Wristwatch Review: Timex Expedition Metal Brown Leather Strap Watch

My wife recently picked up a new Timex Expedition Metal for me at Walmart. Here it looks nice during an evening out on the town.

Timex Expedition Metal

Timex Expedition Features

It's a nice solid watch with a brass case, simple field watch looks, and 50-meters of water resistance. The watch doesn't have a date feature so you never have to worry about setting the date. The watch has some lume on the hands and numbers which looks really great when exposed to the light for a short time and fully charged up. One thing that should be noted about this particular Timex watch is that it DOES NOT have indiglo lighting in this metal case version. I think Amazon has several similar watch versions under the same listing. The result is some mixed up or co-mingled reviews.

Timex Expedition Metal w/Fully Charged Lume

Watch Dimensions

With a 40mm diameter case that is 9.5mm thick, this Timex fits well and is unobtrusive. 

Watch Wearing Experience

I recently took this Timex watch on an actual Expedition--a business trip anyway--and it was a great choice. One great thing about a watch at this price point (just over $40) is that you can travel without worry. You don't have to feel bad about this watch much when you go through airport security or navigate your way through a busy airport. 

My Timex before Take Off

Nothing panics me more than the potentially losing a watch on a business trip. I was in a full panic when I thought I lost my Perry Ellis watch last time I went somewhere. That's why I recommend traveling with a cheap watch. Here I've just left this Timex out on a hotel room desk with no worries.

Timex Expedition on a Hotel Room Desk

If you'd like to get this Timex, you can often find it at Walmart or you can just snag the Expedition Metal here off of Amazon. It's amazing how this watch can take on so many colors depending on the lighting conditions.

A Timex at sunset in the Airport

Overall Review

I like this Timex Expedition very much. While the lume can be a little weak at times, you don't have to fuss with the indiglo lighting coming on an off as you flex your wrist.  I also like the vintage feel of this classic watch style. It reminds me of my Timex Expedition Vintage Metal which also continues to soldier on. If you'd like to check out some of the other Timex Expedition watches in my collection, hit this site search result. Overall, this Timex is a winner. It's a versatile and affordable watch that looks good and is a great choice for most settings.

Watch Review: Timex Expedition Scout Metal Watch with Leather Strap

A Military Inspired Watch from Timex

I recently received this military-style Timex Expedition Scout watch (Model TK49963) as a Christmas gift.  It offers the simple masculine looks of a military field watch.

Timex Expedition Scout Watch Features

With a cream dial, large black numbers, and Indiglo backlighting, the Timex Expedition Scout is a wonderfully readable timepiece.  The dial has the 12-hours in big numbers and the 24-hours marked off in smaller inset numerals.  The watch is very readable except for the date window which is just inboard of the 3 o'clock marker.  At 50, I find that difficult to discern without reading glasses. 

The Timex Expedition Scout has a base metal case with the etched stainless steel caseback.  The watch takes a standard CR2016 battery.

For an inexpensive watch, the water resistance is a generous 50 meters. The brown strap is genuine leather with a soft suede exterior look and feel and a smooth leather back.  Stitching runs all along the borders of the strap.  The strap is secured via a standard buckle.

Timex Expedition Scout Watch Dimensions

The watch has a perfectly proportioned 40 mm diameter case.  This is large enough for easy reading without being oversized.  The watch strap is a little narrow, but is long enough to fit my rather large wrists.  At no point, will you look at this watch and wonder if it was designed for a woman.

I find this watch to generally be very comfortable for daily wear.  If the watch rubs anywhere, it is at the clasp buckle.

At night time, the dial can be illuminated by pushing in the crown.  However, as you can see from this night time shot, the watch is quite readable when illuminated by street lights.

Update 1/6/18

For some reason, a few days after I initially posted this review, the indiglo feature of my Timex stopped working.  The watch itself still runs just fine, but the dial no longer illuminates at the push of a button.  This is a bit of a disappointment since the backlighting is useful from time to time and it is a major selling feature of the watch.

Conclusion

Overall, I still like the looks of this Timex Expedition Scout watch.  I really like military-style watches and this Timex delivers that look at an affordable price.  The failure of the indiglo feature is the first problem I've ever had with a Timex and I may try to get a replacement via the warranty.  This watch retails for $59.99 at Kohls before applying Kohl's cash or various discount coupons that come with catalog mailings.  If you play your discounts and sales right, you can get this watch (with Indiglo backlighting) at a very affordable price point.  If your backlight function goes out, this watch is more like a $15 to $20 timepiece.  Additionally, Amazon has many affordable versions of this Timex Expedition Scout.

[Update:  I noticed on Amazon that Timex is now offering a solar-powered version of their 40mm Timex Expedition Scout watch.  No fuss. No muss. No batteries.]

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.]

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.