Timex Standard Watch Review | GearJunkie

When it involves analog wristwatches, it’s laborious to get much less pretentious than the Timex Weekender. Three arms, no date, and that signature Indiglo goodness — it’s actually all you want, particularly with its ease and luxury of damage.

Even now, years after I fell prey to the horological pastime/psychological sickness/character flaw, these easy, legible timepieces are nonetheless accessible for simply over $30. 

Not to say the Weekenders have been good. Their water resistance (30 m) was barely sufficient for the sink, and the seconds hand tsk-tsked alongside like a fussy insect. So, in what I understand as an effort to improve one in every of its basic strains, Timex got here up with a brand new vary of watches, aptly dubbed “The Standard.” 

At the tip of 2022, the corporate injected a brand new Standard ($89) into the combination.

“This sophisticated update to our Standard 3-Hand brings together classic elements with modern materials that emphasize a military-inspired look — from the unique shape of the hands to a black emboldened and embellished, partial Arabic dial — courtesy of our very own archives,” Timex claimed. “The Standard 3-Hand hints at history once more with its traditional, oversized ‘onion’ crown: a nod to our early 1900s pocket watch.”

I’m all about historical past and delicate, steady upgrades. So when Timex provided a check drive of a brand new mannequin, the reply was a simple affirmative. But dangle on — one thing in regards to the arms and dial appears just a bit acquainted. 

In brief: The Standard is a horny, outwardly refined tackle Timex’s basic Weekender design. The dial is paying homage to luxurious items like Omega’s Planet Ocean and Railmaster, with enticing arms, indices, and an outsized onion-style crown. Its seems to be are barely let down by a quartz motion that emits a somewhat audible tick. But the added water resistance, snug band, and ever-welcome Indiglo assist justify the Standard’s $89 worth level. And for simply $30 extra, the Chronograph model deserves a wholesome look. 

Timex Standard Wristwatch Review

As with the aforementioned Weekender, the Standard’s catalog is huge. Timex presents a number of designs, colours, finishes, and a number of other enticing chronograph variations (or Peanuts, in the event you’re into that type of factor).

Case sizes are set at 40 and 41 mm (other than a single exception), and a lot of the new-release fashions obtain a welcome bump from 30 m of water resistance to 50 m. As you’d count on at this worth level, mineral glass is the crystal of alternative. 

My specific tester carries the product designation “TW2V44000VQ.” For slightly below $90, this nets you a refined and low-lead brass case with a branded “TX” on the crown.

The watch rises 9.5 mm from the wrist, hanging this nearly ten with the assistance of a 20 mm material strap. There’s a “Genuine Leather Lining” on the bottom and a signed buckle in chrome steel. 

Familiar Timex Standard: For Better and Worse

Let’s get to what introduced the Standard to my consideration — these great high-polished arms. While in no way an ideal analog, the hour hand instantly conjured photographs of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean.

Yes, I do know this Timex prices round 1/73 the value, however check out the indices. Tell me you’ll be able to’t see only a trace of resemblance. There’s additionally an excellent dose of Railmaster in there, sufficient to be welcome and acquainted.

Yet, the Standard does sufficient to set itself aside. I’m a sucker for luminous pips on the tip of the seconds hand, and this watch has an excellent one. 

Unfortunately, the familiarity carries over to the motion. While I haven’t been capable of affirm this (by analysis or from Timex), I think the Standard makes use of the identical quartz module discovered within the Weekender. This presents a little bit of a combined bag.

On the one hand, it’s a confirmed, dependable motion that may preserve strong time for a number of years between battery modifications. On the opposite hand, these are identified to supply a decidedly audible ticking — and the second hand by no means fairly lands on its markers. 

I’ll say this in protection of the Standard: The sound on this tester has been considerably much less obnoxious than it was on my outdated Weekender. And although the lurch of the seconds-hand bugs me a little bit, it’s one thing I count on at this worth level.

Not everybody can match the buttery, finances smoothness of Casio’s MRW200H, however the Standard isn’t all that far off. 

Apart from the ticking, the problem that retains the Standard from being a house run is an absence of luminous paint on the indices. I do know it’s not likely wanted, given the presence of Indiglo.

But the arms themselves are lumed, so it will have been good to see an identical software on the dial. 

The Chronograph Ups the Ante

I’m overlaying the easy, no-date Standard right here, however I’d be remiss if I didn’t come again to the chronograph. Timex’s TW2V43700VQ mannequin takes the Omega inspiration and marries it to one of many unsung heroes of its lineup — the MK1 aluminum Chrono.

Look at it — the identical sub-dials and date format whereas using the shiny new arms and casing. 

Of course, this model has the next worth level: $119 vs. the bottom mannequin’s $89. But along with the added issues and options (and primarily based on earlier expertise), I can all however assure that the chronos run a bit quieter. 

Conclusion: Timex Standard Wristwatch Review

Years in the past, I might have been hard-pressed to advocate the Standard on this worth vary. But now that the Citizen Garrison/BM8180 retails for an outlandish $152 (actually?!), the $80-$100 area is once more hotly contested, and the Standard will get a whole lot of issues proper. 

As a lot as I lust after its chronograph cousin, I maintain this watch (and the lineup itself) in wholesome esteem. Timex did rather a lot to rehabilitate its picture amongst watch nerds over the previous few years, whilst costs elevated general.

The Standard carries delicate inspiration from a lux icon, together with an uptick of match and end to match. If you’re on the lookout for a horny, low-frills timepiece with a flexible look and carriage, the Timex Standard lives as much as its title.