Retro 80’s Business Watch User Manual: Time, Alarm & Stopwatch

October 8, 2026

Hype Shoppe 80’s Retro Digital Business Watch user manual

Three buttons. Classic style. Let’s get you set up.

This user guide for the 80’s Retro Digital Business Watch covers setting the time and date, switching between 12-hour and 24-hour time, using the alarm and hourly chime, and operating the stopwatch.

Check your controls first: This guide adapts a supplied three-button operating sequence. Use it if your watch has two buttons on the left, one on the lower right, and the screens described below. Button sequences and symbols can vary between watch modules. If your watch behaves differently, stop and contact Hype Shoppe with a photo of its face and back. This is a Hype Shoppe customer guide, not a Casio manufacturer manual.

Watch the video demonstration

Follow along with this 40-second demonstration, then use the step-by-step instructions below.

The demonstration uses a Casio F-91W to illustrate the three-button setting sequence. Match the controls to your watch as described in this guide.

Open the video in a separate tab

1. Know your buttons and screens

Hold the watch with the display upright. We use these button letters throughout this guide:

Three-button reference
Position	Letter	Main role
Top left	L	Light in normal timekeeping; select a setting or split/reset in other modes
Bottom left	C	Change mode; exit time/date settings
Bottom right	A	Adjust a value; start/stop the stopwatch

The letters are shorthand for this guide and may not be printed on your watch.

Recognizing the screens

Three-button watch diagram showing L, C and A buttons and timekeeping, alarm, stopwatch and time-setting screens — Display modes and button positions. Tap the diagram to open it at full size.

Timekeeping: the normal clock and date display.
Alarm: look for AL.
Stopwatch: look for ST.
Time/date setting: a value flashes to show what you are changing.

Press C to move through the modes. On the sequence used here: timekeeping → alarm → stopwatch → time/date setting → timekeeping.

2. Switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time

Start on the normal timekeeping screen.
Press A once to change the time format.
Look for 24H when 24-hour (military) time is selected.
Press A again to return to 12-hour time.

In 12-hour mode, PM indicates afternoon or evening. No PM indicator means a morning hour. In 24-hour mode, 13:00 is 1:00 p.m., 18:00 is 6:00 p.m., and 00:00 is midnight.

3. How to set the time

Time setting diagram: press C three times, A to adjust seconds, and L to select hours and minutes — Setting seconds, hours and minutes. Tap the diagram to open it at full size.

Quick sequence: From normal timekeeping, press C → C → C. The seconds should flash. Use L to select a field and A to change it. Press C to finish.

Whatever is flashing is the setting you are changing. If the seconds do not flash, return to the normal clock screen and try again. If the watch exits the settings while you pause, simply re-enter them.

Set the seconds

With the seconds flashing, press A to reset them to 00. In the supplied operating sequence, resetting at 00–29 seconds leaves the minute unchanged; resetting at 30–59 seconds also advances the minute by one. Check the minute afterward.

Set the hour

Press L once after the seconds. The hour flashes.
Press A to advance the hour. Holding A may scroll more quickly.
In 12-hour mode, check the PM indicator so you do not set the clock 12 hours ahead or behind.

Set the minutes

Press L again. The minutes flash.
Press A to advance the minutes; hold to scroll if supported.
To finish now, press C. To set the date too, continue below.

4. Set the month, date and weekday

Calendar setting diagram showing month, date and weekday selection with L and adjustment with A — Setting the month, date and weekday. Tap the diagram to open it at full size.

Starting with the minutes flashing, press L to continue through the date fields.

Month: press L after the minutes. The month flashes. Press A to choose 1–12.
Day of the month: press L again. Press A to set the date, such as 8 for the 8th.
Weekday: press L again. Press A to select the correct weekday.
Save and exit: press C once to return to normal timekeeping.

On this sequence, the clock area changes while the month is selected. The date and weekday are separate settings, so check both.

Month number reference

Number	Month	Number	Month
1	January	7	July
2	February	8	August
3	March	9	September
4	April	10	October
5	May	11	November
6	June	12	December

Weekday abbreviations

SU = Sunday · MO = Monday · TU = Tuesday · WE = Wednesday · TH = Thursday · FR = Friday · SA = Saturday

Calendar tip: Set the month correctly as well as the date. Check the display after February and at month changes; if your watch does not account for February 29, adjust the date on March 1 in a leap year.

5. Set the alarm and hourly chime

From normal timekeeping, press C once. Look for AL.

Turn the alarm and hourly chime on or off

Alarm and hourly chime diagram showing both on, both off, alarm only and hourly chime only — Alarm and hourly chime indicator combinations. Tap the diagram to open it at full size.

On the alarm screen, press A to cycle through the available combinations:

Alarm off / hourly chime off
Alarm on / hourly chime off
Alarm off / hourly chime on
Alarm on / hourly chime on

In the supplied sequence, a sound-wave symbol indicates the alarm and a bell indicates the hourly signal. Both symbols mean both are on; neither means both are off. Symbols can differ by module, so check your display rather than relying on icon position alone.

The alarm sounds at your chosen time. The hourly chime sounds at the top of each hour. They are separate settings.

Choose an alarm time

Alarm setting diagram: press L to select hours or minutes and A to advance the selected value — Setting the alarm hour and minutes. Tap the diagram to open it at full size.

On the AL screen, press L. The alarm hour flashes.
Press A to set the hour.
Press L again. The alarm minutes flash.
Press A to set the minutes.
Press L again to finish.
Check the alarm-on indicator and return to normal timekeeping using C.

In 12-hour mode, check PM when setting an afternoon or evening alarm. After changing the alarm time, confirm that the alarm is enabled.

Test the alarm sound

If supported by your module, hold A on the alarm screen until the test tone sounds, then release it. Recheck the alarm/chime indicators afterward.

6. Use the stopwatch

Stopwatch button sequences for elapsed time, split time, and first and second place finishes — Stopwatch, split times and first/second finishes. Tap the diagram to open it at full size.

Press C until ST appears.

Start: press A.
Stop: press A again.
Resume: press A again if needed.
Reset: while stopped, press L to return to 00:00.00.

Read a split time while timing continues

Press A to start.
Press L to hold a split reading. Your display may show LAP.
The displayed reading freezes while timing continues in the background.
Press L again to release the split display.
Press A to stop, then L to reset.

This lets you read elapsed time at a checkpoint. It does not mean the watch stores a history of individual laps.

Time first and second finishes

Press A to start timing.
When the first runner finishes, press L to hold that time.
When the second runner finishes, press A to stop timing.
Read the first runner’s time still on the display.
Press L to display the second runner’s time.
Press L again to reset.

7. Useful shortcuts

See the month and date quickly

From normal timekeeping, press C → C → C → L → L → L. Think: “bottom left three times, top left three times.” This reaches the month-setting screen. Read the month and date, then press C to exit. Avoid pressing A here unless you want to change the month.

Use an alarm as a reminder

The supplied controls do not include a countdown timer. You can set the alarm for the time you want a reminder instead:

90 minutes after 2:30 p.m.: set the alarm for 4:00 p.m.
45 minutes after 2:30 p.m.: set the alarm for 3:15 p.m.

This will not show a countdown. Turn the alarm off after a one-time reminder if you do not want it to repeat the next day.

Is the stopwatch a countdown timer?

No. It counts upward from zero. Use it to measure elapsed time; use an alarm when you want a sound at a chosen clock time.

8. Cleaning and care

Gently remove loose dust before wiping the face with a clean, soft microfiber cloth.
Avoid abrasive paper products, rough fabrics, household cleaners and solvents.
If needed, use a barely damp cloth on the exterior and dry it immediately. Keep moisture away from the buttons and case openings.
This product is listed as not waterproof. Remove it before showering, swimming or washing dishes. Do not immerse it or rinse it under running water.

9. Quick troubleshooting

The time is 12 hours off

Re-enter the hour setting and check the PM indicator, or switch to 24-hour time to make the hour easier to identify.

The watch beeps every hour

Open the alarm screen and use A to cycle to a combination with the hourly chime off. You can keep the alarm on if you still want a daily alarm.

The alarm does not sound when expected

Check the current time, alarm time, AM/PM selection and alarm-on indicator.

The stopwatch looks frozen

A split reading may be displayed. Press L to release it. Remember that timing can continue behind a held split reading.

The date is right but the weekday is wrong

Set the weekday separately after setting the month and date.

My buttons do something different

Return to normal timekeeping. Your watch may use a different module; do not keep changing settings at random. Email hypeshoppeusa@gmail.com with your order number, clear photos of the front and back, and a description of what happens when you press each button.