Sunday, June 22, 2014

Timex versus Hamilton Comparison

I recently came across this comparison video between a Timex Expedition and a similarly styled Hamilton wristwatch.  It's an interesting comparison between a $30 and a $300 watch.


When you choose between a Timex and a Hamilton, you make a choice between cost and heritage.  While the Hamilton is finished a little more nicely, the Timex does the job.  However, Timex was only an official military watch for a short time around 1982.  In contrast, Hamilton has a longer heritage of military watch making.  During World War II, Hamilton Type 22 movements were used as ships chronometers.  You can read more about them on the Vintage Hamilton Watch Restoration Blog.



Photos by Bonsairolex (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In total, Hamilton supplied around a million mechanical watches to U.S. troops in World War II.  Today, Hamilton is a subsidiary of the big powerhouse watch company known as the Swatch group.

Hamilton Khaki Field Watch Photo By 李中中123 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you only have about $35, you pretty much have to go with the Timex.  But, if you can spend a little more, you can get a military-style watch from a company that once supplied the real deal in World War II.

To make some comparisons of your own, here are some modern Hamilton watches:


Here are some modern Timex watches:



I find the Timex watches fit my budget much better, but the Hamilton watches sure would look good on the wrist!

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