Sharp Watch Shoutout: The Timex Mod 44 44mm Leather Strap Watch

 If you are looking for an unusual watch with an interesting look, check out the Timex Mod 44 44mm Leather Strap Watch. It has a retro-futuristic looking case with a gold tone that looks like bronze. It also has numerals at 12, 6, and 9 that look like something from the 70s. It quite simply looks like a watch out of a science fiction movie. A watch this interesting simply doesn't come along at under $50 very often.  That's why this Timex earns a Sharp Watch Shoutout.

Timex Mod 44 Leather Strap Watch (Amazon photo)

The Timex Mod 44 also has an interesting TX logo design on the crown. It's just one of many ways that the watch captures the eye.

Timex Mod 44 Profile and Leather Strap

If you're interested in this Timex Mod 44 watch with a gold tone, check it out here on Amazon. In the ephemeral world of fashion watches, this sharp-looking watch might end up as a rare gem. If you'd like to see a similar watch with a multifunction dial in black, check out this Timex Mod 44.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Ed Hardy Stylized Mechanism Dial Design Quartz Watch

In the world of watches, skeleton watches are held in high regard because they expose the inner workings of a mechanical watch so that the wearer can enjoy watching the watch work. But, what if you wanted to see the gleam and shine of the machine with a quartz watch package?  This Ed Hardy watch is a traditional quartz watch with a dial that renders watch-like mechanisms in relief on the surface of the dial.  It's art instead of engineering.

An Ed Hardy Artistic Mechanism Design Watch

This watch really brings the bling to the wrist. It may not be a rugged, outdoorsmans, watch, but you can certainly signal a rescue helicopter to come your way.

This Ed Hardy Watch can reflect some light!

When you look more closely at the dial, you can see features like subdials and a date ring rendered in chrome relief. The photo below shows more of the details.  It's fanciful and fun.

The Ed Hardy Chrome Art Mechanism

Artistic designs in the form of Ed Hardy tattoo art and interesting dials like this are what make the Ed Hardy brand unique. I could see a watch like this appealing to artists, tattoo collectors, and motorcycle enthusiasts. I really hope to see more interesting art like this on Ed Hardy dials in the future.

Watch Sighting: Ed Hardy Watches at Walmart

Guess what I just saw at Walmart? Ed Hardy wristwatches. You probably knew that from the title of this post. But, I was shocked and surprised to see sizeable watch aisle end cap full of watches from the famed tattoo artist's brand. Two varieties on display caught my eye. The first (below) has the famed Ed Hardy "Love Kills Slowly" design.

Ed Hardy "Love Kills Slowly" Watch

The second design (below) was a variation on the skull watch.  It's cool to see a skull sculped into the watch dial itself.  This one also incorporates a rose design into the strap and what appears to be a serpent weaving its way through the strap and the skull. It's nice to see the tattoo art that Ed Hardy is renowned for incorporated into the watch designs.

An Ed Hardy Skull Watch incorporating a rose and chain motif on the strap

At Walmart, both of these watches are only $20.98. 

Once made synonymous with Jersey Shore and various reality TV and celebrity jackasses, the Ed Hardy brand has seen its ups and downs and has been in the hands of various branding companies for many years. Since 2021, the Ed Hardy brand has been licensed exclusively in North America by the American Exchange Group as part of a three year deal with the brand company Iconix Brand Group Inc. 

I never watched Jersey Shore and I don't keep too close of a track on fashion, so for me the Ed Hardy story boils down to a couple of key points:

1. You'll find Ed Hardy brand watches in Burlington, Ross, and just recently, Walmart stores for very affordable prices.

2. Ed Hardy's tattoo art is cool looking and has a lot of visual appeal.

It's kind of cool that the Ed Hardy brand and the artistry of these watches are now available to so many people through affordable outlets. I find that these watches definitely add variety to a watch collection. I'll probably add more myself as time and finances permit. 

 

Watch Wearing Wednesday: The Ed Hardy Skull Watch

Since the Halloween month is upon us, it's time to break out a spooky watch or two. If you are looking for a little watch wickedness, check out this inexpensive watch from Ed Hardy. It's got the whole sinister skull thing going on.

Ed Hardy Skull Watch

While the black & white photo really makes the skull in relief on the dial pop, the watch is a bit more subtle in day-to-day wear.  Since the color scheme is black on black, you don't necessarily notice the skull from all angles and in all lighting.

Ed Hardy Skull Watch

Keep an eye on this blog for an upcoming post on where I've found Ed Hardy watches lately!

Wristwatch Review: Caravelle Sports Quartz Men's Watch with Black Nylon & Leather Strap

If you are looking for a great deal on a sinister looking watch designed by Bulova, you'll want to check out this Caravelle Sports Quartz Men's Watch. I've had one for a couple of months now and I really like it.

A Caravelle men's sports watch

Caravelle Watch Design

This Caravelle Sports watch has a black dial with a "carbon fiber" stippled pattern in the center of the dial.  CARAVELLE appears in the top quarter of the dial and 50m denotes the water resistance in the bottom quarter.  A small date window is positioned just above the hour marker at the 6 o'clock position. A smooth track around the perimeter of the dial has raised batons to note the hours.  Each baton is a green color and is outlined in black.  Numerals with the same color and outlining mark the 12 and 6 o'clock positions.  The Bezel has a slight coin edge, but does not rotate.

A look at the nylon strap reinforced with leather on a Caravelle watch

Caravelle Watch Dimensions

This watch has a 41mm diameter case that is 10mm thick.  The strap is 20mm with a very slight taper.  Overall, it's a nice size: substantial but not overwhelming.

Watch Construction

The watch has a black coated stainless steel case and caseback.  I'll ding this watch slightly for workmanship as I did have a quality issue initially in that the crown or stem didn't want to push in completely (not due to a spacer). I was able to pop the case back off, push in the stem, and pop the caseback on again. After that I was able to set the watch and it works perfectly.

Overall Impression

I like this watch.  It fulfills the Caravelle mission of bringing a solid value in for consumers at an affordable price point.  

A Quick Video Look at this Caravelle on X

Here's a video that I posted @the_watch_dude on X.

Here's a quick video look at the Caravelle Men's Quartz Sports watch with nylon and leather strap. (2/2)#WatchAddict #WatchLover #Review pic.twitter.com/lFMHEIPO1M

— TheWatchDude (@the_watch_dude) August 3, 2024

Unfortunately, this Caravelle watch is no longer available on Amazon.

Watch Review: Accutime Star Wars Millenium Falcon Pocket Watch

Sometimes the watches that add the most fun to a collection are the watches that don't cost much at all.  They are the watches that take you to a different time and a different place.  In the case of my new Accutime Star Wars Millenium Falcon pocket watch, it takes me to a galaxy far, far, away.

Some folks can just close their eyes, use the force, and know what time it is.  I'm not one of those folks.  I like to use a watch.  I picked up this one a few months ago at Walmart. It's an Accutime Star Wars Millenium Falcon pocket watch and it is pretty cool.  The detail of the watch cover is simply spectacular for a sub-$20 watch.  The timepiece is an officially licensed piece of Star Wars merchandise made by Accutime.

The dial features a top-view of the Hans Solo's famous freighter.  It's a nifty detail, but not nearly as spectacular as the case cover.  The watch does feature a Japanese quartz movement for reliability.

The scalloped interior detail of the case cover is a nice touch.

There are many more expensive and prestigious Star Wars themed watches.  For example, Nixon makes a very nice line of Star Wars watches.  Citizen also offers a Millenium Falcon watch.

However, the low price point at Walmart brings this watch into the realm of spectacular.  This watch is cheap fun!  It makes me happy to see Star Wars merchandise and gear available at every price point.

I plopped the watch down on a fire hydrant near my home so that I could capture the watch from a couple of different angles.

No matter how you look at this pocket watch, it just looks cool.  It does successfully evoke the Millenium Falcon feeling.

As far as practicality goes, the Millenium Falcon watch has all the drawbacks of an old fashioned pocket watch.  With the chain, it's a lot to put in a pocket and if you have to pull something out of a pocket to tell the time, it's easier to pull out a cellphone.  Thus, this collectible is not a watch I take with me very often or use much.  But, it is a watch I enjoy handling and looking at.  I do throw it in my pocket ever so often.

Practical?  Maybe not.  Pretty yes!

If you are a nerd, this might just be your watch.  If I had no cares about fashion at all and totally wanted to geek out, a Star Wars tee shirt and this watch on a Medallion would be THE outfit.

It would be ridiculous to put together a point-by-point review of this watch.  It's just inexpensive fun.  If you are a fan of the Star Wars films, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the Millenium Falcon, this is just a cool watch to own.

Watch Sighting: Armitron Watch with Sub-dials at Walmart

Watches are one of the few fashion accessories men enjoy.  They are a practical means of self-expression.  They also convey a perception of social status.  Thus, when it comes to watches, a luxury look and feel can be just as important as practical function.  That's why this Armitron analog watch with tachymeter markings and sub-dials caught my eye on a recent stroll through Walmart.  It has the look of a luxury brand timepiece.

When I see an Armitron watch like this with a great look, nice features, and an affordable price tag, it really makes me wonder what the advantages of a more prestigious name brand would really be.

Wristwatch Review: Men's Pulsar Chronograph Dress Watch with Roman Numerals

Examining a Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch from Pulsar

Power, sophistication, and sensibility are the perfect combination for a man's dress watch. Does the Pulsar Chronograph Model PT3399 demonstrate all three? I received one for Christmas 2013 and will look for those qualities.

Pulsar Chronograph Model PT3399

[This is a re-print of a review that I published on the now defunct Yahoo Voices.  As of 2024, this watch is unavailable, but mine still looks like a million bucks.]

 Watch Style. Roman numerals on a dress watch always up your game. Instead of piloting an aircraft or driving a sports car, a dial with Roman numerals suggests that the wearer is likely to pilot a major corporation or drive an important court case. It's a different kind of power and the Pulsar PT3399 demonstrates it. Roman numerals circle a silver dial with XII exerting its authority with a larger font in blue. The hour, minute, and second hands are done in the same blue. The hour and minute hands have a luminous white insert for night visibility.

This Pulsar has chronograph subdials at three, six, and nine o'clock. The subdials are silver with small black arabic numerals on raised rings. The subdial at three o'clock provides the 24-hour time. Seconds are provided at six o'clock and minutes are provided at nine o'clock. The pushers work well to activate, stop, and reset the chronograph subdials. However, I wouldn't really use this watch to time anything athletic.

A date window is canted and sits between four and five o'clock just inboard of the numeral track. The date and all of the other numerals on the watch are readable even with my aging eyes.

The watch itself is all stainless steel with the bracelet and case elegantly alternating high shine and flat satin finishes. The bracelet has a fold over clasp with push button. It fit me well with a little room to spare, but smaller wrists may need to remove a link or two. I think this watch is very sophisticated looking.

Watch Size. The diameter of this watch is officially 43 millimeters but that's about 45 millimeters counting the crown or pusher buttons. It is 10 millimeters thick and has a wide bracelet that measures 21 millimeters at the lugs and 20 millimeters at the clasp.

Watch Construction. Despite the Roman numerals, this Pulsar is built with a respectable water resistance rating. The watch has a hardlex crystal. It also has a screw down caseback. These features help the PT3399 achieve 100 meters of water resistance. Since Pulsar is a Seiko brand, it has a reliable Japanese quartz movement.

Price. The suggested retail price for this watch is $175. However, with smart shopping at Kohl's, my wife was able to get a considerable discount for this watch on sale.

Overall. I like this Pulsar Chronograph very much. It has the classic, powerful, styling that is seen in many far more prestigious mechanical watches. This Pulsar has Roman numerals to up the sophistication game. Plus, it has a reliable, economical, Japanese quartz movement. The Pulsar PT3399 has everything I look for in a dress watch. This watch will be my go to dress watch for important meetings, job interviews, and other important business functions.

Sources:
www.kohls.com
www.pulsarwatchesusa.com

Judging Cheap Watches

When it comes to cheap watches, you don't have brand prestige as a factor.  There is no halo effect for no name watches at Walmart.  Instead, you have to judge a cheap watch on three things:

1. How well does it function?
2. How comfortable does it fit?
3. How good does it look?

Finally, the best cheap watches don't look cheap.  If people see the watch and are wowwed, then the designer has done his or her job.

Here are three of my favorite cheap watches.

1. Rumours Analog Quartz Watch.  This watch has been in my dresser drawer for years.  When my brother-in-law first saw it, he rushed over and asked if it was a TAG.  I laughed because I bought it at a close out store.

Rumours Quartz Watch with Rotating Bezel

 

2. Structure Instrument Panel watch.  My lust for a Bell & Ross Instrument Panel watch coincided with the great recession.  Fortunately, this Structure watch came through until the fad had passed.

Structure Brand Instrument Panel Watch

3. Casio Forester.   In a world full of meaningless model numbers, this Casio stands out.  It has a name.  The name means something.  The Casio Forester is the perfect watch for a walk in the woods.  It's rugged, cheap, and comfortable.  Most come in some shade of green.

Casio Forester Watch

The Xezo Air Commando: A Bad Ass Watch for a Good Cause

Sometimes when I browse Amazon, I come across some really cool watches.  For example, to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force 1st Air Commando Group and promote a good cause, Xezo watches created the Air Commando Pilot Diver Automatic watch.

The 1st Air Commando Group fought against the Japanese in Burma.  They supported guerilla forces that operated far behind enemy lines.  Today, they have evolved into the modern Air Force's elite 1st Special Operations Wing.

A P-47 Thunderbolt of the 1st Air Commando Group Takes off in 1944:  Photo by United States Army Air Forces [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This watch has the good looks that you'd expect of any commando watch.  It also has a Citizen Miyoto movement, a 45 millimeter diameter case that is 13 millimeters thick, and a 22 millimeter wide bracelet.  The Xezo Air Commando is water resistant to 200 meters.  The Air Commando watch can take anything you care to dish out.  The crystal is a "flat scratchproof Swiss-Made sapphire crystal glass with antireflection treatment."  Overall, it looks like a bad ass watch for a good cause.

[It's been nine years since I made this post.  As of 2024, Amazon still shows a few of these Xezo watches as being available. The only current listing for the watch model is this Air Commando (below).  The company's current offerings are primarily nice pens and sunglasses. The Unite4Good website now appears to be some sort of Indonesian video game site so I have removed the link.]

My Poor Man's Perrelet - Sharp Turbine Style Watch

I really like the spinning rotor designs of Perrelet watches, but they are way out of my price range.  However, I have a Sharp-brand quartz watch from Kmart that pays a bit of homage to the rotor turbine watches of Perrelet.  I like to wear the one pictured below from time to time.  

Sharp Rotor-style Watch from Kmart

While the rotor doesn't spin, the hub and spoke motif are timeless.

Mens Watch Review: Stainless Steel Armitron with Leather Band

Every once in a while, a watch will strike me as being perfect. So it was with my most recent watch purchase a stainless steel Armitron with a leather band. With the catchy name like Model 20/4859GNSVBN, the watch had to beckon me by looking better than all the other men's watches at Kohl's in the Christmas of 2012. It looked better than any Timex, any Relic, any Citizen, any Seiko, any Caravelle, and almost any Bulova except the vaunted (and 10 times more expensive) Precisionist.

Armitron Stainless Steel Watch

Why was this Armitron so attractive? Besides being a shiny, gleaming, watch under department store glass, this Armitron combined the simple, manly, functional style of a military watch with the panache and flair of a showy high tech sport watch.  It also features an accurate Japanese quartz movement.

Watch Dimensions. This Stainless Steel Armitron has a military-style dial in a stunning silver-on-silver color scheme set into a solid-looking 43-millimeter diameter all stainless steel case. At 15 millimeters thick, the watch is robust without being monstrous or inconvenient at the office. The crown is thick and is circled by a grey rubber accent strip that makes pulling the crown and setting the watch a breeze.

 Armitron Model 20/4859GNSVBN

Watch Dial Style. The Arabic numerals denoting the hours are of a shiny silver-tone color that contrasts with the lighter silver-tone complexion of the dial. The sunray dial itself is subtly divided into four quarters that give the face a faceted look. When combined with the inner black circle with tiny 5-minute markings, the watch evokes the look of a rifle-scope crosshairs. Grey and white accents the perimeter of the dial (technically called the channel ring) of this watch. It's the angled upslope under the crystal from the watch face to the case. This perimeter area is also put to functional use with 24-hour markings for the hours and hash marks for the minutes.

My Stainless Steel Armitron Running Strong in 2024 with a new battery

Watch Pricing. Like all Armitron watches, my new wristwatch was affordable. Kohl's had it for $89.99, but offered considerable Christmas season sale discounts. However, the low price point manifests itself in one obvious drawback to this watch. The 18.5 centimeter brown leather band that came with the watch was a tad short for my wrist. I swapped the band for a diver-style rubber band from Timex. It fits well, has lots of room for expansion, and enhances the rugged look of the watch. I'd love it if watch companies offered a free or low cost watch band swaps with a watch purchase to ensure that any purchase fits well.

Overall, I really enjoy my new Armitron watch. It is a practical, readable, rugged and rich looking timepiece.

[While I can't find this Armitron for sale in 2024, there are lots of reasonably priced Armitron watches available on Amazon.]