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Why anyone fakes a $20 watch
The Casio F-91W costs about twenty bucks, so it seems like a watch nobody would bother counterfeiting. But fakes are everywhere: on marketplaces, in street stalls, and mixed into listings that look completely legitimate. I made a Short about this that passed a million views, so a lot of people are unsure about the watch on their wrist. Here are the three checks I use.
Check 1: The dial printing
Look closely at the front of the watch. A genuine F-91W has razor-sharp printing: the CASIO logo at the top, the WATER RESIST text under the display, and the ALARM CHRONO text at the bottom. On a real one, every letter is crisp, evenly inked, and perfectly aligned.
On fakes, the printing is usually the first giveaway. Letters look slightly blurry or smudged, text sits crooked, or the font weight is wrong. Hold it under good light and compare against photos of a known genuine watch. If anything looks off, that is red flag number one.
Check 2: The case back
Flip the watch over. A genuine F-91W has a stainless steel back plate held in by four small screws, with cleanly engraved text including the CASIO name, module number 593, STAINLESS STEEL BACK, and water resistance markings. The engraving on a real one is sharp and even.
Fakes usually fail here. The etching is shallow and uneven, the text spacing looks wrong, or worse, there is a sticker pretending to be an engraved back. Check the screws too: genuine Casio screws are properly finished, while fakes often have rough, cheap-looking ones.
Check 3: The light and button feel
Press the light button on the top right. The genuine F-91W has the classic dim greenish backlight. It is famously weak and barely readable in the dark. That is a known quirk of the real watch, not a defect.
Many fakes use a bright white LED instead, which ironically makes the fake look “better” in the dark. If your F-91W lights up bright white, be suspicious.
Then feel the buttons. Genuine Casio buttons have a firm, positive click. Fake buttons often feel mushy, loose, or uneven.
What to do if yours is fake
- If you bought it advertised as genuine, contact the seller for a refund. Most marketplaces side with the buyer on counterfeits.
- Buy from authorized retailers, direct from Casio, or from Amazon listings sold and shipped by Amazon rather than third-party sellers.
- Want a guaranteed genuine one? Buy the Casio F-91W on Amazon
FAQ
Are fake Casio F-91W watches common?
Yes, very. The F-91W is one of the most counterfeited watches in the world precisely because it sells in huge volumes and buyers rarely question a $20 purchase.
Can a fake F-91W still work fine?
Often it works, but build quality, water resistance, and battery life are usually worse. The bigger issue is paying genuine prices for a copy.
How much does a real Casio F-91W cost?
Around $20 USD. If you see one for $5 to $8, assume it is fake.
Where can I read the full review?
Check out my full Casio F-91W review for specs, long-term impressions, and whether it is still worth buying in 2026.