It tapers from 22mm end links to an 18mm clasp and looks nice enough with its brushed and polished links and signed bi-fold clasp.

It’s not a deal-breaker, but certainly worth noting.Īnd now, we get to the bracelet. It looks fine at a normal distance, but once I really pressed my nose into it, I could see voids and thin spots. My only complaint about the dial is that the print quality is imperfect.

It does not produce a particularly long lasting glow, but don’t worry, the trademark Timex Indiglo pops to life with a push of the crown. They are filled with green-white lume, as are the four primary markers. Polished sword and pencil hands underscore the vintage military look. Timex also offers a beige face model as well as a vibrant blue for those seeking something more sporty. The dial’s layout combines Arabic numbers, blocks, a central triangle, and a bracketed 4 o’clock date window, lending the watch a military appearance, particularly when presented in this muted black and taupe color scheme. Not so on the Waterbury, which went about its business without raising its voice.

Anyone who has ever owned a Timex Weekender knows its characteristic high-volume tick. I should also note that this is a quiet movement. As is common on lower-end quartz chronographs, the buttons were mushy, lacking positive tactile feedback or crisp engagement, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the sweep hand hit its marks dead-on every time. The chronograph function will run for a total of four hours, after which it will automatically stop and reset. A push of the bottom button resets the 1/20th and the sweep hand to zero. Pressing the top button starts and stops the timer. The needles are polished and orange-tipped, including the sweep hand. The small seconds is a printed partial crosshair at 6 o’clock with the model script below. The first two are recessed, textured, and set high in the dial so the 30-minutes cuts off a bit of the 10 o’clock numeral. It is a three-register chronograph: 30-minutes, 1/20th of a second, and small seconds. Timex does not provide any details about the movement except to say that it is an analog quartz. Neither the buttons nor the crown are signed but I wouldn’t expect them to be at this low price point however, the case back bears deep stamping that includes the early-American Waterbury logo. Its chronograph buttons have broad, flat heads that extend beyond their shafts for more comfortable operation, and the crown is coin edged and proportionate. Case sides are ever so slightly rounded, softening the overall appearance. There no unpleasantly sharp edges to be found, even between the lugs. Radial brushing atop the lugs offsets the otherwise polished surfaces. It is water resistant to 50m and displays an impressive level of fit and finish. Unlike many Timex models, the Waterbury’s case is all stainless steel. If you prefer a more traditional look, you can look you can choose a 40mm or 38mm 3-hand model instead. Measuring 42mm wide, 13mm thick, and almost 52mm long, the chronograph is the largest model in the collection yet I still found it to be a nice fit on my smallish 6.5″ wrist, thanks in no small part to slim tapered lugs that hook below the case. Retro cues include a tall mineral crystal, muted dial printing, and the Waterbury logo in an old-fashioned script with decorative swashes looping from the “W.” Timex gave me a TW2R24900ZA chronograph on a steel link bracelet, which retails for $139.

The line consists of a mid-century modern model, two Explorer variants, and a few military-inspired three-handers and chronographs. Timex designed this collection to honor the company’s 160-plus years in Waterbury, Connecticut, and in doing so, stayed truer to the vintage spirit than many luxury brand reissues. That is a shame because they are missing out on some charming watches like this Timex Waterbury Chronograph. They produce so many watches for so many purposes for such low prices, buying one is almost inevitable, and yet, whether because of their ubiquity or in spite of it, they are frequently overlooked by many watch nerds. Maybe it’s the first watch you own as a kid ( like me), or that dirt cheap Weekender you buy on a whim ( I did), or maybe you want a fitness tracker that doesn’t look like a prop from Logan’s Run ( this one doesn’t). At some point in your life, you are going to own a Timex.

Timex waterbury chronograph