like this, is a reduction in the viability of fake/replica watches. Chinese knock offs of the F-91W are certainly available online for lower prices; however, I personally don’t see the point. Why spend £4 on a fake Casio, which likely won’t perform as well, when you can buy the real thing for only a fraction more. Unlike the fake Rolex market, for instance, where the cost discrepancy between the real and fake models is vast; for watches like the F-91, it makes far less sense. Want to know if your watch is real or fake? Stay tuned and I’ll show you soon.

Casio F-91W Specs

Diameter: 34mm
Depth: 8.5mm
Lug to lug: 38mm
Weight: 20g
Water resistance: 30m
Movement: Casio digital 593
Case material: Resin
Lug width: 18mm
Price: £7-£10
Check out the F91W on Amazon or Casio UK

Design Overview

Despite having somewhat of a retro charm, this watch isn’t the epitome of style. The F-91W certainly prioritises function over form. This retro Casio, along with its resin strap, is unbelievably comfortable to wear. Coming in at only 20g and with a 34mm diameter – you often forget this thing is on your wrist; making it easy to wear for a full day, or even whilst sleeping. If you’re looking for a more stylish alternative to this watch, that performs very similarly, the much classier Casio A158W may be worth looking at instead.

Case

The rectangular case is made of black resin, with three stainless steel pushers, protruding out from small cushion-like bulges. While the case may not be made of more desirable stainless steel, it nonetheless performs well against bumps and scrapes, and for under £10, it’s hard to expect more.

Operation using the pushers is incredibly easy and intuitive and allows you to cycle through the various modes and functions of the watch.

The case-back is stainless steel, kept in place by 4 tiny screws, with some printed details about the watch adorning the centre. I have known several family members to go swimming in their F-91s, however, with a stated 30m of water resistance (effectively only splash-proof), it’s not something I’d personally recommend.

Contained within is a simple Casio quartz movement, which has proven itself over the years to be incredibly reliable and robust. This one produces no noticeable noise and the battery will apparently last over 7 years.

Notably, the size of the case makes this an easy wearer for a variety of wrist sizes. I have skinny 6 ¼ inch wrists and this watch sits perfectly in proportion with my wrist. Personally, I prefer this to the larger sized Casio G-Shock watches, which can be very large and chunky – I find the slimmer Casio designs to be slightly more elegant and versatile; not to mention they fit under sleeves more easily.

Dial

The dial, or ‘display’ in this case, is a super clear LCD; which is easily viewable from a variety of angles, even in direct sunlight.

This is covered by a shatter-resistant acrylic window lens. Notably, this is not scratch resistant and will certainly show scrapes and nicks. Given the price of the watch however, you could call this a non-factor.

The backlight is legendarily poor; albeit does function somewhat as intended. It lightly illuminates from the left side of the display, which does allow you to read the time in pitch-black conditions. For upgraded luminescence, the newer Casio A168 may be a better choice, though it comes in at a higher cost, with noticeably larger dimensions that some may find unfavourable.

Casio have also included a sneaky method, to check if your watch is genuine or counterfeit. Holding down the right button will display the word ‘CASIo’ on the LCD screen, if the watch is indeed genuine.

Strap

On paper, the resin strap doesn’t sound too appealing; after all, on a sub-£10 watch, what can you expect? In practice though, this is the perfect accompaniment to this hardy timepiece. It is soft, comfortable, slim and seamlessly fits the aesthetic of the watch. I’ve found it performs particularly well for use during exercise, as it doesn’t trap any hairs and is seemingly unaffected by sweat; it’s low profile also ensures it never gets in the way and reduces the chance of it getting damaged.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Super low cost
Size
Durability
Comfort
Ease of use
Functionality

Cons:

Weak backlight
Somewhat unstylish aesthetic
Very basic specifications

Should you buy a Casio F91W Watch?

This Casio F-91W review has covered all aspects of the watch, but…should you buy one?

While this watch prioritises function over form, I think the F-91W is an absolute essential to own. Whether as a first watch, or just as a cheap daily beater; there’s many reasons why this watch has legendary status. This is certainly no statement piece, but is it the best Casio Watch to buy? Overall, it’s truly a pleasure to wear for work and everyday tasks. Personally, I prefer the metallic Casio A158W variant, as I find it looks more stylish with my outfits and looks less like a ‘dad watch’. However, the F-91W is cheaper and does have a more comfortable strap; so, will certainly be of preference to many. My father, for instance, who works as a plumber adores the practicality of the Casio F-91W, which has adorned his wrist for over 20 years.

I highly recommend giving this watch a try.