Casio LCD F-91W

I thought today's watch was a normal vintage Casio, but while researching it, I found it is a controversial model.

The F-91W is a basic LCD watch which came out in 1991. Like many at the time, it has a standard 2 line LCD in a black resin case. The main line is a 6 digit time display, and there are small day and date digits on the top line. There are 3 buttons on the watch which change the mode, light the LED bulb light, or switch between 12 and 24 hr display modes. For the other modes, it has an alarm and a stopwatch. Inside is a Casio 593 module which should last for 7 years on its CR2016 module. The module and the design are the same as the A158W I've blogged before, but that one was with a metal case.

The infamy came in April 2011, when the watch appeared in the news. The Guardian newspaper reported that US Military Intelligence had identified that this model was used by al-Qaeda as the timer for bombs, and that possession of this watch was an indicator that an individual had received bomb making training in Afghanistan by al-Qaeda. I don't know why this model was singled out, but it's a worry for the legitimate owners of an F-91W like myself who've never had bomb making training or been to Afghanistan! Here is a link to a BBC article on the watch (BBC link).

Casio W-78 Alarm Chronograph

I'm back to the Casio watches today with one of their LCD models.

Today's watch is the W-78 which is an alarm chronograph model. It is a Japanese version, with ones sold in Europe/USA often being quoted as an important model. From the design, it looks like an earlier model, but it is still available today for around $25.

The watch uses a 593 module, which has appeared on the blog before in the A158 model. Time is shown on the LCD display using 6 digits with small digits for day and date above. As it's an alarm chronograph, it has alarm and chronograph functions (to 1/100 sec), but that's it.

The shape is a little more unusual with the watch appearing as round from the front (with mounds for the buttons), but it looks octagonal from behind. The strap is resin and has a part number of 286F6. The only other information I have is that it is 5 bar water resistant and made in Thailand.

Casio Alarm Chrono A158W

After the flashy watches for Christmas, it's back to an old classic again today.

This watch is one of the retro LCD watches by Casio, and is called the A158W. It is actually a current design, reissued sometime in the 2000s, and aimed to have the charm of the classic 80s models. Looks wise, it's quite hard to tell the age, but the green LED light let's you know it's a newer model.

The A158 models are quite cheap, being in the order of $20, but still good looking and functional. It is a lithium model, and water resistant, with that title being prominently displayed on the face, but without any indication about the rating. There is a clear 2 line LCD display showing the time in 6 digits, with day and date above.

Inside, there is a 593 module, and the watch has alarm and stopwatch modes. It comes with a stainless steel Casio strap with the part number S-515DV.