Wristwatch Review: A Caribbean Joe Watch with Gold Tones

If there is a watch brand that I take an inordinate amount of joy in, that brand has to be Caribbean Joe. These watches are like horological potato chips. I think it is because they capture classic looks at a bargain basement price. For this review, let's take a look at one with gold tones and a brown leather strap. Technically, it might be CJ7166TTG, but I suspect that the manufacturer takes a "parts is parts" approach to casebacks.

This Caribbean Joe Watch has a classic look

Caribbean Joe Watch Style

Style is the essence of this watch. The features are simple. It's a 3 hand quartz watch with a silver-tone case. But, the style is rich and golden with golden tones to the alpha (also known as lance) hands, hour markers, and numerals, aspects of the dial, and the crown. The dial is a pail white with an underlying golden grid pattern and the trademark Caribbean Joe hut and palm tree logo are in black. This watch doesn't have any extraneous faux sub-dials that can sometimes detract the look. The overall effect is a relaxed, casual, dress watch that evokes the sun, the Caribbean, and the relaxation that comes with extraordinary wealth. This Caribbean Joe watch looks like a wealthier watch than it actually is. That's where we all join the brand and participate in an inside joke. The brand knows  and we know that this is just a $22 quartz watch. But passersby? They don't know.

Caribbean Joe Watch Dimensions

This Caribbean Joe watch is perfectly proportioned. The case of this watch is 40mm in diameter and 10mm thick. I measure about 47mm lug-to-lug and the strap is 20mm wide. The strap is around 187mm long. With the watch, you have about 22.5 cm of length to work with. The watch accommodates wrists of up to 7.95 inches (20 cm) if you deduct an inch (25mm) of strap end. If find that the watch accommodates my wrist easily with plenty of strap to spare.

This Caribbean Joe watch doesn't stand too tall on the wrist

The good fit and perfect size add to my appetite for these watches.

Caribbean Joe Watch Construction

Like most Caribbean Joe watches, there are little things that betray this watch's inexpensive origin. While the caseback is stainless steel, the case itself is made of a much less expensive material--probably a base metal. On the plus side, it's a light comfortable to wear watch weight. A big minus, is that the body of the watch can look cheap from time to time.  

The Caribbean Joe Watch caseback does tell you what kind of battery you need!

Moving on to the movement: it's from Singapore. It's powered by a common SR626SW battery. The synthetic leather strap is from China. It can be a challenge to set the watch precisely as the minute hand wants to jump a little when you push the crown in. While I haven't had any serious issues with my Caribbean Joe watches, they are definitely cheap watches that look good. 

A Caribbean Joe watch under the lights

Caribbean Joe Watch Overall Impression

Overall, I like this watch. Like most Caribbean Joe watches, it looks good. It's always easy to throw one of these into shopping cart and they don't break the budget. They are a fun, low-impact, guilty pleasure. These watches also make great beater watches. You can wear them almost anywhere. You don't have to worry about them getting lost, stolen, or bashed into doorframes. If you see one that you like the looks of, get it. You'll find yourself wearing quite often.

This Caribbean Joe watch looks great out on the town

Where to find Caribbean Joe Watches

I'm pretty sure I found this one at a Burlington store where it was marked somewhere around $20. I think it was $22. You can find Caribbean Joe watches at Boscov's, Kohl's, Sierra, and sometimes at Walmart.com.  As a fashion brand, Caribbean Joe styles and designs come and go. I haven't seen this particular one online anywhere.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: A Caribbean Joe Ranger Alternative?

 Only a few days ago, I was discussing the plethora of homage watches in the marketplace. That very weekend, I came across a very cool watch at Burlington for just $14.99. Of course, the watch was from Caribbean Joe. But, the layout of the dial seems quite familiar for some odd reason. What does it remind you of?

A Caribbean Joe watch that is mine and a Ferrari that is not mine.

This watch from Caribbean Joe might actually be a great bang around alternative to the Tudor Ranger. At least, the numbers and the hash marks on the dial line up at all the right places. Of course, the way a Caribbean Joe watch is used would vary quite a bit from the way you might use a Tudor Ranger.  For example, if you need to swim, you might want to leave the Caribbean Joe watch in a shoe on the beach.

My Caribbean Joe watch in better focus.

Unlike the Tudor Ranger, the Caribbean Joe watch does come with a sunray dial design and the ability to keep good time for a couple of years due to its quartz movement.  But, in terms of brand prestige, waterproofing, case metallurgy, crystal durability, and a million other things, the Tudor Ranger is a far better watch. On the other hand, the Caribbean Joe watch comes with a hut and a palm tree right on the dial. It's a good place to go during a hard day of work. It's a tough call. Unfortunately, the Caribbean Joe watch isn't available on Amazon so you'll have to go with the Tudor Ranger here. I'm kidding. Check for Caribbean Joe watches at Boscov's or Kohl's in person or online or see if they have some of these fun watches at your local Burlington store.

Wristwatch Review: Caribbean Joe Square Watch with Synthetic Leather Strap

When it comes to cheap watches, I enjoy the Caribbean Joe brand.  In fact, I've found most of the variants of Caribbean Joe watches that are available. Most of the time, I get them from Kohl's, but I learned that there are square case Caribbean Joe's watches and I had to find them. As 2024 drew to a close, I ordered two watches online from a store in the northern midwestern US called Boscov's. The model numbers were CJ7145GU (Blue Dial/Gunmetal Case) and CJ7145SL (Brown Dial/Silver Case)

Caribbean Joe Square Watch (CJ7145GU)

Watch Style

I like the square case from Caribbean Joe. It seems to be on trend and looks good. The brands trademark hut and text are centered just below 12 o'clock and the dial shimmers with the light like a sun ray design. The subdials are attractive, but non-functional. At a $20 price point, you simply don't get the functionality of a more expensive watch.

Caribbean Joe Square Watch (CJ7145GU)

Watch Construction

This Caribbean Joe watch has a stainless steel caseback and a base metal case. Base metals typically are metals or alloys of metals like copper, brass, zinc, aluminum, or tin. The watch uses a common SR626SW battery and it is kindly noted on the caseback. The movement is made in Singapore and the synthetic leather strap is made in China. While the movement keeps good time, it can be difficult to set with precision because when the crown is depressed, the minute hand may jump by a minute. You can find it a challenging game to try and synchronize the watch with time.gov.  Ultimately, this is one of the common drawbacks to cheap watches and helps us appreciate the precision timepieces in our collections.

Caribbean Joe Square Watch Caseback

Watch Dimensions

The square Caribbean Joe watches are reasonably sized for most wrists. The watch case is 39mm across and 40mm from top to bottom.  You can see the size clearly here with the brown dial(?) version.

Caribbean Joe Square Watch with Brown Strap (CJ7145SL)

The case is a slim 9mm thick which is perfect for wearing with business attire including long-sleeved shirts with cuffs. 

The watch strap length is fairly generous and, with my large wrists, I was able to buckle it on the last hole and tuck the remaining strap under both loops. 

Strap of Caribbean Joe Model CJ7145SL (Brown Strap/Silver Case)

Overall Impression

With working subdials and a more precise movement, this watch could be a contender.  But, it chose to be a bum and hang out on a Caribbean Island. For a cheap watch, it is a handsome looking cuss. I like it and it's fun to wear--just don't forget this is a beach bum brand.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Caribbean Joe Fashion Watch with Subdials

This Caribbean Joe watch is an attractive addition to my collection.  It's just a quartz "fashion watch" and the sub-dials don't work.  But, it looks good.  I like the way the hour batons are outlined in gold and sud-dials are trimmed the same way.  It's a nice classic and cohesive look.  The only drawback to this watch is that the strap is a tad short.  It's wearable, but a little more watch strap length would be nice.

A Caribbean Joe watch atop a circa 1885 book of Tennyson poetry.

This watch came as part of a two-watch set which also included a digital watch.  I'm not much into digital watches lately, but it was a nice combo in a great presentation box for the sub-$20 price.

Wristwatch Review: Caribbean Joe Sport Watch with Subdials

Here's an interesting and inexpensive watch from Caribbean Joe.  You can typically find watches like this at Burlington and Boscov stores for less than $20 in 2024.  It comes with a synthetic leather strap and has a reasonable 38mm and approximately 8mm thickness. for everyday wear. It's a lightweight, comfortable, watch that works well.

A Caribbean Joe Watch with 3 non-functional subdials

WATCH FEATURES

This watch has the basic features that you expect for telling time:  big hand, little hand, and second hand.  But what this Caribbean Joe watch doesn't have raises an interesting question for watch buyers and enthusiasts.  The subdials in this watch are non-functional.  That's right.  They are only there for appearance sake.  I used to think that this would be a problem.  But, now, I'm not so sure.  

I don't think I need complications or subdials on a watch anymore.  The one thing about fake subdials is that they seem unnecessary and, perhaps, a little dishonest.  Alternatively, my Caribbean Joe Sunburst watch is a little more straight forward.

This Caribbean Joe watch has non-functional subdials

WATCH CONSTRUCTION

Of course, Caribbean Joe immediately makes up for the lack of functioning subdials with something far more important:  the battery requirement etched on the caseback.  I could hug them.  There's nothing worse than taking a caseback off to replace a battery and then having to start a mad quest to find some kind of obscure watch battery.  SR626SW batteries are very common and easy to find.

The Stainless Steel Caseback of the Caribbean Joe watch

This Caribbean Joe watch has a stainless steel caseback, a synthetic leather strap, a base metal case (in a gunmetal tone), and a Singapore-made watch movement.

OVERALL

I really like this watch.  It is simple, inexpensive, and good looking.  It also came in a nice box.  I like not having to fuss with trying to read the subdials or make sure they work.  I don't know that I'd wear this watch in a physically demanding environment or  into a status-oriented office.  It's not a prestige watch.  But, it works on a "this looks cool" level.  You also won't get mugged for it.  It's a great value at under $25 in 2024.  Plus, I like having a thatched hut and palm tree with me at all times.