Casio F-91W History
Casio F-91W
Casio may not be known for its haute horlogerie, but it is probably the most important manufacturer of digital watches in the world. Casio’s World Timer is known for being part of James Bond’s attire in Octopussy (in the form of a Seiko), then there’s the G-Shock series, and their iconic calculator/multifunction watches of the 1980s. Casio is certainly a prolific watchmaker, but where did their dominance of the digital watch market begin? Answer: the Casio F-91W.
The Casio F-91W, released in Japan in 1989, was an immediate global hit - admired for its accessibility, practicality, and reliability. Like most digital watches, it was multifunctional, but where Casio really succeeded was in identifying the features people couldn't live without. It had: a stopwatch, an alarm, a calendar, a microlight, a lithium battery, minimal water resistance, and of course a regular digital timekeeping function. The watch was also released at a time in which quartz and digital watches had already been popularized, largely by Casio itself, thereby allowing for minimal friction in being adopted by the global market. The F-91W’s importance to Casio’s development should not be understated; the watch became a design icon and its well-known dial configuration and resin strap became the basis for many further Casio watches.
Today, the Casio F-91W continues to have robust sales, easily found in retailers from the Philippines to Alaska. The watch's design hasn't been altered since its initial release, and is still recognized for the same simple, practical functions that earned it such high praise 30 years ago.
Unfortunately, however, in recent times the F-91W has been linked to terrorist groups, who have used the watch to detonate time-bombs. A stereotype further perpetuated by Osama bin Laden who wore it in a widely circulated photograph. Nonetheless, an estimated 3 million pieces continue to be produced annually, showing how resilient the F-91W really is.