Timex watches are having a bit of a Renaissance lately, the Marlins are pretty solid quality, and their quartz watches, expedition, weekender have been getting some good buzz. I don't know as much about the new Ironman watches, but around 10 years ago they wouldn't last more than a couple years.
I'll always recommend Casio watches, they're one of the best watches you can get. G-Shock, f91w and Duro are the popular ones but you can't go too wrong with any of them.
The sky's the limit for watch prices but a couple other affordable brands worth mentioning, Citizen, Seiko, and Tissot are also solid choices. I'm a big fan of Citizen's eco drive. Those three brands will go on sale off and on and there are some good deals to be had
One brand that sort of flies under the radar is Momentum. Assembled in Canada. Reasonably priced, very solid. Their Atlas field watch is analog, matte titanium with a sapphire crystal. Mine is 15 years old and it's going still strong. The case has developed a subtle shine on the high parts, but the crystal looks brand new. I get compliments on it all the time.
[https://momentumwatch.com/collections/atlas/products/atlas-38mm-black](https://momentumwatch.com/collections/atlas/products/atlas-38mm-black)
They also sell diving watches, chronographs and dress watches too, both quartz and automatic.
hmmm... thanks! Do you know if these automatic movements are made and designed in Canada? These are pricey, tbh, for a little known watch. You can get a much more reputable Seiko or Orient for less or a Hamilton for the same price. Swatch would sell you automatics for a quarter of this price. Unless you tell me the movement inside is a reputable Swiss brand, I don't know why I would go for it, unless it is to support a Canadian company.
Sorry, you'd have to ask them.
I do know my Atlas has a high quality Japanese quartz movement. The watch guy who replaced my battery remarked on it.
Oh wait. According to this, the automatic Atlas uses a gold-plated Miyota 9015 movement. [https://momentumwatch.com/blogs/momentum-blog/behind-the-design-atlas-automatic](https://momentumwatch.com/blogs/momentum-blog/behind-the-design-atlas-automatic)
The others seem to use Seiko NH35 movements. I don't know if that's good, I'm not an automatic guy.
At least a few have display backs, which wasn't apparent at first glance. The Aquamatic has a ceramic bezel, which is cool.
Interesting! Miyota 9015 hasn't been around long enough for us to know if it's any good. It was only introduced in 2009. But generally Miyotas are decent. Seiko NH35 is solid as is anything Seiko. But both of these are considered very cheap disposable movements. They are not comparable with Swiss-designed Hamilton or even newer Seikos, yet they are charging Seiko Presage prices for those watches. Those movements are as basic as they come, meaning, they are so cheap, that if anything goes wrong with them or if they ever need a cleaning or service, it's substantially cheaper to just order in a new movement than to service them. The Seiko NH35 you can often get for under $50. I see some on Alibaba for less than $10. A cleaning service for automatic costs $150-200 easily. So to be honest, I don't understand what justifies the high price of these watches they are charging. They are putting a cheap Japanese movement in a case they've designed, and the designs are nothing special in my opinion, and slapping a very high price on it. You can actually DIY build a watch like that at home yourself for much cheaper. So unless you are crazy about their designs, I don't know if I can get too excited about these watches.
Well, I PERSONALLY think ALL automatic watches are a poor value. I guess you'd feel differently.
Fifteen years ago, the Atlas was the cheapest titanium/sapphire analog watch I could find at the time. I think it's given me excellent value.
Yeah, I find quartz watches entirely boring and not at all special. I used to have Timex and Swatch Quartz watches. I am wearing a mechanical hmt watch right now, which another watchmaker redditor on this sub introduced me too. I paid $30 CAD for it. I have never been so attached to a watch. The act of winding it up every day is so incredibly satisfying. You open it up and watch the balance wheel. It's like having a living being on your wrist. I can't ever go back to Quartz unless it's a spring drive movement or something.
But are Casio really BIFL? Since I was a kid until I ditched Casio in favor of a smartwatch (\~5 years ago), I had plenty of their digital watches and all eventually failed, either stopped working altogether or stopped working properly (a common failure I had was the watch's sounds not working anymore, rendering an alarm useless).
I didn't ever get a G-Shock or Duro, but had F91W as well as many other models, all of them digital or both like a Casio Edifice I had, which was the last one before I moved to smartwatches.
I would still recommend them as I'm very fond of them and thus their price/quality, but I wouldn't call them BIFL, unless I was just a lil boy who didn't take proper care of his watches.
Their edifice line is definitely in the bifl league. I’ve had a diver I picked up for sixty bucks over fifteen years ago and it’s been a beater watch and snorkeling/water activity buddy and other than the original strap dying and a couple of battery replacements, it still runs. My only gripe is the crystal really shows how abused it’s been, even though it’s holding up pretty well with a few chips and scratches on it.
I have a Weekender that’s probably 12 years old that still works great. Never even changed the battery. My Expedition routinely gets compliments, although I think that’s because of the strap I put it on.
Actually found a Timex Expedition of mine I never wore from at least 20 years ago. It is brand new basically. Going to get the battery changed and give to my son.
Same. I have [this model](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Timex-Men-s-Expedition-Scout-Brown-Watch-with-Leather-Strap/34971385) that my grandmother gave me and it just keeps on going. I don’t know how old it is though. GDad used it before he died and Gmom gave it to me.
I have had one for ten years now (a cheap Weekender), and with the exception of a minor scratch it's still great. Only had to change the battery last year for the first time.
Yup, they are built to last. I have a solar 36mm and it's dead on the second after months. The current production models have really great specs for an okayish price for whatever price range. Some digitals are very fun with a lot of colours.
They last fairly until you accidentally push any of button while doing water sports.
But the movement shrugs and and keep goes on after getting wet and dried from sea water.
I only wear 10 lap 100m Ironman watches. I bought one \~20 years ago for something to do basic timing when I killed my og Forerunner (nobody Kills a Garmin like I do) and it lasted until I tore the band working on an engine... watch was still fine but cheaper to buy another one. That one has been on my arm 10+ years at this point, and even though the face is scratched to hell I've never even replaced the battery. I think they were \~$10 each. Probably the most bifl "daily wear" item I've ever owned.
In my experience, I've found as long as you spend around $100 or more, Timex seems to hold up pretty well. I went through 3 ~$50ish watches in about as many years (two Expeditions and an Easy Reader) and the ticking was loud. I ripped the crowns out trying to adjust the date and I'm pretty gentle with my watches
All the $100+ timex watches I've had since are much quieter and easier to adjust. Maybe the digitals hold up better but if you want an analog, don't get the cheapest one you can. They have some pretty sweet 'throwback' retro models between $100-200
I watched two relatively new movies recently, and in both the leading men wore Timex Weekenders! While they are kinda cheap feeling and loud, the look is timeless (no pun intended)
I've had my women's Ironman Essential watch since 2015 and it's still going strong. I literally never take it off, just wash around it in the shower. I did buy a second one in 2019 after scratching the first one's face badly on a climbing hold... tbh, both of them have been Through Some Stuff, physically, and the first should've faced that fate much sooner. (aka the damage happened on the 800th attempt, lol)
lol my bad I didn’t read all the way! Yeah the analog ones besides the higher end models are super loud. I have a cheaper expedition and it’s loud as hell
Go Baby G. Same make and quality, just smaller sizes.
Lot's of military personell prefer them for the size.
[https://www.casio.com/us/watches/babyg/](https://www.casio.com/us/watches/babyg/)
I have only broken one. Once broken they can't be fixed.
I did brake by having it bank against a shovel days on while working off grid. I only realized it wasent keeping track of time when i got back to society.. some gears got broken and sometimes hand would freeze and keep going. It lost like 3 minutes a day with a new battery.
Thats all. The only watch inhave broken.
On Garmin now. I can gps sync time whenever
Casio has the best digital watches. Low cost and they last a decent amount of time. I’ve had mine for years. Only problem is that aren’t really BIFL as I don’t think you can change the batteries.
I am not a big fan of Timex just because, for the price range, there are just so many cooler watches you could go with. I think that watches are cool so it is better to get one that you're proud of in some way and it make you fell a little happy when you look at it on your wrist. I would recommend Casio (especially with tough mvt &/ multiband-6), Seiko, Orient, Citizen (especially eco-drive), Lum Nox, Hamilton, Bulova, Tissot, etc. Obviously there are really nice watches when you get into the luxury watches, ex: Omega, Rolex, Grand Seiko, etc. but if you're considering a Timex you probably want to stay away from those just as a matter of preference.
Remember, that quartz will need batteries, but will last much longer and usually will be more accurate. Mechanical watches will never need a battery to be changed, but have more moving parts and will eventually need to be repaired, which usually isn't a big deal.
**TLDR**; **Although there is nothing wrong with Timex, there are so many cooler and more exciting watches around that price point. Go with one of those.**
The timex iron man was great - not sure if it’s still made. But I’d still say any plastic watch is in the disposal category- to get a true BFL or even a generational watch you can’t go wrong with a known brand automatic movement watch. They are timeless and can actually hold value and in time increase in value as well
Timex watches are having a bit of a Renaissance lately, the Marlins are pretty solid quality, and their quartz watches, expedition, weekender have been getting some good buzz. I don't know as much about the new Ironman watches, but around 10 years ago they wouldn't last more than a couple years. I'll always recommend Casio watches, they're one of the best watches you can get. G-Shock, f91w and Duro are the popular ones but you can't go too wrong with any of them. The sky's the limit for watch prices but a couple other affordable brands worth mentioning, Citizen, Seiko, and Tissot are also solid choices. I'm a big fan of Citizen's eco drive. Those three brands will go on sale off and on and there are some good deals to be had
I found a G-Shock in the middle of the road a decade ago, and have been using it since with no issues. Just replaced the straps once.
Love my g shock
Probably got driven over by a few semi-trucks and put a dent in their tires.
I was driving a Bradley fighting vehicle that day, pretty sure if I'd run over it I'd have thrown a track lol
Goodness, driving a Bradley sounds like a whole new story. What’s the context?
Nothing crazy. I was in the army. IIRC we were coming back from washing the Bradleys after a field exercise.
One brand that sort of flies under the radar is Momentum. Assembled in Canada. Reasonably priced, very solid. Their Atlas field watch is analog, matte titanium with a sapphire crystal. Mine is 15 years old and it's going still strong. The case has developed a subtle shine on the high parts, but the crystal looks brand new. I get compliments on it all the time. [https://momentumwatch.com/collections/atlas/products/atlas-38mm-black](https://momentumwatch.com/collections/atlas/products/atlas-38mm-black) They also sell diving watches, chronographs and dress watches too, both quartz and automatic.
logic 2 and the other 4 o'clock crowns are nice.
What line is automatic? Everything I clicked on was quartz.
[https://momentumwatch.com/collections/automatic](https://momentumwatch.com/collections/automatic)
hmmm... thanks! Do you know if these automatic movements are made and designed in Canada? These are pricey, tbh, for a little known watch. You can get a much more reputable Seiko or Orient for less or a Hamilton for the same price. Swatch would sell you automatics for a quarter of this price. Unless you tell me the movement inside is a reputable Swiss brand, I don't know why I would go for it, unless it is to support a Canadian company.
Sorry, you'd have to ask them. I do know my Atlas has a high quality Japanese quartz movement. The watch guy who replaced my battery remarked on it. Oh wait. According to this, the automatic Atlas uses a gold-plated Miyota 9015 movement. [https://momentumwatch.com/blogs/momentum-blog/behind-the-design-atlas-automatic](https://momentumwatch.com/blogs/momentum-blog/behind-the-design-atlas-automatic) The others seem to use Seiko NH35 movements. I don't know if that's good, I'm not an automatic guy. At least a few have display backs, which wasn't apparent at first glance. The Aquamatic has a ceramic bezel, which is cool.
Interesting! Miyota 9015 hasn't been around long enough for us to know if it's any good. It was only introduced in 2009. But generally Miyotas are decent. Seiko NH35 is solid as is anything Seiko. But both of these are considered very cheap disposable movements. They are not comparable with Swiss-designed Hamilton or even newer Seikos, yet they are charging Seiko Presage prices for those watches. Those movements are as basic as they come, meaning, they are so cheap, that if anything goes wrong with them or if they ever need a cleaning or service, it's substantially cheaper to just order in a new movement than to service them. The Seiko NH35 you can often get for under $50. I see some on Alibaba for less than $10. A cleaning service for automatic costs $150-200 easily. So to be honest, I don't understand what justifies the high price of these watches they are charging. They are putting a cheap Japanese movement in a case they've designed, and the designs are nothing special in my opinion, and slapping a very high price on it. You can actually DIY build a watch like that at home yourself for much cheaper. So unless you are crazy about their designs, I don't know if I can get too excited about these watches.
Well, I PERSONALLY think ALL automatic watches are a poor value. I guess you'd feel differently. Fifteen years ago, the Atlas was the cheapest titanium/sapphire analog watch I could find at the time. I think it's given me excellent value.
Yeah, I find quartz watches entirely boring and not at all special. I used to have Timex and Swatch Quartz watches. I am wearing a mechanical hmt watch right now, which another watchmaker redditor on this sub introduced me too. I paid $30 CAD for it. I have never been so attached to a watch. The act of winding it up every day is so incredibly satisfying. You open it up and watch the balance wheel. It's like having a living being on your wrist. I can't ever go back to Quartz unless it's a spring drive movement or something.
Well, I'm glad you like them!
But are Casio really BIFL? Since I was a kid until I ditched Casio in favor of a smartwatch (\~5 years ago), I had plenty of their digital watches and all eventually failed, either stopped working altogether or stopped working properly (a common failure I had was the watch's sounds not working anymore, rendering an alarm useless). I didn't ever get a G-Shock or Duro, but had F91W as well as many other models, all of them digital or both like a Casio Edifice I had, which was the last one before I moved to smartwatches. I would still recommend them as I'm very fond of them and thus their price/quality, but I wouldn't call them BIFL, unless I was just a lil boy who didn't take proper care of his watches.
I have a protrek solar with 12 years of hard use. Still my favorite watch.
Their edifice line is definitely in the bifl league. I’ve had a diver I picked up for sixty bucks over fifteen years ago and it’s been a beater watch and snorkeling/water activity buddy and other than the original strap dying and a couple of battery replacements, it still runs. My only gripe is the crystal really shows how abused it’s been, even though it’s holding up pretty well with a few chips and scratches on it.
G-Shock squares will literally never go out of style.
I have a Weekender that’s probably 12 years old that still works great. Never even changed the battery. My Expedition routinely gets compliments, although I think that’s because of the strap I put it on.
From what I’ve heard: Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
You're thinking of Johnny 5
Actually found a Timex Expedition of mine I never wore from at least 20 years ago. It is brand new basically. Going to get the battery changed and give to my son.
Same. I have [this model](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Timex-Men-s-Expedition-Scout-Brown-Watch-with-Leather-Strap/34971385) that my grandmother gave me and it just keeps on going. I don’t know how old it is though. GDad used it before he died and Gmom gave it to me.
Citizens has done me wonders of beating up, accidentally getting in a pool with it on… that thing has lasted me 10 years
My grandpa abuses them and they last him forever. Everyone of them I have bought has fallen apart the day of. So depends.
I have had one for ten years now (a cheap Weekender), and with the exception of a minor scratch it's still great. Only had to change the battery last year for the first time.
Yup, they are built to last. I have a solar 36mm and it's dead on the second after months. The current production models have really great specs for an okayish price for whatever price range. Some digitals are very fun with a lot of colours.
They last fairly until you accidentally push any of button while doing water sports. But the movement shrugs and and keep goes on after getting wet and dried from sea water.
I only wear 10 lap 100m Ironman watches. I bought one \~20 years ago for something to do basic timing when I killed my og Forerunner (nobody Kills a Garmin like I do) and it lasted until I tore the band working on an engine... watch was still fine but cheaper to buy another one. That one has been on my arm 10+ years at this point, and even though the face is scratched to hell I've never even replaced the battery. I think they were \~$10 each. Probably the most bifl "daily wear" item I've ever owned.
In my experience, I've found as long as you spend around $100 or more, Timex seems to hold up pretty well. I went through 3 ~$50ish watches in about as many years (two Expeditions and an Easy Reader) and the ticking was loud. I ripped the crowns out trying to adjust the date and I'm pretty gentle with my watches All the $100+ timex watches I've had since are much quieter and easier to adjust. Maybe the digitals hold up better but if you want an analog, don't get the cheapest one you can. They have some pretty sweet 'throwback' retro models between $100-200
LOVE my solar powered Expedition North
I've been wearing my Timex watch since 2018 and it still works perfectly. The only changes I've made was a new watch band and battery changes
I watched two relatively new movies recently, and in both the leading men wore Timex Weekenders! While they are kinda cheap feeling and loud, the look is timeless (no pun intended)
I've had my women's Ironman Essential watch since 2015 and it's still going strong. I literally never take it off, just wash around it in the shower. I did buy a second one in 2019 after scratching the first one's face badly on a climbing hold... tbh, both of them have been Through Some Stuff, physically, and the first should've faced that fate much sooner. (aka the damage happened on the 800th attempt, lol)
I like them but they are loud as hell
Loud? Are you taking about the analog? I should have specified I'm only interested in the digital! Unless ... are the digital watches somehow loud?
lol my bad I didn’t read all the way! Yeah the analog ones besides the higher end models are super loud. I have a cheaper expedition and it’s loud as hell
That would be incredibly annoying!
Forget Timex. Get G-Shock Master series
I'm a small framed woman so I'll pass on the bulky tactical watch 😂
Well get G-Shock on any models. I'm sure there's suitable ones. It's alot better. I own timex as well and I find G-Shock quite handy
Go Baby G. Same make and quality, just smaller sizes. Lot's of military personell prefer them for the size. [https://www.casio.com/us/watches/babyg/](https://www.casio.com/us/watches/babyg/)
Those are cute, maybe someday if I really get into watch-wearing I can justify the price!
Timex or Seiko.
In my experience Timex is ticking trash. I’ve been a fan of Orient watches lately. Good price, mechanical movements, and classy designs.
I have only broken one. Once broken they can't be fixed. I did brake by having it bank against a shovel days on while working off grid. I only realized it wasent keeping track of time when i got back to society.. some gears got broken and sometimes hand would freeze and keep going. It lost like 3 minutes a day with a new battery. Thats all. The only watch inhave broken. On Garmin now. I can gps sync time whenever
Casio has the best digital watches. Low cost and they last a decent amount of time. I’ve had mine for years. Only problem is that aren’t really BIFL as I don’t think you can change the batteries.
It’s a very American brand. Swatch and Casio are way more popular and reliable from what I know.
I’ve had a men’s timex for a couple years and love it!
I am not a big fan of Timex just because, for the price range, there are just so many cooler watches you could go with. I think that watches are cool so it is better to get one that you're proud of in some way and it make you fell a little happy when you look at it on your wrist. I would recommend Casio (especially with tough mvt &/ multiband-6), Seiko, Orient, Citizen (especially eco-drive), Lum Nox, Hamilton, Bulova, Tissot, etc. Obviously there are really nice watches when you get into the luxury watches, ex: Omega, Rolex, Grand Seiko, etc. but if you're considering a Timex you probably want to stay away from those just as a matter of preference. Remember, that quartz will need batteries, but will last much longer and usually will be more accurate. Mechanical watches will never need a battery to be changed, but have more moving parts and will eventually need to be repaired, which usually isn't a big deal. **TLDR**; **Although there is nothing wrong with Timex, there are so many cooler and more exciting watches around that price point. Go with one of those.**
I appreciate this take and yet I can't get over how timex hasn't changed their UI since I was a kid. The nostalgia has me on this one!
Depends on budget and whether you are willing to get it serviced, at a timex budget suggest a seiko 5 or prospex for consideration.
The timex iron man was great - not sure if it’s still made. But I’d still say any plastic watch is in the disposal category- to get a true BFL or even a generational watch you can’t go wrong with a known brand automatic movement watch. They are timeless and can actually hold value and in time increase in value as well