Watch Wearing Wednesday: Rumours Men's Quartz Watch with Rotating Bezel

Sometimes wearing a cool watch brings great joy.  The watch doesn't have to be expensive.  It just needs to be cool. One of my coolest and one of my oldest watches is this silver-on-silver quartz watch from Rumours.  If it cost me $20 new, I would be surprised.

Rumours Men's Quartz Watch

Why do I like this watch?

That's a good question.  It just seems to have a certain something, something.  First of all, it has Silver-and-Silver as a color palette and that is almost always good.  Second, it has a unidirectional rotating bezel which is perfect for timing pizzas in the oven and other important elapsed time activities.  I've posted on my criteria for judging cheap watches before.  This watch just hits all the right marks for me.

This Rumor Watch has Silver on Silver in Spades

Watch Size Matters

The other thing that I like about this watch is its size and weight.  It doesn't sit high on the wrist and can fit under any cuff.  It's lightweight and you can wear it comfortably all day.  Finally, it has smooth edges and it doesn't dig into the wrist so it is comfortable.

The metal bracelet for this watch is comfortable

Overall

This isn't a review.  You'd be hard pressed to find this watch on ebay or Etsy.  This is just a cool watch from my collection and a reminder that brand, movement, and pedigree aren't everything.

A Rumours-brand Watch takes a bow on a restaurant table

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

Off Brands on Point: Rumours Quartz Watch

Some of my favorite watches are from off-brands that sell at Department Stores.  For example, my Rumours watch (below) has a very cool monochromatic look.  I bought the watch over a decade ago in a department store.  But, I recently popped in a new battery and it runs great.  When it comes to quartz movement watches, sometimes all you need is a fresh battery.  This watch wasn't expensive, but everytime I wear it, I remember why I bought it.

Vintage Rumours Quartz Watch

If you are looking for a watch battery, (as of 2025) there are about 7000 watch battery listings on Amazon.

Wristwatch Review: the Timex Men's Elevated Classics Dress Watch

A Business Casual Timex Delivers Looks, Performance, and Value Rugged watches that deliver can cost thousands of dollars. But, sometimes, you can find a real gem of a watch for less than $50. This watch review looks at one such example: the Timex Elevated Classics Dress watch (Model T2N6959J). 

 [I originally published this review on the now defunct Yahoo Contributors Network!]

We all have certain expectations of a man's watch. We demand highly visible numbers, excellent night visibility, readable hands, water resistance, and tough metal construction. These demands drive an industry dedicated to the production of precision timepieces that can satisfy the deep sea diver, secret agent, or commando that lurks within each of us. Rugged watches that deliver can cost thousands of dollars. But, sometimes, you can find a real gem of a watch for less than $50. This watch review looks at one such example: the Timex Elevated Classics Dress watch (Model T2N6959J).

This Timex is so humble that it doesn't seem to even have a proper name. Yet, this watch is rapidly becoming my "go to" watch. This Timex simply has the most readable dial of any watch in my collection. Of course, the Timex Indiglo lighting system is the coolest feature of all on this watch. By simply pushing the crown, the whole face of the watch gets illuminated. This makes the watch easy to read even in total darkness.

The dial of this Timex Indiglo watch makes sense. The stark contrasts and plain fonts make this watch very easy to use. Black numbers reside at three, six, nine, and twelve o'clock on a starkly contrasting white grid background. Large black hashmarks mark the remaining hours on the face. A readable date window is positioned just inboard of the three o'clock position. Minutes are noted by smaller numerals and tick marks on the upslope of the bezel just under the mineral glass crystal. The surface of the bezel has diver style numerals at five minute intervals.

Unfortunately, these markings are useless because the bezel is fixed. That's really the only drawback to this watch. I love rotating diver-style bezels because they are great for timing pizzas--uh--monitoring air in scuba tanks and timing commando raids. The caseback is stainless steel. The case and bezel look like stainless steel, but are made of silver-toned brushed brass. It looks like stainless steel, but allows Timex watches to sell at a more affordable price. A simple genuine 20 millimeter wide leather strap attaches the watch to your wrist. This watch seems a little less likely to want to rotate around my wrist than my Timex Weekender Chronometer-style watch. This watch is equally well-proportioned with a 42 millimeter diameter face and a 10 millimeter thick case.

Overall, this Timex is an excellent business casual men's watch. It is equally at home in the office or at play. While it isn't a full-fledged scuba diver, commando, parachutist watch, this Timex Elevated Classic does offer water resistance to 50 meters. At $40 to $50, this very practical watch is a great value.

The Best Watch Choice After Midnight

Atlanta talk radio personality Neal Boortz once declared, "Nothing good happens after midnight!"

Timex Elevated Classic in Atlanta before Midnight

The former WSB morning radio host is right.  Of course, he was talking about everything from drunk driving crashes to muggings and murders.  In a big city like Atlanta there is always bad news happening on the streets sometime after midnight.  When it comes to crime avoidance, there are a number of tricks that anyone can use to minimize their risk.  One of my favorite tricks is to wear a humble watch, a plain tee-shirt, nondescript jeans, and average tennis shoes.  There is a time and a place to wear a statement watch and show the world your social status.  That time and place is not a big American city at night time.  That's why I typically reach for a Timex before going out at night.

Timex Weekender with Tachymeter markings

The Advantages of a Timex Watch

Watches like my Timex Elevated Classic and my Timex Weekender are easy to read at night and they have Timex Indiglo lighting so that I can always know the time.  At less than $60, these watches don't attract unwanted attention and they don't make me look like a more attractive target for criminals.  When you need a watch that tells time, looks good, but isn't ostentatious, a good Timex fits the bill perfectly.

Wristwatch Review: Casio Forester Men's Analog Watch

An Affordable Watch for Adventurers 

The G-shock and Pathfinder are not the only Casio watches for adventurers, this review covers the humble Casio Forester. This earth-tone watch provides an affordable analog alternative to digital watches. While Casio is best known for digital watches, they also make a wide variety of analog watches. One of my favorites has long been the Casio Forester Model FT500WV-1BV. It's an inexpensive analog watch with an attractive velcro, nylon, and synthetic leather strap that fits anyone. The watch has a Japanese movement, stainless steel back, and plastic case. This Chinese-assembled case measures 42mm x 40mm x 11.5 mm. If you get rained on, it's reassuring to know that the Casio Forester is water resistant to 100 meters.

Casio calls this watch an "illuminator" as the face can be lit by pushing a button at the 3 o'clock position where the crown would normally. The crown has been moved to the 4 o'clock position where it is less likely to dig into the back of your wrist. The case has been bumped out on the sides to protect the illumination button. While I often accidently light up my entry-level Timex Expedition Camper-style watch, the Casio's case effectively precludes accidental activation.

Like the Timex Expedition, the Casio Forester provides 24-hour or "military" time in small numerals set inside of the primary 1 through 12 numerals. The Forester also provides the date in the familiar 3 o'clock position. The case and bezel for this watch are a little larger than the slim round Timex. The bulged out case and bezel evoke the more popular G-shock look and provide a modicum of protection for the watch face and crystal. The dark green and black of this Casio's case and band give this watch a distinctly masculine look. It looks like it is ready for a hike or military exercise.

Of course, no watch is perfect and there are definitely flaws in any $20 to $30 watch. First, the battery in this Casio is difficult for most people to change. Indeed, this is my second Casio Forester. My first gave me great service for about two years, but when I tried to replace the watch battery it proved to be an impossible task. Second, the nylon band fits everyone, but has a velcro strip all the way around the watch. It can certainly attract dust and lint. Finally, the toughness of this watch is undermined a bit by a plastic case. After several days of wearing metal dress watches like my Pulsar to work, I felt a little under-dressed wearing the Forester to work.

A Casio Forester at Walmart for $21.92 in 2024

Overall, the Casio Forester is still a cool looking little bang around watch for weekend wear and a good value for $30 or less. When I put on my adventurer's hat, I choose the Casio Forester for my expeditions.

[This review was originally published on Yahoo Contributors Network.  Since initial publication, it's become even easier to find good prices on the Casio Forester.]

[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.] 

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