Watch Review: Kenneth Cole Reaction Camouflage Watch

On a recent trip to a Ross discount store, this Kenneth Cole Reaction watch caught my eye.  It had a flat black case, a black leather strap, and a darkly camouflaged dial with blacked out numbers.  Readers of this blog know, I love stealthy commando-style watches.  Since this Kenneth Cole watch was priced at less than $50, I had to add it to my collection.

Kenneth Cole Reaction Watch on Amazon

Kenneth Cole Reaction Watch Design

This watch has a flat black case and genuine leather strap.  The case diameter is 49 millimeters.  It is 12 millimeters thick.  The Amazon specifications list this watch as having a 22 millimeter strap, but I found that mine was actually 24 millimeters.

Kenneth Cole Reaction Watch Construction

This watch feels pretty solid with an alloy metal case and stainless steel caseback.  However, macho looks aside, the Kenneth Cole Reaction is clearly a fashion watch.  It is only rated as water resistant to 30 meters.  That's enough water resistance for a little rain and hand washing, but not much more.

This is not really a tactical watch.  However, it isn't priced like one either.  The quartz movement is powered by a standard SR626W battery.  The camouflage paint job on the dial is well done, but a little dark.  

You can see the detail in bright sunlight, but it is very dark in lower light conditions.  I would have also opted for wider watch hands so that the time was a tad more readable at a glance.

By far, the weakest link in the design is the synthetic leather strap.  I found it to be a little short with my wrist barely fitting with the use of the last hole on the strap.  


With a very minor flex of the wrist to do something as mundane as picking up a television remote control, the strap failed.  It was almost the most ignominious end to a promising addition to my watch collection.  What if I had been fast-roping out of a helicopter or rappelling down from the ceiling of an art gallery?

 

Fortunately, I pressed on and replaced the failed strap with an inexpensive black nylon NATO watch strap.  In my opinion, the new strap greatly improved the look of this watch.  The new strap is more utilitarian and brings a more purposeful military or "tactical" look to the timepiece. 





Now that my Kenneth Cole Reaction watch is back in action, I can go back to my imaginary life as a cat burglar on the French Riviera.  This watch fills the "stealth watch" void in my collection perfectly without busting the budget.
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 Overall Kenneth Cole Reaction Watch Review

Overall, I really like the look of the Kenneth Cole Reaction Camouflage Watch.  It does look cool.  However, I was disappointed in the durability and length of the original leather strap.

The NATO strap greatly improved the look of this wath and brought it back into my collection for about $10.  However, that is $10 I would rather spend on something else.

While I still enthusiastically wear this watch and love the stealthy looks.  However, I would give this watch a 3 out of 5 star review for the feeble faux leather watch strap.  It may still be a good value to add to your watch collection depending on the price.

Attention Commandos, Cat Burglars and Art Thieves - Here are Your Watches!

If you are a commando, a jewel thief, or a late night art collector, you need a watch that will work well in the dark. As movie goers know every good raid or exciting heist begins with synchronizing watches.

Jaubert commandos demonstrating a mock seaborne assault on the support vessel Alcyon during the Brest sea show of 2004 (July 2004).

I really like this Timex Military Classic because it embodies both military style and the covert style.  For less than $100, it's a good deal.

Timex Military Classic Expedition Watch

Most of us will never have a cool code name like Sea Ninja.  But, we can still get cool watches that would look perfect on a SCUBA commando.  I like the Insignum Subwave Black IP Dive Watch with a black dial and bezel.   It's a German-designed watch with all the expected dive watch features in a stealthy black package.  For capabilities like 200 meter water resistance, stainless steel construction, screw down crown, and 2x cyclops, it was a good deal at $248.00.  But, alas, the brand is no longer available in the U.S.

Insignum Subwave (photo courtesy of ZuluTimeZone.com)

Perhaps you like a Picasso for your living room?  There's sure to be one in any big city museum.  This Movado BOLD Fusion watch looks like the perfect watch for the cunning art thieves of this world.  It would be the perfect watch for a gallery reception or a late night visit.

Movado Bold Fusion Watch

My guide takes you from these into the realm of even more expensive watches.  But, the basics of stealth and capability stay the same.

[This article was updated in July 2024 to provide an updated Movado watch from Amazon.  Unfortunately, the Insignum has faded from the US marketplace and the Timex model is no longer available on Amazon.]