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.

18 thoughts on “Timex Weekender Review (38mm): All You Need To Know…”

  1. I’ve been running a Weekender since January 2013. It’s still on the original battery despite heavy Indiglo use; totally a practical watch and I would never pay more for any quartz.

    Reply
    • Hi Peter,

      Thanks for your comment. These are good everyday watches that manage to look great but not empty your wallet. A no-brainer really.

      Reply
    • Hi Samir,

      Ah, much has been written about this topic and opinions vary. From my understanding, a dive-worthy wristwatch probably needs a pressure rating of at least 10 Atmos or 100 meters. Most modern dive watches are typically rated at 200 meters (or better), have a screw down crown and have been subjected to pressure testing. That doesn’t mean you will damage your 50 meter watch if you go for a swim but you are likely assuming some additional risk. Water intrusion at depth could happen due to compression of the crystal or case back or because the crown is not adequately sealed. With respect to this Timex, it has a loose-fitting and skimpy rubber gasket that I would not trust with immersion. Great question!

      Reply
    • You can find the definitions of watch depth ratings online; according to most,
      “A water-resistance level of 30 meters means the watch can withstand splashes of water. A level of 50 meters means that it can be worn for swimming in shallow depths. A level of 100 meters means it can be worn snorkeling and a level of 200 meters or more means it can be worn scuba diving.”
      WatchTime – USA’s No.1
      Watch Magazine

      Reply
  2. Great watch, except for that ticking. It drives me nuts. I tried to force myself to get used to it by never taking it off in a quiet room. I swear I hear ticks now for the first few seconds when I am in a quiet place. Had to switch to a Seiko 5 even though I didn’t like the dial as much.

    Reply
    • Hi Alex, I know just what you mean. I don’t think my wife notices it so much anymore but I can see how it would be a deal breaker for you.

      Reply
  3. I have a unplanted brass 40mm Weekender that bought on eBay for $28.00. It is unbelievably accurate for some weird reason. I know it’s an anomaly, but next to my Certina DS 2 Precidrive, that’s thermally compensated, it’s the most accurate quartz I own. Great little watch, and a diamond in the Timex movement ruff.

    Reply
  4. Hi Chris,

    Thanks for sharing that observation about your Weekender’s timekeeping. Wow, if it’s even close to your Precidrive, that’s impressive because those movements are dead accurate.

    Reply
  5. Excellent review! I recently received a Weekender in a collection of other watches, and the busted crystal tells me that it took a great fall, and no longer functions. I have tried new batteries, a bit of oil, spinning the dials, nothing works. Is there any way to order a new movement, and if so, what movement model should I be looking for? I know these are relatively inexpensive, but I like the challenge of repairing broken things (and in this case, the repair is a replacement movement instead 🙂 ) Thanks for any help you can send my way!

    Reply
  6. Hi Jack,
    I’m so sorry for this late reply. I think your best bet would be to buy a used Weekender on eBay and just swap out the movement. I don’t know the specific model number of the movement but I suspect that you could just look for another 38mm Weekender and make a reasonable assumption that the movement would work for your watch. Good luck!
    Regards,
    Mark

    Reply
  7. The Weekender is one of my wife’s favorite watches since I got it for her for a Christmas gift a few years ago. She has me change out the colorful NATO straps I also got for her to suit her wardrobe or mood. I did have to use a piece of wood over the back to press the case back on after a recent battery change (pressing down on both ends of the wood ‘bar’). But I was glad, who wants a loose fitting case back. It is a nice inexpensive watch.

    Reply
    • Yes, same question here, wondering what is the movement being used by the Weekender?
      Robust look, might be supported by reliable engine too for sure.. 🙂

      Reply
  8. A very accurate review. I’ve been wearing an older weekender for many years now; just as loud but the sock or nightstand drawer does the trick. Mine has a soft, cream colored face with black hands and I have no issues with reading it in any light. Dollar for dollar, this is the best analog watch money can buy for everyday use; I truly believe this. I complement anyone I see wearing one in public.

    Reply

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