Watch Wearing Wednesday: Timex Expedition Gallatin Out Among the Fall Foliage

 As fall progresses, I've taken my Timex Expedition Gallatin out for a drive among the turning leaves. I reviewed this watch before here on this blog.

Timex Expedition Gallatin

While the leaves haven't officially peaked in my area, the colors are certainly turning and turning fast. The 11.5mm thick case doesn't stand too tall on the wrist.

Timex Expedition Gallatin on a fall drive

But, with an easy to read with a 44mm diameter case, bold diver-style hour markings, and large well-marked hands, the Timex Expedition Gallatin is always to read in any environment.

Timex Expedition Gallatin Face and Bezel shown on a drive through fall color

The Timex Expedition Gallatin is available on Amazon in the Black Case/Green Strap combination (shown) or with a Black Case/Black Strap combination (for extra ninja-ness).  You can find the Gallatin here on Amazon. It's a fun and comfortable watch for daily wear.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Timex Expedition Ticking Again!

Contemplating a jaunt into the wilderness?  This Timex Expedition is still ready when you are.  I originally bought this Timex Expedition watch back in 2014.  Over the past decade, the original rubber strap oxidized pretty badly and became brittle enough to break.  But, I've recently revived this watch with a new battery and a transplanted strap from a dead watch.  Now, it's back in action and ready to go.

Timex Expedition Core Resin Watch

Changing the battery for this Expedition required a tiny screwdriver to remove the caseback. I got that from an eyeglass repair kit.  The battery was a common CR2016 watch battery.  It's easy to get out the old battery and insert the new one.  However, I had to use a piece of tape to keep the new battery flush once it was replaced.  If you'd like a new watch that is similar, the Timex Expedition Core Resin watch is available in black on Amazon.

Wristwatch Review: Timex Expedition Gallatin Watch

The watch for today's review is a simple classic:  the Timex Expedition Gallatin Watch.  It's a nice comfortable watch for everyday wear.  As always, Timex provides an excellent watch value for your money. 

The Timex Expedition Gallatin

WATCH DIMENSIONS

It features a 22mm wide silicone strap and a lightweight 44mm diameter resin case that is 11.5mm thick.

WATCH FEATURES

While it has the style of a dive watch, it's only rated for 50 meters of water resistance and the bezel doesn't rotate. Of course, this is a watch you wear for comfort and style. It does have indiglo lighting when you push the crown and it has a little bit of lume on the hour markers and hands. The crystal is acrylic. It's not really a tactical watch, but it looks great (below) on the dieselpunk boardgame battlefield of Scythe from Stonemaier Games.

The Timex Gallatin looks gallant on a boardgame battlefield.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

As an inexpensive watch without a lot of metal, it's also a great watch for travel. If you lose it or damage it, you won't cry for long.  For a fairly low price, you get a great looking watch that is readable, functional, and reliable. I like it. This is a Timex watch I often choose for my everyday expeditions.

The Timex Expedition Gallatin waits for a flight

 

Wristwatches of the Apocalypse: Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Field Watch

As the COVID crisis goes on and on, I'm not going out as much and I'm not going to the office at all.  Days go by without wearing a watch.  But, a few days ago, I opened my watch drawer and my Timex Expedition is still ticking.  It's ready to go somewhere.  Anywhere.

Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Watch

I think I'll wear it this evening.  We need to get out of the apartment.  It's time for an expedition of some kind.

[Update 1/7/2024:  Thank God, it seems like the worst of COVID is well behind us.  Now the question is what kind of watch to wear and where to wear it!]

 

My Classic Timex Expedition Metal Tech Watch

A couple of weeks ago, I was rooting about in a box of my older watches and found a Timex Expedition that my wife gave me a few years ago.  It had a shiny, well-finished case, and a classic, understated dial.  I had to replace the original leather straps a while back because it was just a tad too short.  Now, I have it on a cheap, nylon and Velcro band. Amazingly, the watch is still ticking and I don't remember ever changing a battery.

At a department store, this Timex was over $50, but it is now available online for considerably less.

Men's Watches for Everyday Wear

Today, I am wearing one of my favorite everyday watches--a Timex Expedition.  It has an indigo backlighting system and a dial that is easy to read.   It has a sturdy two tone resin case and band. Even if I'm not going on an actual expedition, this Timex provides me with a sense of adventure and capability.

Timex Expedition: Good or Evil?

When it comes to Timex, I'm back in black!  About a month ago, I finally replaced the battery for my favorite Timex:  The Timex Core Resin Expedition.  It's an evil black watch that former New York Mayor Bloomberg would probably want to ban outright.  It just looks MEAN!

My Evil Timex

This evil Timex is a full out assault Timex that looks like it regularly emerges from the sea to cut throats and install puppet regimes in Third World Countries!  It's mere existence makes people in California cry. 
Of course, I've got another Timex Expedition Core Resin that is good to it's very soul.  If I'm taking granola bars on my expedition to see deer in the woods, I might want to wear it.  It looks like something that should every nature lover should wear.

My Good Timex

This leaves me in a watch quandary.  Which would you choose:  the Good Timex or the Evil Timex?

My Newest Timex Expedition Watch: Core Resin with Silver Bezel and White Dial

The  Timex Expedition series of watches is always appealing to me.  They are affordable, rugged, and well-designed.  Sometimes I think they are like potato chips.  You can't stop at just one!  I recently found this one on clearance at Walmart:

Timex Expedition Watch

It's just like my black Timex Expedition Core Resin but in much less militant garb.  The white face is readable and provides military time and the date.  It also has Indiglo backlighting for night time use.  The only drawback is that the cool looking bezel doesn't rotate.

Timex Expedition Watch in front of a Can Am Spyder

[Update in 2024:  My Timex Expedition Resin watch is running well after a long-needed battery change.  The Indiglo feature shines brightly when I press the watch crown.  The resin band did deteriorate and crumble after many years.  Fortunately, replacing it was a cinch.  Unfortunately, it now wears the strap from an Armand Basi watch that I crushed in an unfortunate battery replacement mistake.]

My Favorite Timex Watches for Everyday Wear

When it comes to watches, I have lots of slightly dressy watches for the office.  They have interesting designs and they tend to catch the eye.  They lend interest to my work day and sometimes get noticed by co-workers.  But, when I come home, they come off and take positions on top of my dresser.

I don't want to get them nicked up and battered.  Sometimes, they've gotten uncomfortable over the course of a workday.  When I get home I invariably reach for a bang around watch and--9 times out of 10--I reach for a Timex.  They are inexpensive, comfortable, rugged, and stylish.  At least, I like the way that they look.

Here are four of my very favorite "bang-around" Timex watches:

1. The Timex Expedition Core Resin.  Do you love those exotic commando dive watches that can handle 300 meters of depth and excel on raids in low light conditions?  Me too.  Do you $1500 to blow on a watch?  Me neither.  Are you a commando?  Me neither.  But, the Timex Expedition Rugged Core Analog Field Watch / T49831 / lets me daydream. This watch isn't perfect. The bezel doesn't turn and it is only water resistant to 50 meters. But, this watch looks totally cool.  It also has Indiglo lighting for those low-light adventures.

2. Timex Expedition Vintage Metal.  Of course, sometimes I want to be a bit more low key.  The Timex Men's T49891 Expedition Metal Field Brown Leather Strap Watch pays homage to the average G.I. It looks like it could have liberated Europe. But, it also looks great with my "Crocodile Hunter" shirt.

3.  Timex Weekender.  When it's time for a watch that is a little less intense, I like to wear my Timex Men's T2N637KW Weekender Sport Brown Leather Strap Watch . It's a great looking watch that is very comfortable and very easy to read.  I think it would go very well with a house in the Hamptons or on Cape Cod.

4.  Timex Elevated Classic.  When it comes to the perfect balance of form, function, and readability, I really like the Timex Men's T2N695 Elevated Classics Dress Sport Collection Black Leather Strap Watch.  The leather band is a tad wider than the one on the Weekender, too.

If you'd like to check out the most recent selection of Timex Men's watches on Amazon, check out this watch link.

Timex Expedition Military Field Watch

On Monday, I had the day off and I tried on a Timex Expedition Military Field Watch at Walmart.  The watch (shown below) has a stainless steel case, a small date window, and numerals denoting the minutes rather than the hours.  It has a cool vintage look.  Most importantly, it had enough band length to fit me with a decent amount to spare.  I'm not sure that the band is actually made of leather.  But, it is an attractive and rugged material.  This Timex is model T498749J and comes up almost any time you search for Timex Military.  For Father's Day, this watch might make a good choice.  Of course, my own dad is an expansion band kind of guy.

You can get this Timex watch here at Kohl's for $65 and, at least for now (5/14/2013), it looks like they have a Buy One, Get One Half-Off Deal going --

 

Nice Military Timex Spotted at Walmart

Timex has been bringing their A-game to my local Walmart.  I recently saw one of their premium military-inspired Expedition watches on display.  The price is competitive for this model as well.

A cool looking Timex Expedition

It's a little more rugged looking than my current Timex Expedition Military Field watch.  In black, it has tactical mall ninja written all over it.  They also have this style of Timex field watch for a reasonable price.  It's nice to see something interesting behind the watch counter again!

A Timex Expedition - Liberating Europe Locally

The Timex Expedition brand evokes action and adventure.  My Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Field Watch evokes the greatest generation, World War II, and the greatest crusade.  It seems like a bit of a shame to wear a Timex Expedition around the house.  So, one Saturday morning, I decided to liberate Europe by finding local landmarks with European flair!

My Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Field Watch

First, I marched on Paris - or at least a French boutique - where I found this miniature Eiffel Tower.

Then, with victory in hand, my mechanized unit moved like lightning to find our local Arc de Triomphe.  I call it, the Arc de Whatever.  Atlanta actually calls it the Millenium Gate.

It was a worthy destination for my field watch and a fun way to show it off! Click the link for my full review of the Timex Expedition Vintage Metal watch.

Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Field Watch Review

Need to liberate France? Here's the watch to wear - the Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Field Watch. It's got the classic looks of a vintage military field watch from World War II.

 

 A Retro Field Watch from Timex

With a weathered brown leather band and a retro dial, it really looks like something that the greatest generation would have worn during their crusade to liberate Europe.  But, beneath the vintage looks, this watch incorporates a modern quartz movement and Indiglo lighting technology. 

If you'd like to buy this watch or another classic men's Timex analog watch, you can find them on Amazon.

The Secret Life of a Watch Dude

Ever since high school, I have liked the James Thurber short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." It's about a man who daydreams of adventure while handling the mundane chores of life.  As a bit of daydreamer, I've always identified with the story.  As a watch collector, I find that each of my watches evokes a certain daydream and the possibility of grander adventures.  When you strap on a watch, you can momentarily be a soldier, a deep sea diver, a mountain climber, a sea captain, or a pilot with every glance at your wrist.

Do you feel the same way about watches in your collection?  For example, if you were or wanted to feel like one of the guys in the picture below, which of your watches would you be wearing? 

US DoD Photo (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons

In this case, I'd probably pick my Timex Expedition Core Analog Watch.  It has that all black diver-style look with luminous hands.

Timex Expedition Core Resin Analog 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.