Casio F-91W Review: The Watch Anyone Can Afford

Released in 1991, Casio has made the most iconic digital watch of all time. With 3-4 million units sold per year, it's safe to say that this is a very popular watch. You can get this at retail stores and online ranging from $10-$15.

SPECS

Case: 34mm

Material: Resin with some stainless steel parts

Crystal: Accrylic

Thickness: 8.5mm

Lug to Lug: 38mm

Weight: 20g

Water Resistance: 30m

Movement: Casio Module 593

Accuracy: -5/+5 a month

Battery Life: 7-10 Years

Lugs: 18mm

FEATURES

Digital Display

Day Date complication

Alarm

Stopwatch

LED backlight

12 HR or 24 HR Mode

DESIGN

It might not be the best looking or the most stylish, but it gets the job done. It's a product of the 90s but the design is popular among younger people and those nostalgic of simpler times.

FUNCTIONALITY

For a watch that costs as much as lunch, it's packed with features! Not only does it tell time that can be displayed in either 12 HR or 24 HR mode, it also has a day date function, an alarm with audible beeping, a chime for every hour passed and a stopwatch. This is a very good contender for a one watch that can do it all. Accuracy is -5/+5 seconds a month, which is really good for a budget watch.

WEARABILITY

On my 6.25 inch wrist, it looks good! It is tiny and lightweight. So, if you have a larger wrist, it's going to look comically small. It's very comfortable and it feels like I'm wearing nothing. The clasp is made of resin. Durability could be an issue, but the watch is so cheap that you can just buy a new one in case it breaks.

VERSATILITY

With the lugs being 18mm, you could use aftermarket straps but I think it's pointless. While the versatility is lacking in strap options and style, it makes up with what you can use this watch for. I have used this for the gym, hiking, sports, swimming and the beach. If you're looking for a cheap beater that can withstand anything you can throw at it, this is it.

LEGIBILITY

The digital display is clear and legible. It is protected by acrylic. While it is shatter resistant, it is prone to scratching. It can be buffed out with Polywatch. It does come with an LED backlight for low light reading, but it's not that good. There is only one green light on the left side of the display. As a result, there isn't a clear reading of the watch in low light.

DURABILITY

My F-91W is about to be 5 years old and it's still running perfectly. While I do have some scratches on the watch, it doesn't mean much. It's been banged around and nothing is broken. If it does break, a new one can be bought without leaving a dent in my wallet. Casio is known for making tough watches so this is a very low maintenance and low stress watch.

CONCLUSION

If you are looking for a first watch, budget watch and or a beater, I highly recommend the Casio F-91W. It's cheap, reliable and durable. It's been worn by ordinary people, celebrities, world leaders, criminals, terrorists, etc. I would not recommend this to people who are not fans of digital watches or tiny watches. There are better versions of this watch such as the Casio Illuminator and the A168WA1. However, this is such an iconic watch that it's really tough to say no to this.