Timex: Expedition Military Chrono-FINAL UPDATE

Timex Expedition Military Chrono

Reviewer: Chuck

Date: September 6, 2011

(Watch provided by Timex for review)

The Timex Expedition Military Chrono is a great, sophisticated looking watch. Timex is in-valuble with their style and durability in watches. The Military Chrono is complicated looking but once all of the dials and buttons are identified, setup is a breeze.

Here is what Timex says about the Military Chrono:

Reminiscent of World War II-era aviation equipment, the distinctive collection offers a rare blend of style and strength that is simultaneously rugged and timeless. These exceptionally versatile watches are equally appropriate in a cockpit, corporate office or on a backcountry trail.

Features:

INDIGLO Night-Light with Night-Mode
Chronograph Measures to 1/20th Second
Date Feature
Stainless Steel Case
Cordura Nylon Performance Strap
Water-Resistant to 100 meters

The Timex Expedition Military Chrono showed up in a retail style packaging as you would see in a retail store. Once the watch and instructions were removed from the packaging I started reading the instructions to see what dials and buttons did what. I’ve never had a watch that has the chronographs as dials. I’ve always noticed them on military style watches and I’ve always been intrigued by how they work and how accurate they are. If the military trusts it, then I should.

One of the first things I noticed was the band, it’s was a little stiff as I expected. The Cordura Nylon is a very tough and rugged material and I expected nothing less than it to be stiff. The underside is leather. One thing this helps with is not coming undone from the loops that are provided. The rubber type watch bands, if they are very flemsy, tend to come lose from the loops fairly easily and then the band is left flopping around. This band has two loops, one fixed and one movable. This also helps keep the band in place and from coming loose under certain activities. I feel sure after a few weeks of wearing the watch and getting the band broke in, that the band will become formed to the shape of my wrist.

The case of the watch is Stainless Steel. I wouldn’t say that it’s heavy but it’s a good, solid, durable feel. Around the side of the case is a knurl texture. This helps when trying to depress the buttons and keeps the fingers from slipping when doing so. On the right side of the watch are three buttons that can be depressed which also have knurl on them. The top button starts the timer, which on a fully analog watch is kind of strange for me. I’ll explain the face of the watch shortly. The middle button is used to set the time of the watch and date when the crown is pulled out and turned. When depressed, it turns on the indigo light. If just pressed briefly, the light come on then immediately go off. If pressed and held for over two seconds the light will stay on for about ten seconds and then go off. The bottom button is strictly used for resetting the timer and for split lap times.

The face of the watch is white with black numbers. The top left small dial indicates minutes when the timer is in use. The top right dial indicates split seconds when timer is in use and the bottom dial indicates seconds during normal time function and during timer function. The outside dial turns very easily. It has and array of numbers around the dial that almost match with the numbers on the dial face, however the numbers indicated are over 60 and runs to 100. I am not sure how to use this dial yet but I hope I am able to figure it out while testing. I am guessing it has something to do with pace and how fast one is moving.

As I said before, this watch is simple in it’s appearance but it is very sophisticated in it’s design and workmanship. I look forward to wearing and using the watch over the next few months. Stay tuned for more field testing….

UPDATE: October 26, 2011

The Timex Expedition Military Chrono watch has been awesome to wear. At first the band was very stiff and was a little itchy, but after a few days of wearing it every day, it finally softened up and has almost made a complete form of my wrist. It has become so comfortable around my wrist that I have forgotten that I have it on some days.

The durability of the watch has been unbelievable. I am very bad about bumping my wrist into things and catching the edge of a watch on corners of tables or other objects. And so it goes with this watch, but it has withstood so much unintentional abuse. Every time I bump it or drop it I just know I’m going to look at it and it will be all busted up. So far, not so much as even a scratch on it, even the face. To me that speaks a ton about its durability.

The band has also been very durable as it has gotten wet, dirty, scratched, picked and all of the things that can destroy a watch band. The Codura Nylon has held up under these type of conditions. The only part that has frayed just a bit is one of the loops that holds the end of the strap to the band. The material has gotten a little fuzzy but it has not affected the performance or the design of the band.

I have used the Chronograph on a few occasions for timing and it takes a little getting used to but once you understand what dial does each function then it’s a little easier to know what the timed increments are. For hiking I have used the timer on occasions when I wanted to know how long it takes me to go a certain distance. I have yet to understand how to use the outer dial and know what the numerical markings indicate. I am still seeking to find the answer to this and that is one of my goals before this test is over, is to be able to use that function correctly and to be able to report on how that works.

So far I have loved every day that I wear this watch. And one of my favorite features is the indiglo light. There have been so many times that I needed to know the time in the dark and it is so easy to depress the button and it illuminates the whole face of the watch to easily and accurately read the time.

That’s it for now. Stick around to get my final thoughts on the Timex Expedition Military Chrono.

UPDATE: January 31, 2012

My final thoughts on the Timex Expedition Military Chrono is that it really is a very nice watch. I have gotten tons of compliments on it and asked what kind it is. A lot of military men have recognized it right off the bat. Some have been older men and they mention having one similar when they were serving our country. I asked them if they could help me out by telling me how the outer dial works and what it is for. Some wasn’t sure but a couple did say that it is for measuring distance and getting an accurate pace. They said it’s a little difficult to explain and it’s a little complicated but I mainly wanted to know what it was for. Hopefully I will have time some day to have this explained to me and if so, I’ll return and update this report for others to enjoy.

The watch has gotten broken in and the band has become very well formed to my wrist as with most cloth type watch bands. It has become so comfortable that I don’t even realize it’s on my wrist. The durability of the body of the watch, the face and the frame has been outstanding. I have banged it, dropped it, slammed it against and on just about everything and it still doesn’t show any wear. The only thing that has shown wear are the loops on the band that hold the tip of the band in place.

As seen here, the loop fabric has become frayed a good bit. It does not affect the functionality of the band or the watch at all. But it was just something worth noting. Other than that, the band shows no wear at all. I have had the watch on in regular water and salt water for an extended period of time and it has not had any affect at all. I have gotten use to the dials and how to work the stop watch pretty effectively. And again, the indiglo nite light is probably my favorite feature.

I will continue to wear this watch every day and to be honest, I can’t see it wearing out any time soon. And hopefully I can find someone that can explain this outer dial to me so I can use that function on my hikes and backpacking trips. Thank you Timex and 4AllOutdoors for allowing me to test this watch.

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