The Art of Homage: Why SQND Begins with the Casio F91W

Before we dive into design technicalities or navigate copyright and homage boundaries, let’s take a moment to ask a more essential question.

Which Casio deserves the nod?

For SQND, that answer begins with the Casio F91W, a timepiece that transcends price tags and functionality to become an icon of the everyday. Released in 1989 and still widely worn today, it’s a symbol of cultural accessibility and digital minimalism. It evokes a time when technology felt personal and compact, designed to serve, not overwhelm.

The F91W is the perfect foundation for SQND’s homage debut. Not because it's flashy, but because it's familiar. It’s the kind of design that whispers nostalgia instead of shouting luxury.

Homage Illustration of Casio F91W

Why the F91W Is SQND’s Starting Point

• Design Simplicity: With a 37.5mm resin case and clear digital display, the F91W offers a clean, timeless layout that invites reinterpretation.

• Cultural Weight: From streetwear scenes to cult shows like Stranger Things, it remains relevant across generations.

• Functional Practicality: Stopwatch, alarm, calendar, and extended battery life, all packed into a cost-effective format that’s quickly able to scale in production.

At SQND, we value more than specs, we value story. And the F91W is full of them. It’s worn by artists, students, soldiers, and rebels alike. It's the watch of memory and momentum, the kind that reflects a city’s pulse.

Looking Ahead: The Casio A168W as a Premium Tribute

While the F91W anchors our core offering, the Casio A168W represents another side of the SQND ethos—elevated, collectible, and timeless in a different way.

This stainless steel variant carries a sense of refinement. It offers an electro-luminescent backlight, slightly larger proportions, and a polished aesthetic that leans into vintage streetwear and clean design.

Why the A168W Inspires Our Limited Editions

• Material Upgrade: Stainless steel case and bracelet create presence and durability.

• Visual Appeal: The metallic finish and backlight elevate its nighttime charm.

• Cult Status: Worn by fashion insiders and retro purists who value subtle luxury.

This homage could live under a sub-label—SQND Vault or SQND Reserve—where editions are scarce, intentional, and deeply expressive.

Design Boundaries & Creative Integrity: The Ethics of Homaging

To homage a piece like the F91W or A168W is to enter a dialogue, not just with aesthetics, but with ethics.

At SQND, we don’t seek to mimic, we reinterpret.

Our process prioritizes:

• Inspiration over imitation

• Respect over replication

• Narrative over nostalgia

We understand the legal lines. Casio’s designs are visually trademarked, but homage becomes acceptable when:

• No logos or branding are used.

• Layout and proportions are altered or reimagined.

• Functionality and storytelling evolve beyond the original’s scope.

  
  

By embedding retro-futuristic packaging, thematic names tied to 80s city grit, and new materials or modular features, we make timepieces that nod to the past but speak to today.

What Makes an Homage Feel Right?

A successful homage connects more than dots, it connects emotions. It sparks recognition without imitation. It’s grounded in authenticity and relevance. A well-designed homage carries memory forward while inviting new interpretations.

With the F91W as our hero and the A168W as our limited-edition muse, SQND isn’t just building watches. We’re crafting emotional anchors, built on story, forged through design, and worn with pride.