Timex Under $60 - 38mm Timex Unisex Weekender Watch

If you are looking for affordable Timex watches, the venerable Timex Weekender is almost always a great choice. Almost every version comes in at well under $60 and, usually, you can find a Weekender model on sale. This Timex Unisex 38mm Watch is an excellent buy at 22% off.  Discounted into the $30 to $40 range, it offers a fabric strap, a brass case, indiglo backlighting, 30-meter water resistance, and a simple field watch dial arrangement.

Timex Weekender (Amazon Photo)

I've had a Timex Weekender for over a decade. You can read my original review here on this blog.  My Weekender is a little unusual in that it has tachymeter markings. They don't make those anymore. However, I actually prefer this more minimalist version.  If you'd like to check it out, use my convenient Amazon affiliate link here. The Weekender remains a great starting point for any affordable watch collection!

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Legion Watch from Belk

This is my Legion watch from 2015 or so. Apparently, there was another Legion brand from an offshore manufacturer that was very popular back in the day. However, this Legion brand watch is a house-brand watch that was created for Belk department stores.

A Legion brand watch from Belk

I don't know if a 9-year-old watch counts as vintage.  I'm afraid that if it does, I might count as vintage, too.  If you'd like to read a review of this watch, bang it here!

A Legion Watch on a restaurant menu

Wristwatch Review: Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin-Edged Bezel and Two Faux Subdials

This wristwatch review covers another simple, but interesting, watch from Caribbean Joe.  It's an all black watch with two faux sub-dials, white hour marker numerals outlined with a shiny silver accent, and  a coin-edged bezel. While the watch has a reliable quartz movement, it is not a precision timepiece. If you rock the watch back and forth, sometimes you may notice that the minute hand can move just a little.  It's enough that the minute hand might be half a minute off.  That little bit of play certainly reminds you that this is an inexpensive $20 to $30 watch.   

Caribbean Joe Watch with Coin Edged Bezel

However, this Caribbean Joe watch has it's merits.  For example, it has a smooth, gently domed, crystal. It's lightweight and comfortable. The case is 42mm in diameter and doesn't stand too tall on the wrist.  It's weird to me that they went to the trouble to have a wonderfully domed crystal and then undermined it a bit with non-working sub-dials.

Caribbean Joe Synthetic Leather Strap

The synthetic leather band is quite generously sized and is comfortable to wear.  I like not being on the very last hole in a watch strap.

The Watch Strap is generously sized.

Overall, this Caribbean Joe watch offers a sophisticated, casual, look for very affordable price.  It's a great bang around watch for travel to a tropical island because it's inexpensive and easily replaced.

The Return of the Casio Forester: The Ultimate Beater Watch

I got it.  Again.  One of my favorite watches has returned to my wrist!  It's the ultimate beater watch.  It's the Casio Forester.  It was only $21.92 at Walmart and I could not resist.

I don't think I've worn one of these watches in a decade.  But, I really should have.  It's still a lightweight comfortable bang around watch.  This one is still super fresh.  But, the Casio Forester is the ultimate beater watch.  You can read my full Casio Forester review here.

Oh sure, the Casio G Shock and the Timex Ironman have their fans, but for my money, the Forester is the best of the beater watches.

Why is the Casio Forester the ultimate beater watch?

1. It's cheap.  The Casio Forester is still less than $25 at Walmart.  You can still find it cheap here on Amazon.  If you are going to beat up a watch, beat up a cheap watch. G Shock watches are great, but they aren't cheap.

2. It has 100 meters of water resistance.  Pro Tip:  if you need more water resistance, you aren't in a forest. 

3. It's tough. Thick plastic surrounds a small dial making it a tough target to whack.

4. It's simple. When you are wearing a beater watch, you are doing something else.  You are hiking or fishing or mowing a lawn.  You aren't making a fashion statement. All you need is the ability to quickly see the time.

I may have to dig out my Crocodile Hunter memorial shirt, grab my machete, strap on this watch, and head out in the jungle.

[As of August 2025, the Casio Forester is still available on Amazon.com for less than $30. If you are ready to set out into the deep woods, you can find the Casio Forester here on Amazon.] 

TGIF: Kicking Back with a Caribbean Joe Watch

We've made it through another workweek and reached another blessed Friday!  If you're ready for a palm tree and a hut, so am I!  That's why we'll soon have another review for a fashion watch from Caribbean Joe.  I have a few of these watches in my collection now so you'll see more of them in the coming weeks.

A tiny little hut and a tiny little palm tree adorn the dial of a Caribbean Joe watch.

I know. I know.  With retail prices that are typically less than $30, Caribbean Joe watches are cheap watches. We'll do a bit more prestige with a Bulova sometime soon.  But, as far as I'm concerned, with the little hut and palm tree, these watches come with just the right attitude.  Here is my review for a Caribbean Joe Men's Degrade Watch with a green  sunburst dial.  Never be afraid to have a little fun with a bang around watch!

A Caribbean Joe Watch with Three Non-Functional Subdials

The Best Way To Protect An Expensive Watch

Once upon a time in a faraway land to the north, one executive stayed at the house of another executive for an extended period of time.  To repay his host, the guest executive decided he would mow the lawn.

Rolex Photo by By hypo.physe (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hypophyse/4482485310) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I saw him.  He was pushing a mower while wearing dress slacks, penny-loafers, and a monogrammed collared shirt.  He was also wearing an office-worthy dress watch.  He looked ridiculous.  There are simply some things you don't do while wearing nice clothes, nice shoes, and a nice watch.

The Casio Forester is a Great Watch for Yard Work

The best way to protect your most valuable watch is by doing your dirty work while wearing your least valuable watch.  It makes sense.  I generally wear dedicated dog walking shoes when I take my hound for a stroll.  When you are going to be swinging a hammer, bumping into things, lifting things, tossing things, and generally doing physical work, it makes sense to wear an inexpensive watch that is made to take punishment.  For a cheap bang around watch, I like the Casio Forester. 

For me, I generally wear a bang around watch when walking the dog, doing chores, or going about day to day tasks.  My nicer watches are reserved for work, dining out, or formal occasions.  My favorite bang around watch is typically a Timex Expedition of some type.  However, I often wear my Casio Tough Solar watch for rugged situations.

I also find myself wearing my Citizen Eco-drive on a regular basis since it is comfortable and never needs batteries.

Classic Cheap Watch: Casio MRW200H Dive Watch

As we've been living out of boxes, I've gained an appreciation for one of the cheap watches that came readily to hand:  my Casio MRW200H Dive watch.

Casio MRW200H Dive Watch

It's so light that you barely realize you are wearing it.  You can even sleep whole wearing this watch.  But, it's tough and offers good 100-meter water resistance, too.  For only $25 or so, it is hard to beat.

Casio MRW200H Dive Watch

If you need a decent bang around watch, you can't go wrong with a Casio MRW200H!  You can read my complete review of this watch here.  If you'd like to buy a watch like this, Amazon has plenty of varieties here.

This Timex took a licking and kept on ticking!

It's been the move from hell and it isn't even over.  It rained.  I wasn't fully packed.  The movers were late.  We saved too much stuff to move ourselves.  We had too many narrow staircases to navigate.  The apartment we moved to was in unacceptable shape.  But, through it all, my Timex Easy Reader kept good time.

Timex Easy Reader

It got wet.  It got scraped against walls.  It got bounced on banisters. But, this tough little watch held up well.  As the old commercials said, this Timex took a licking and kept on ticking!

Still Ticking - My Casio HD

A recent churn of my watch collection turned up my CASIO Men's MW600F-9AV 10-Year Battery Sport Watch. The Casio HD is an inexpensive and unremarkable watch that is great for just banging around. It was only $15 or so. It doesn't clamor for attention and it isn't oversized.  It has a very simple style and a rubber band.  It looks high tech and it is supremely functional.  But, it is made for the long haul.  It has an amazing 10 year battery!  So, when I recently found it again, it was still ticking, still doing it's job, and still ready to wear.

Casio HD - Men's MW600F-9AV 10-Year Battery Sport Watch

[Update - click here for my complete review of the Casio HD!]

Recommended: The Casio Forester - A Great Bang Around Watch

The Casio Forester is one of my favorite watches.  It's the perfect watch for banging around in.  It's inexpensive, tough, and lightweight.  It also has a long battery life.  I first reviewed mine back in August 2011 and it is still running strong two years later.   If you aren't hung up on prestige and appearances, you might like this watch.

My Casio Forester

The Forester would be a great companion on a hike.  Perhaps you could hit the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest trail?  You could do something glamorous like an archaeological expedition.  But, you could also leave that sort of thing to the super macho commando watches that cost 100 times more.  The Forester is a great watch for mowing the lawn, helping a friend move, or walking the dog.  With 100 meters of water resistance, the Forester is built for adventure.  But, if you are an armchair commando, you'll find the velcro band super comfortable for long stints of typing at a desk.

Here is my complete review on this blog:

Wristwatch Review:  Casio Forester Men's Analog Watch


[As of August 2025, you can still find the Casio Forester here on Amazon.]

A Merona Diver-Style Watch from Target

For $19.99, you can't really get much of a diver's watch.  But, you can get a pretty nice looking "Diver-style" watch.  This Merona Diver-Style Watch from Target looks good and is a steal for $19.99.  However, I wouldn't try to scuba dive with it!

You'll notice that the case shape has a passing similarity to that of higher end dive watches like this Citizen Promaster Aqualand:

By .Naklig at el.wikipedia (Transferred from el.wikipedia) [Attribution], from Wikimedia Commons

Perhaps you see a bit of this Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean in the humble Merona? 

By Naklig (προσωπική εργασία) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Of course, if you want a real dive watch, you might check out this Seiko Adventure Kinetic Diver Watch:

Rugged "Bang Around" Watches for Men

If you are like me, you need a watch that you can "bang around" with and not worry about too much.  They can't cost too much and they have to look cool.  Fortunately, lots of inexpensive watches fit the bill! These are some of the best inexpensive sport watches. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order:

Timex Ironman Triathlon

You can read my review of the Timex Ironman Triathlon here on this blog.

"Walmart Tactical"

This watch (above) that I dub the Walmart Tactical watch looks every bit as macho as some of the tactical watches that cost big money.  But, I found it at Walmart for an amazing $10.

Casio Forester

The Casio Forester (above) is a classic cheap watch.  It's great for kids or adults--especially if they still climb trees and walk about in the woods.  You can read my full review of the Casio Forester here on this blog. 

Timex Expedition Camper

The Timex Expedition Camper is another classic bang around watch.  It has a simple design that is easy to read and reminds me of a military watch.  You'll find many variations on the Timex Camper theme here at Amazon.

Timex Expedition Core Analog

For a larger watch dial and more contemporary style, check out the Timex Expedition Core Analog watch.  For less than $50, there's a lot to like about this watch.