Camouflage Watches from AVI-8

I recently came across some really cool looking camouflage watches on Amazon.  The same folks who brought me my favorite aviation-themed watch:  AVI-8.  They've been applying camouflage to some of their best designs and they've been getting great results.

The AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane in Camouflage

It's a camouflage Hawker Hurricane watch from AVI-8.  I already have a traditional AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane, but camouflage could take this model to a whole new level.   Here is my AVI-8 Hawker Hurricane watch:

Here is the new camouflage model of the Hawker Hurricane watch from AVI-8.  I've blown up the photo so that you can see more detail.  For better views, these are clickable:


You can see that the dial details have changed a bit.  This watch features two subdials and moves the aircraft silhouette to a more prominent position at 9 o'clock.

AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber in Camouflage

The Hawker Hurricane is not the only AVI-8 model receiving a camouflage treatment.  The AVI-8 Lancaster Bomber also gets the camouflage look.



The camouflage pattern is a nice touch and really adds character to this basic design.  Here's a photo of an actual Lancaster Bomber sporting some camouflage of its own.

Lancaster Bomber - By Geoff Acton (Flickr: Lancaster Bomber Cowes) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 
With the Lancaster Bomber model, you can see a simple dial with a large magnifier over the date window.  The bubble at 6 o'clock on the dial is designed to evoke the bombardier's nose bubble on the famed British Lancaster bomber of World War II. 

Lancaster Bomber - By Per from Thunder Bay, Canada (Lancaster Bomber) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Of course, the Lancaster has functional bubbles for gunners throughout the airframe.

Lancaster Bomber - By Per from Thunder Bay, Canada (Lancaster Bomber) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Great Deals on AVI-8 Watches

If you are interested in these camouflage watches, I'd definitely recommend that you jump on them right away.  The prices that I found were pretty awesome and they are always subject to change.

Watch Sighting: Casio 3D Databank Watch (Model: AEQ100BW-9AV)

When I walk through Walmart to buy anything, I always take a short detour through the watch department looking for cool, inexpensive, watches that might be fun to add to my collection or for readers to check out.  Last weekend, this totally bling-tastic watch leaped out at me.  It's a Casio Databank Watch with 3D dial.

Casio Data Bank Watch Style

If you look closely, you can see that the circles and batons denoting each hour are slightly raised for a '3D' effect.  The watch itself has a 50 millimeter diameter dial and a 15.3 millimeter thick case.  The case itself is resin (black) with a gold dial color.  From a style perspective, this humble Casio pops like a much more expensive watch.  In this photo, it's clear that the watch even has prompts on the watch face to help wearers remember the button functions.  However, I found the dial a tad busy and difficult to read.  This photo seems a little larger than real life and my eyes are getting old.

Casio 3D Dial Databank Watch Performance

From a performance perspective, this $35 watch delivers unexpectedly high performance and very nice features.  First of all, it has a 10 year battery and 100 meters of water resistance.  It has all the standard stopwatch functions like a 1/100 second stop watch, a countdown timer, 3 alarms, and the ability to keep time in 12 or 24 hour formats.  The watch can also keep track of the time in 30 cities around the world.  Finally, the watch can keep track of up to 30 names and phone numbers in its databank feature.  That's a lot of function for an inexpensive watch.  I've had a Casio Telememo 30 World Timer databank watch in my collection before and they are pretty cool.

Affordable Watches for Father's Day

3 Great Watches for Under $50 for Father's Day

When it comes to Father's Day gifts, one thing to remember is that often Father's Day gifts are bought by kids.  Kids have limited funds.  If allowance money is going towards a watch purchase, those funds might be very limited.  So, what kind of watch can a kid actually buy for Father's Day?  When I look for affordable style and lasting value, three companies come to mind:  Armitron, Timex, and Casio.  You can often find a nice watch from any of these companies for less than $50.

A Timex Expedition with wood-grain dial

Armitron.  One company that makes affordable and stylish watches is Armitron.  They make lots of digital watches, but they also make good looking analog watches.  For example, the Armitron 20/4996 is a classically styled watch with readable numerals, a day and date window, and a nice leather strap.  Its simple dial evokes the classic military field watches of the past, but remains dressy enough for the business casual office.  It is also available for less than $50.  Armitron watches vary in style from store to store.  But, I've found some very attractive Armitron watches at Walmart over the years.



Timex.  There is nothing wrong with a Timex watch for Father's Day.  The venerable Expedition line has plenty of models that straddle the line between office worker and outdoor adventurer.  They can play many roles just like your dad.  Timex makes great watches for everyday wear.  If you father is an outdoors man, this Timex Expedition Gallatin watch is an excellent choice because it looks perfect for a weekend camping trip.  It can also be found for less than $40.



Casio.  If you are looking for value and a watch with real capability.  Casio makes a dive watch with 200-meters of water resistance, a stainless steel case, and a rotating bezel for less than $50.  It's a great value and a rugged watch that would look great in the office or at the beach this summer.  It's one of my three favorite affordable diver-style watches.



If you can't find this watch or your budget is even tighter, don't forget the classic Casio MRW-200H Dive watch for $25 or less.

Where to Buy A Father's Day Watch

Of course, if you read here, you can buy here.  But, it's getting very close to Father's Day.  If you need an affordable watch for Father's Day and you are a last minute shopper, I suggest you try Walmart for a great price on Armitron, Timex, or Casio watches.  They usually have a great supply at awesome prices.  If you are dragging Mom along to make the watch purchase, Kohl's usually has a good selection of watches.  However, you need to watch the sales and learn how to get a good deal at Kohls.  Finally, if you want a watch with a little more snob appeal, TJ Maxx is a great place to search.  If you get lucky, you might be able to find a watch that costs a lot of money for an affordable price. 

If you're allowance is even tighter, here are seven great watches for less than $30. Good luck and happy father's day shopping!

A Father's Day Watch - The Timex Easy Reader

If you are looking for a watch this Father's Day, I spotted this Timex Easy Reader (EZ Reader) on a recent trip to Walmart.  It's a nice watch because it has a stitched leather strap and an eminently readable dial.

Timex EZ Reader with Stitched Leather Strap

Watches for Older Collectors

Depending on the age of your dad, he might not be able to read all the tiny sub-dials that many watches display.  I know that as I get older it becomes more and more difficult to read subdials.  According to the American Optometric Association -

Beginning in the early to mid-40s, many adults may start to have problems seeing clearly at close distances, especially when reading and working on the computer. This is among the most common problems adults develop between ages 41 to 60. This normal change in the eye's focusing ability, called presbyopia, will continue to progress over time.

Initially, you may need to hold reading materials farther away to see them clearly. Or you may need to remove your glasses to see better up close. Print in the newspaper or on a restaurant menu may appear blurred, especially under dim lighting.

It sucks to switch to bifocals or reading glasses just to check the time.  Fortunately, the Timex EZ reader watches help wearers avoid all that by simply having big numbers and broad hands. 

Timex EZ Reader

Timex EZ Reader Features

I like this EZ Reader because it has the brown dial and strap that are so common on military-style field watches.  While I have a smaller Timex EZ Reader, this one has a 43 millimeter diameter case which is a a mere 8 millimeters thick.  This is a nice contemporary watch size.  For night time use, the EZ Reader also has Indiglo back-lighting for the dial.  Finally, the EZ Reader is water resistant to a respectable 50 meters.   The specifications are quite respectable for a watch in this price category.


For this Father's Day, you might want to check out the whole family of Timex EZ Reader watches for men.