Why Casio's iconic watch remains trmendously popular even today!
Collected photo.
Teenagers and young adults of the 1990s know the emotional attachment to this watch. Whether swimming, bathing, praying, or getting caught in the rain, it was always on their wrists. The watch in question is the Casio F91W. It wasn't just teens or young people – people of all ages loved Casio.
There is no denying the allure of expensive watches. With their eye-catching craftsmanship, premium materials, and intricate mechanical features, luxury watches are both visually stunning and unique marvels of horological engineering. For centuries, these timepieces have fascinated and delighted us.
But every now and then, there comes a cheap watch – in this case, truly inexpensive – whose story is so remarkable that it deserves recognition as a "watch icon" in its own right, much like its luxury counterparts.
A perfect example is the Casio F91W-1. Consistently topping Amazon's best‑selling watch lists year after year, this model enjoys massive popularity worldwide. Casio, one of Japan's largest watch manufacturers, released the F91W-1 in 1989. That means in 2026, the watch completes 37 years on the market. According to the watch marketing firm Watches of Espionage, the watch has sold approximately 120 million units – that's around 12 crore.
In the world of digital watches, some models become outdated with time, while others become even more iconic. The Casio F-91W-1 is one such watch. With its plain design, low price, essential features, and durability, it has carved out a special place in the hearts of users worldwide for decades.
But the question is: what is it about this watch that keeps it so popular even after three decades? There are at least seven reasons behind this.
Nostalgia
One of the biggest attractions of the Casio F-91W-1 is its retro appeal. The watch's core design has seen no significant changes for nearly 30 years. For generations familiar with the technology of the '80s and '90s, it represents a piece of the past. That old-school digital display, black plastic body, and simple design still make it instantly recognisable. Even amid the crowd of modern smartwatches, the F-91W feels like a piece of nostalgia worn on the wrist.
Essential features
Despite its low price, the watch is by no means bare‑bones in terms of features. It includes a stopwatch, alarm, calendar, and backlight. Almost all basic functionalities needed for daily use are available. The watch also offers a certain level of water resistance, which generally helps protect it from hand-washing or water splashes. It doesn't have luxurious features like moon phase indicators, but it has most of what you need for everyday tasks.
Amazing durability
Weighing only 21 grams, the F-91W-1 is extremely light. But being light does not mean it is fragile. The watch has a long-standing reputation for withstanding the wear and tear of daily use.
Incredibly low price
Another major strength of the F-91W-1 is its price. Though prices vary across markets, it is generally known as a highly affordable watch. According to the manufacturer, its battery can last up to about seven years under normal use. As a result, when the battery finally dies, some people choose to replace the battery, while others simply buy a brand new watch – it's that cheap. In other words, you can get a watch that sometimes costs close to the price of a regular meal.
A hidden "Easter egg"
The watch has a small fun feature, which in tech terms is called an Easter egg. If you hold down the bottom-right button for a few seconds, the display shows the word "CASIO". This is not only an amusing feature for users, but it has also become a common way to verify whether the watch is genuine. Even this popular and cheap watch has counterfeits in the market, which is further proof of its popularity.
An unusual "second life"
The most uncomfortable chapter in the F-91W-1's history revolves around some negative associations. Because of its low price, easy availability, and timer function, the watch was once mentioned in various security documents and reports as being linked to members of the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda. For this reason, Western media gave it a controversial nickname: the "terrorist watch". However, this association says nothing about the watch's actual users – countless ordinary people around the world. For most users, it remains simply an inexpensive, reliable digital watch.
Every collection needs a "beater" watch
In the watch world, a "beater" generally refers to a watch that is not expensive or particularly special, but one that you can wear every day without worry. In this regard, the F-91W-1 is almost ideal. Because it is so cheap, you don't have to overthink whether it gets bumped or scratched.
It may not be everyone's first choice for weddings or formal events. But for everyday life, work, or situations where you don't want to wear an expensive watch, the F-91W-1 is exceptionally practical.
A small watch with a big reputation
It has no large touchscreen, no internet connectivity, and no multitude of smart features. It has the primary function of telling time, along with a few essential extras. With its long-standing design, low price, light weight, reliability, and retro appeal, the F-91W-1 is more than just a digital watch – it has become a recognised cultural icon in the history of timepieces. While modern smartwatches add new features every day, the Casio F-91W-1 seems to be walking the opposite path. Its message is simple: you don't always need complex technology just to tell the time.
