Timex Weekender Review (38mm): All You Need To Know…

This Timex Weekender surprised me. For $31.49, I didn’t exactly have high expectations. Now, I won’t pretend that you could drive your Ford Raptor over it like, say, a Casio G-Shock. Nor will it impress in the boardroom. But damn, $30 – $60 bucks for something that delights your wife and adorns her wrist is beyond money well spent.

Now you may ask, why is it not adorning my wrist? Well, it did briefly. That is, until Colleen came home from work, laid eyes upon it and proclaimed it hers. I guess that proves that it’s a true Timex unisex watch. Interesting… I chose this particular Weekender among 15 variants because I thought it was the most masculine, i.e., with its black dial, military vibe and brown leather NATO strap. Looks like the copywriters and marketers knew what they were doing when they dubbed it unisex.

Timex Weekender 38 Case, Dial, and Hands

Now that I’ve revealed why I chose this particular watch, why was wifey so smitten? Turns out she doesn’t just like this Timex Weekender, she fawns over it. “It’s very comfortable, I like the black/brown contrast, it’s big but not too big, the military time is useful at work.” Not only that, she likes one of the things that I disliked about this watch….the hands. The silver finishing of the hands looks fine against the black dial, that is, until they stop reflecting light and melt away into the blackness. Turns out, she finds the chameleon effect to be “intriguing”. I respect that. Maybe it’s a Venus and Mars thing. Or maybe clarity is overrated.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes the Timex Weekender 38 so appealing and wearable. The case is made of brass with an attractive, polished silver finish. The dial is matte black with large Arabic numerals in a no-nonsense font. Military time is recorded on a concentric inner ring with smaller numerals. In addition to the silver hour and minute hands, a red seconds hand sweeps in one second increments. The dial is highly legible and the lack of a date window makes this a true “grab & go” watch.

Coming in at 38mm, the case diameter would satisfy Goldilocks and really hits a sweet spot in terms of size. In some ways, the case seems bigger than it really is because of the generously sized dial. The lugs, however, have a graceful, downward curve that enhances wearability for those with smaller wrists. Speaking of lugs, they have a 20mm width that offers plenty of alternative strap possibilities for those seeking variety.

A flat, mineral glass crystal tops the case off nicely. Mineral glass is more scratch-resistant than the acrylic material found in most inexpensive watches, although acrylic crystals have a slight advantage when it comes to impact resistance. In terms of water resistance, the case is rated at 30 meters which means you can probably splash a bit of water on it but swimming and bathing are off limits.

For those of you not familiar with Timex’s dial illumination, it’s called Indiglo and it’s one of the company’s hallmarks. A light press of the crown bathes the dial in a mild blue-green glow that is remarkably uniform, visually pleasing and completely practical.

The Movement

The Weekender 38 keeps accurate time due to its battery-powered quartz movement. The movement contains a small quartz crystal that vibrates at a measured frequency when exposed to the electric current supplied by the battery. Those vibrations, when passed through the watch movement’s circuitry, are counted in a way that translates into measurable time. The battery inside of this particular movement is massive which is a good thing because you will become addicted to pressing that Indiglo button.

With regard to the battery, you can replace it yourself rather easily. That isn’t the case with all quartz watches but Timex simplifies the process. Just take a look at the stainless steel case back and follow the trail of breadcrumbs left by Timex. The type of battery is thoughtfully engraved right in the center….CR2016. Let your eyes drift in a northeasterly direction and you’ll find a little triangle that points to the generously-sized slot where you can use a small lever to pry open the case back and expose the battery. (The case back will pop back into place with firm pressure.)

On the Wrist

With the Timex Weekender 38, we’re talking about something really handsome and comfortable. The leather strap is thin, soft and avoids the bulky feel of some NATO contraptions. There’s a welcome splash of color with the red seconds hand. The military time scale is practical and the blue Indiglo is just plain cool. All in all, it’s pleasing to wear, pleasing to look at and keeps accurate time.

Final Thoughts on the Timex Weekender

Other than the hands, there was only one other thing I didn’t like about the Weekender. It’s loud. Chinese Water Torture loud. I’m warning you, do not buy this watch if you just finished reading The Tell-Tale Heart. Luckily, the sock drawer muffled the quartz heartbeat enough for me to sidestep the onset of madness. Seriously though, in an otherwise quiet room, the ticking sound rivals that of a loud quartz wall clock.

There is something very pure about the Timex Weekender. It could be a boy or girl’s first watch. It could be a fashion choice to complement your attire or mood. It could even accompany you on a trek in the woods. If you aren’t sure about this variant, there are literally dozens of sizes, colorways and strap options offered by Timex. Why, for a mere $60, you could buy one to wear and another one to toss under a passing Ford Raptor. Check out all the dial options on Amazon.