After reviewing one of Casio's most expensive watches, I now have one of its least expensive. Introduced in 1989, the Casio F91W is widely regarded as the world's best-selling non-smartwatch, with over 3 million sold per year at one point. While I was familiar with it, I had never owned one. I decided to pick one up for a review (and a future project that you'll see more about soon). Not only is it under $500, but it costs less than the sales tax on a $500 watch.
Check out the review of its metal cousin, the A158 here.
Casio F91W First Impressions
I knew that the F91W was 35mm wide, but it still looked smaller than expected when I opened up the box. Still, it feels purposeful and no-nonsense. It's the size it needs to be to do its job.
Casio F91W Details
While a few color variations are available, I chose the basic black "1CR" model. It does have some "pops of color" with red and blue accents on the faceplate.
The resin case features sharp angles. Despite being produced at such a low cost, it does not feel junky. Just lightweight and functional. The bezel says "Water Resist," although the amount of water resistance is not stated. I expect that it would be fine for light water exposure.
Wearing the Casio F91W
The F91W is so thin and light that it almost disappears on the wrist. I felt a little silly wearing it at first, but quickly adjusted. If you wore one of these exclusively, more traditional automatic watches would start to feel comically large.
The buttons are easy to operate. Despite the small size, the positive LCD is also easy to read, even at angles.
Casio F91W Strap and Replacement Straps
A basic black resin strap and a black plastic buckle are included. It's a bit short and feels cheap, but it's comfortable and as good as you could expect for a watch this inexpensive.
StrapHabit TQ18 Q Timex straps also fit on it. Removing the original strap requires pushing it a bit out of the case, since it doesn't use spring bars, but it is possible. They are shown below on the similar A158 model.
Casio F91W Movement (Module)
Module 593 is easy to set and adjust without instructions. The functions are described on the face plate. It features a time, day, and date display, an alarm, and a stopwatch. A dim light is also available, but it doesn't have afterglow like a G-Shock (the light only displays while the button is held).
Casio F91W Conclusion
If you're looking for a reliable and durable watch for under $30, you can't do much better than the F91W. It's small, but it looks good and does the job. You could argue that a G-Shock is more durable, but you could destroy or lose several F91W watches and still spend less than you'd spend on most G-Shocks.
If you're looking for something larger and with more functions, check out the Casio AE1200. If you like the F91W form factor and functions, Farr and Swit offers a great solution with its Mix Tape watches.
Casio F91W Specifications:
Name: Casio F91W
Reference Number: F-91W-1CR
Price: $29.95
Width: 35.2 mm
Height: 38.2mm
Thickness: 8.5mm
Lug Width: 18mm
Weight: 21g
Movement (Module): 593
Battery Life: 7 years
Water Resistance: Yes
Crystal: Resin
Strap: Resin