Timex is a classic watch brand. Their weekender line has some great pieces. They not only look good but are affordable. When working with Timex, you’re working with a seriously acclaimed brand. They’ve been around for over a century and are responsible for the world’s first sports watch. Hopefully, you’re interested in what they have to offer. Let’s get on with it our Timex weekender review.
Let’s first go through the weekender’s specs.
The watch is not too big. Its case is 1.49 – 1.57 inches (38- 40 mm) across. With one look at its dial, you’ll notice how classic it is. The timepiece has large Arabic numerals on its face. Its case has a thin metal border too, wrapping things up.
The device is not the most expensive. You can unfortunately guess this from its appearance. Its dial’s design makes it obvious that it’s a field watch too.
The weekender comes in multiple colour choices. We found that each compliment any outfit. Our favourite is the gun-metal one with a brown leather strap.
The standard weekender doesn’t come with a chronograph, but some do. Their chronograph sub-dials are eye-catching. The timepieces that come with the chronographs have large buttons on their sides. They not only work the feature but add a design element to the piece.
Having the weekender on your wrist is not uncomfortable. The watch does not have the largest case, so your wrist won’t be eaten up. More importantly, the timepiece is not that heavy. Most weekender models are 1-2 ounces (28.3 – 56.6 grams).
The watch comes with a NATO strap. This means it’s made from Nylon. Although Nylon is durable, it can be uncomfortable on your skin. Some people have Nylon allergies as well. Something good about the strap is that it doesn’t collect sweat.
Another good thing about it is that there’re clasps replacing tang buckles. This keeps your watch extra secure on your wrist. Nylon also has a high-tensile strength. This not only means that it’s durable, but it’ll hardly succumb to wear and tear.
What’s also great about its strap is that it’s interchangeable. There are many straps to choose from. We love that there are all kinds of designs.
As you know, some weekenders come with leather bands. They’re high quality but are not embossed. This means you can’t fool people into thinking it is hand-stitched or alligator skin.
Field watches are meant to be worn outside. They were created for the Army, and you’re bound to be met with rain outdoors. No need to worry, the weekender is a water-resistant piece. It can withstand up to 100 feet (30 meters) underwater.
However, you might not want to get it wet. Nylon is fabric, so drying it is tough, Especially keep the models with leather straps out of the water – the material is especially hard to dry.
The device can withstand quite the dip, but you’re not supposed to swim with it on. Timex strongly advises against this.
The watch doesn’t come with any lume. Instead, there is an indigo backlight. It makes the dial bright enough to read underwater.
You’ll see that the timepiece has a brass case and bezel. The material does not rust and is very hard to corrode.
The weekender is Japanese quartz. Considering that you’ll be outdoors with it, this is what you want - quartz watches last months. Timex boasts that the battery in the weekender can last 10 years.
Quartz devices are reliable as they have fewer parts. Japanese quartz is produced through an automated process, leaving less room for errors as well.
We do have a complaint – the watch ticks a lot. Not only can it get irritating, but if you’re hunting with it on, your prey will run away.
The timepiece doesn’t have the most resistant window. Mineral crystal is in place. If you’re too rough with it, it won’t last. Thankfully, the crystal doesn’t attract that many scruffs and scratches. Its dial is not domed, so it’s not exposed to the outside much.
The dial is easy to read. You’ll notice large Arabic numerals. There is also a second hand that is a sharp red. Although most of the weekenders don’t come with calendars, some do.
What’s great about the watch is that you get an inner ring that shows the hours in a 24-hour format. Remember that field watches were made for the army, and military men use 24-hour clocks.
Since some timepieces from the line come with chronographs, we will do a timex weekender chrono review. Hopefully, you know what a chronograph is. If you don’t, it’s a stop-watch. It reads the seconds, minutes and hours passed.
The chronograph versions come with a calendar. Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest to read – it’s small and in the 4 o'clock position. Being at such an angle, you’ll likely strain your neck trying to read it. If you think that the ones with the chronographs are worth it, we’ve got some bad news for you – they’re pretty pricey. They’re almost double the price of regular watches from the line.
What do we think about the weekender? It’s a field watch that is great for every-day use. We’ve compared it with a couple of alternatives below.
The Expedition line consists of watches that come in a variety of designs. They are field watches. Most of them are the same size as the weekender and come with indigo backlights.
The Expedition is way more water resistant. It can handle 165 feet (50 meters) underwater. However, its strap is leather, so you might not want to get it wet. You’ll see some Timex Expedition pieces with nylon straps. Although they are not NATO, they are durable. They have tang buckles, which are harder to put on.
You’ll notice that the timepiece comes with a chronograph. It reads the seconds, minutes and hours passed. It also has a small calendar feature in the 4 o'clock position.
The expedition is a Japanese quartz piece, so you know it’s reliable. Timex says its batteries are good to go for 5 years.
If you weren’t a fan of the mineral window on the weekender, you won’t be happy to see it on the Expedition Scout. On the device, it’s not domed either. This leads to fewer scratches being collected.
In terms of its case, it is also brass. The metal is on its bezel too.
The Acadia has a range of devices in its line. You’ll notice that they are all more water-resistant than the weekender. The alternative can handle 165 feet (50 meters) underwater. Unlike its sibling, Timex says that you can swim with it. However, it comes with a nylon strap, which you know isn’t water-proof.
Speaking of its strap, unfortunately, it isn’t NATO. There is a tang buckle for you to fasten the fabric into.
The timepiece is as big as its counterpart. Its case is 1.57 inches (40 mm)across. This time around, you’re not getting a mineral window. The one on the Acadia is acrylic. Acrylic is more durable than mineral, but it still isn’t as tough as sapphire. The window on the Acadia isn’t domed either, so worrying about scruffs is less of an issue.
The device has an indigo back-light. This helps when it’s dark out. What will also help is the watch’s luminous hands.
It doesn’t come with a brass case. Instead, there’s resin in place. The material provides a bit of shock resistance. And as it’s not metal, corrosion will never be a concern.
Although there isn’t a chronograph, you’ll notice a calendar on the timepiece, at the 3 o'clock position. This makes it easy to read. It also has bold font.
We’re huge fans of the inner ring that tells the time in the military format.
Let’s wrap things up. We are fans of the watch. It’s rugged, and perfect for the outdoors. However, it comes with features that also make it great for everyday use.
The weekender comes in various versions. Those with the chronographs are the most useful, especially since they come with calendars. However, these variants are pretty pricey.
The watch is one of Timex’s most famous pieces, and you can probably guess why.
