Timex Expedition: Fueling Our Nostalgia With The T5K463

Unlike many collectors, I never really had early experiences with digital Timex watches. I never had an Ironman or Expedition and I was stuck firmly in the Casio camp when I was younger—an aqua Baby-G I’ll never forget. Lately I felt as if I missed out on something but thankfully Timex has been getting it right when it comes to some of their current offerings. We’ve seen it with the Marlin and there are a bunch of other nostalgic models in their digital line-up, like this Timex Expedition T5K463 I’ve got here. And while it won’t make it as a “one-watch-collection” for me, it’s certainly been one of the most enjoyable digital watches I’ve experienced in recent years.

Timex Expedition watches mean so much to a particular generation of watch collectors. The same can be said about the Timex Ironman or Timex Triathlon, which really leave an impression on you as a watch fan if you were born in the 1980s. Launched in 1985, the Expedition platform has seen a ton of variation throughout the decades and I’d even argue that it has seen significant, real world military use (analog and digital variants) if you’re into that sort of thing. For me, this one just serves to fuel childhood nostalgia and cheap thrills if you manage to find it at a decent sale price.

Timex Expedition T5K463 Specs

Case Size	40mm x 45mm x 10.5mm
Water Resistance	100m
Movement	Timex Quartz
Battery Life	5 – 7 Years
Lug Width	19mm
Price Range	$35 – $60

Lightweight and durable case

Like any other great digital watch, this Timex is incredibly lightweight with a case that measures about 40mm in diameter. This resin case version also weighs just 30 grams but I found the quality of the case and strap material to contribute to the overall quality feel of the piece. We’re also at just 10mm thick here—so yeah, you’re barely going to feel this watch on-wrist. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that this watch came with 100m of water resistance. It just helps with added peace of mind while wearing the watch day to day.

Along the four corners of the case, we get four buttons that help us cycle through the watch’s functions. Those are labeled Indiglo, Alarm On, Set, and Mode. These buttons are perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the watch, as I had some issues pressing them down hard enough to the point of activation. I mean, I had to press down hard to get to that sweet Indiglo action and the buttons themselves are quite small. Also note that the lugs are 19mm wide. It’s something to think about since I’ve seen some folks swap straps in on this watch. There’s also a stainless steel caseback and an acrylic crystal, which both seem durable enough and of a quality that’s similar to some G-Shocks I’ve owned.

High-visibility dial

Within the round, glossy bezel we get the primary dial display with an array of markings that tell us about the watch. It’s all super retro and plays into a level of visual complexity that makes the watch feel vintage and futuristic at the same time. The tinted green display is paired with very large digital numeric blocks that makes full use of the screen size to display information. Speaking of the bezel—the printing looks crisp but I feel like the white coloring will probably be the first thing to fade out as time goes on. No matter what mode I found myself in, the information was displayed clearly.

There is, however, some visual distortion that can occur if you’re trying to read the watch at an angle. The display seems to just … disappear. Now, Timex fans won’t be surprised to know that the Indiglo function looks stunning in the dark. It makes for an incredibly clear readout but again, pushing the tiny button down is just a tad bit annoying. It’s the kind of thing that also took away from the satisfaction of starting the chronograph. But in total, I’m generally satisfied with the dial—day and night.

Simple, yet comfortable strap

The silicone strap included with the Timex Expedition T5K463 was surprisingly soft and comfortable—certainly better than I’ve experienced with some other entry level sports watches. While the lug width is a little weird, I do think it works well with the 40 mm case diameter. The strap is simple, has plenty of holes for adjustment, and has a very gradual taper down to what I believe is about 18 mm. I also enjoyed the fact that the band material was soft and didn’t attract dust like crazy—like some of those newer Seiko straps.

The vented pattern is also high quality and I wouldn’t mind wearing this on something analog like a Timex Camper or Expedition Scout. One thing to note; if you’re more of a stainless steel bracelet watch type person, Timex also offers a version of this watch with a faux stainless steel case and bracelet. I’ve also seen similar models on a fabric strap and a brown leather strap.

Feature-packed quartz movement

Powered by a CR2016 cell, the movement on this little Timex packs some impressive functions. This includes a stopwatch with lap feature, countdown timer, second time zone, alarms, and a full calendar. Of course, you’re getting quartz precision with it all and this thing has only gained a few seconds in the several months that I’ve had it. I do wish there was a way to hide the calendar info on the main timing setting to make room for that second time-zone, however. That’s what I get with the GW-6900 I have and I’ve just grown so accustomed to it.

Either way, this is infinitely cooler and more accessible than something like an Apple watch. I know those types of “movements” pack in more features but I’d miss the charm of a little digital rubber strap watch.

Final thoughts

It’s been interesting to discover the enthusiasm behind these watches while prepping for this review. For some reason, stock can be super limited, short-lived, and difficult to score at a regular price during checkout. Maybe its the unisex appeal, the fact that these still make for a great kids watch, or just a bunch of us trying to relive our childhood years in some way with a digital watch. Whatever it is, I found this little Timex to be a fun alternative to a G-Shock with more durability than something like a Timex T80. At the time of purchase, I scored it for just under $40.

If you can snag one, I’d highly recommend one of these as a fun weekend, exercise, or everyday watch.

Timex