The sound of ticking has a certain charm to it, doesn't it? The gentle reminder of time passing, a heartbeat on the wrist. And for years, this sound has been a constant companion of mine, thanks to my collection of Timex watches, known for just how damn loud they tick.
I'm not much of a “watch guy” in the traditional sense. You won't catch me splurging on a $4000 luxury timepiece or discussing the intricate mechanics of Swiss movements at a networking event. But there's something about Timex that appeals to my sense of style and practicality. Recently while procrastinating and spending too much time on looking for a watch for a Getup the Harborside Coast watch caused a hard stop on the mouse wheel.
Priced at under $100, the Timex Harborside Coast offers a style that has been influenced by classic longstanding designs that are less in the realistic Primer Gift Guide price range and more in the one month's mortgage in a major city range.
The watch itself is a sight for a watch at this price. It's a dive-STYLE watch, carrying a traditional dive watch aesthetic, but make no mistake, it's not made for diving or really doing much other than telling time and amping up an outfit. Though rated water-resistant to 100m, it's more about style than function. With the color set I bought, the green, gunmetal, and black, it can act as a dressier alternative to a traditional field watch. It's jewelry that tells the time, and that's perfectly fine for me, for the cost.
It's easy to see heavy influences from renowned watches like the Tudor Black Bay 58 or the more recent No Time to Die Omega. It offers a similar aesthetic but with slight differences in indices and mine has a gunmetal case with a black face in contrast to the silver of the two bona fides. Beyond this color, it's available in a tan color and several silver tone designs with metal bracelets, as well as one with a leather bracelet.
→ Details:
- On Amazon: Green & Black / Tan & Black / Metal
- On Timex: Green & Black / Red + Silver
- Alts: Timex MK1 / Timex Navi Automatic
- On Primer: The Best Watches Under $200
With a common 20mm strap with quick-release pins, the customization options abound. Just like the green strap model that caught my eye, you can adapt the look to your style, like say a NATO strap in the summer.
Inside beats a fairly standard but reliable quartz movement. While it lacks the allure of an automatic mechanical calibre, the battery-powered Timex movement offers consistent accuracy at an affordable price point.
Upon strapping it on, I was pleased by how it wore on my 6.75″ wrist. The mid-sized 43mm case diameter fits comfortably without overpowering. It's light on the wrist, a pro for me, lighter than my Apple Watch, but which may be a con for a guy who uses heftiness as a metric of quality in a budget watch.
The textured fabric watch strap is a nice departure from a NATO, metal, or leather strap for me but it would look excellent on all of those. A brown leather strap you have from another watch would look handsome, I expect.
| Product: TW2U81900 | Case Diameter: 43 mm |
| Case Color: Gunmetal | Case Height: 11 mm |
| Case Material: Low Lead Brass | Strap and Lug Width: 20 mm |
| Crystal Lens: Mineral Glass | Resistance: 100 meters |
| Watch Movement: Quartz Analog Water | Case Finish: Brushed/Polished |
For the budget-conscious consumer seeking out style, the Timex Harborside Coast hits a sweet spot. Its eye-catching aesthetic punches far above its $100 price point. While dive watch enthusiasts may bemoan its lack of technical specs like sapphire crystal or 100m water resistance, the Timex succeeds as an affordable fashion timepiece.
