Timex Blue Q-Dial – $76.00 w/ HOLIDAY6 ($95) Intelligent Quartz World Time – $165.00
Timex is getting a ton of play lately, but there’s just not that many other affordable watchmakers releasing nearly as many new, attention worthy time pieces. Sure they’re all quartz, but they’re all dirt cheap compared to the rest of the watch world. Not matter if the ongoing collaboration with J. Crew was the catalyst for this switch to better looking watches, Timex is getting it done.
.
These two couldn’t be more different.
The Timex Blue “Q-Dial“ is a smallish 38-40mm in size. It could almost stand to be beefed up another millimeter or two. The matte stainless case goes extremely well with the blue dial, and it certainly gives off a retro feel without looking the least bit inauthentic. Under $100, but still up there for a Timex of this size at $76 with the code.
The Timex Intelligent World Time is a beast… for a Timex. Unlike the Q-Dial, this one doesn’t look better in person, but instead, a little worse. It’s not a bad looking watch by any means, but it’s noticeably thick through the backside and at 43 mm it commands some attention. The numbers don’t stand out like they do in the pics on the web, and the 19th century style hands and numerals don’t completely work with the 21st century looking case and background. It’s an odd blend. PT-Cruiser-like is wayyyyy too harsh. But, it’s along those lines.
The Winner: Timex Weekender Nubuck Strap – $33.05
A curve ball I’m sure many of you saw coming. Not quite as great looking as the Q-dial and much more casual, but at one half to one third of the price? Still on the smallish side, so if you’re a big dude with big wrists look elsewhere, but it’s that good. Good enough to justify multiple mentions. Available through Amazon
The weekender is definitely the winner in my opinion as well. Awesome looking watch that has garnered many compliments in the 2 weeks I’ve owned it.
The strap, however, is sub par. It’s very thick and feels cheap. I swapped it out immediately with a leather one in the same color with the same stitching.
I love the weekender, but I’m not really feeling either of the others. The blue on the Q-dial is just too bright for me.
I bought two of the weekender watches back in August on promotion, and I had the same reaction as you. The band looks/feels cheap. Also, the watch itself is very thin/feather light, and maybe that is the point but I found myself not wearing it because it just doesn’t feel good on the wrist. It reminded me of the cheap watches I wore in middle school, which I wasn’t shooting for, not that I’m a watch snob by any means. Maybe the leather band is the trick?
I am not seeing the Weekender at that price from Amazon. Has it been removed?
I got the Blue Q this spring. I ended up flipping it. It looks ok but feels a bit cheap and ticks super loud – something I don’t mind in a $30 Weekender, but does bother me in a watch that retails near the triple digits. The leather band also struck me as rather cheap and plasticky. A shame – it’s a nice design concept, just not very well executed. Even on sale, it’s simply an overpriced watch.
P.S. I guess since this is a watch-related post I’ll toss this in here again. $99 for a tritium watch in a tactical/diver style:
http://deepbluewatches.com/daynightt25.html
I’ve had mine for a couple days and it’s an awesome watch. The style isn’t for everyone but I it’s great for casual wear. The tritium is really convenient, as well. At 43mm, it’s on the large side for my small wrists, but seems to hit the sweet spot between satisfyingly hefty and obnoxiously oversized.
I like mine so much I ordered a second one for my best friend’s Christmas present.
It comes and goes as a sold direct by Amazon item. Looks like they’re sold out for now…
Care to share the band you put on it? Link? Haven’t had the issues with the band that you express, but would be interested in seeing some good alternatives. Thanks!
It is a watch that costs $33… while cost doesn’t always dictate quality, you had to have at least had an idea of what you’d be receiving.
I also purchased the watch and think it’s fine looks/feel-wise for what I paid — it’ll definitely be my go-to casual watch for a bit. The only thing I did notice was that it has what I think is an abnormally loud ‘tick’ to it. I could hear it a couple feet away when my apartment was quiet.
It is a watch that costs $33… while cost doesn’t always dictate quality, you had to have at least had an idea of what you’d be receiving.
I also purchased the watch and think it’s fine looks/feel-wise for what I paid — it’ll definitely be my go-to casual watch for a bit. The only thing I did notice was that it has what I think is an abnormally loud ‘tick’ to it. I could hear it a couple feet away when my apartment was quiet.
The leather straps always look junky on Timexes. Canvas (or stretchy metal) is the only way to go.
Great! Another watch to feed my watch addiction! Ahh, I can’t stop!!!
Deep Blue makes some pretty good watches with solid movements (Miyota quats or ETA auto) at a nice price. Definitely worth checking out vs. an Orient. Deep Blue are function first dive watches so they may look chunky but it’s not all for show – these things are meant to survive 500m, 1000m dives.
Which is funny, when you consider that the deepest a human being has ever dived is about 600m – and that was using an atmospheric dive suit. The deepest true SCUBA dive was only half that depth. I like Deep Blue, but their 3000m “Depthmaster” gives me the lols.
That Daynight25 looks like a pretty sweet deal. Considering getting one myself. Do you like the rubber/silicone band that came with it? I was thinking maybe swapping in a black NATO strap.
I actually like the rubber strap a lot more than I thought it would. It’s just a hair too big on my tiny wrists so I’ve been wearing it slightly loose, but other than that, it’s great. Very comfortable and flexible, and it cleans easily with just a rinse of water. I bought a tan leather NATO strap to use whenever I get tired of this rubber one.
The nubuck on the weekender Joe linked is very nice overall. Doesn’t feel like a 30 dollar watch at all.
I LOVE all my weekenders, the only thing that drives me nuts it how loud they tick! It is very annoying when I am driving or using the computer and I can hear the ticking, arms length away from me.
Oh I knew full well the band was going to be disappointing for the price. But since the price is so low, I didn’t mind splurging on a new band to bring it up to snuff.
The band was purchased locally; Central Watch in Grand Central for any of you who work or live in NYC. They have a website but the band I bought isn’t listed on there. Maybe send them a picture and have them match it?
I am by no means a watch snob, If it looks good I don’t care if you paid $5 or $500. I don’t care if it runs on winding, automatic, quartz or krypton, but for some reason when it a watch blatantly and boldly reads [b]”QUARTZ”[/b] across the face of it, it usually gets an automatic no from me. With that said every watch I have ever owned or probably will ever own is/will be a quartz but something about boldly printing it in large lettering reminds me of the super cheap black and white Walmart wall clock that every badly decorated office has. With that relation in mind “QUARTZ” loudly printed on it just screams “cheap” even it was a very nice and expensive watch.
Agreed. I like the strap quite a bit on the nubuck weekender.
I get where you’re coming from, but in this case I think it makes sense. This Q Dial watch is an homage to Timex’s earliest quartz watches, back when the technology was still rather novel (and hadn’t acquired the ‘cheap’ reputation that it has today as the result of its staggering success).
See: http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/53/48/42474853/photos/Timex-Electricals/Q2.jpg
and
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/ac350/mfrmn/Timex%20Quartz/IMG_3623.jpg
I wear my blue Q-Dial with a leather nato. Looks great and it helps to actually prolong the condition of my Seiko 5 since I can scuff this one up and save the seiko for when I feel like it or when the event presents itself.
I just bought a very, very nice $98 leather Kenneth Cole New York watch at Ross for $40. I dont see why anyone would spend $35 on a $35 watch when you could spend $40 and get a $98 watch that blows the timex out of the water in every category. Goes well with my philosophy of never, ever paying retail. With retail, you get exactly what you pay for. With off-price, you can either get the same for much cheaper or get much better quality brands for the same price.