Timex ‘Standard’ Watch Review: Class and Style for Under $100

When it comes to analog wristwatches, it’s hard to get less pretentious than the Timex Weekender. Three hands, no date, and that signature Indiglo goodness — it’s really all you need, especially with its ease and comfort of wear.

Even now, years after I fell prey to the horological hobby/mental illness/character flaw, these simple, legible timepieces are still available for just over $30. 

Not to say the Weekenders were perfect. Their water resistance (30 m) was barely adequate for the sink, and the seconds hand tsk-tsked along like a fussy insect. So, in what I perceive as an effort to upgrade one of its classic lines, Timex came up with a new range of watches, aptly dubbed “The Standard.” 

At the end of 2022, the company injected a new Standard ($89) into the mix.

“This sophisticated update to our Standard 3-Hand brings together classic elements with modern materials that emphasize a military-inspired look — from the unique shape of the hands to a black emboldened and embellished, partial Arabic dial — courtesy of our very own archives,” Timex claimed. “The Standard 3-Hand hints at history once more with its traditional, oversized ‘onion’ crown: a nod to our early 1900s pocket watch.”

I’m all about history and subtle, continuous upgrades. So when Timex offered a test drive of a new model, the answer was an easy affirmative. But hang on — something about the hands and dial seems just a little familiar. 

In short: The Standard is an attractive, outwardly refined take on Timex’s classic Weekender design. The dial is reminiscent of luxury pieces like Omega’s Planet Ocean and Railmaster, with attractive hands, indices, and an oversized onion-style crown. Its looks are slightly let down by a quartz movement that emits a rather audible tick. But the added water resistance, comfortable band, and ever-welcome Indiglo help justify the Standard’s $89 price point. And for just $30 more, the Chronograph version deserves a healthy look. 

Timex Standard Wristwatch Review

As with the aforementioned Weekender, the Standard’s catalog is vast. Timex offers multiple designs, colors, finishes, and several attractive chronograph versions (or Peanuts, if you’re into that sort of thing).

Case sizes are set at 40 and 41 mm (apart from a single exception), and most of the new-release models receive a welcome bump from 30 m of water resistance to 50 m. As you’d expect at this price point, mineral glass is the crystal of choice. 

My particular tester carries the product designation “TW2V44000VQ.” For just under $90, this nets you a polished and low-lead brass case with a branded “TX” on the crown.

The watch rises 9.5 mm from the wrist, hanging this almost ten with the help of a 20 mm fabric strap. There’s a “Genuine Leather Lining” on the backside and a signed buckle in stainless steel. 

Familiar Timex Standard: For Better and Worse

Let’s get to what brought the Standard to my attention — those wonderful high-polished hands. While by no means a perfect analog, the hour hand immediately conjured images of the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean.

Yes, I know this Timex costs around 1/73 the price, but take a look at the indices. Tell me you can’t see just a hint of resemblance. There’s also a good dose of Railmaster in there, enough to be welcome and familiar.

Yet, the Standard does enough to set itself apart. I’m a sucker for luminous pips on the tip of the seconds hand, and this watch has a good one. 

Unfortunately, the familiarity carries over to the movement. While I haven’t been able to confirm this (through research or from Timex), I suspect the Standard utilizes the same quartz module found in the Weekender. This presents a bit of a mixed bag.

On the one hand, it’s a proven, reliable movement that will keep solid time for several years between battery changes. On the other hand, these are known to produce a decidedly audible ticking — and the second hand never quite lands on its markers. 

I’ll say this in defense of the Standard: The sound on this tester has been significantly less obnoxious than it was on my old Weekender. And though the lurch of the seconds-hand bugs me a little, it’s something I expect at this price point.

Not everyone can match the buttery, budget smoothness of Casio’s MRW200H, but the Standard isn’t all that far off. 

Apart from the ticking, the issue that keeps the Standard from being a home run is a lack of luminous paint on the indices. I know it’s not really needed, given the presence of Indiglo.

But the hands themselves are lumed, so it would have been nice to see a matching application on the dial. 

The Chronograph Ups the Ante

I’m covering the simple, no-date Standard here, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t come back to the chronograph. Timex’s TW2V43700VQ model takes the Omega inspiration and marries it to one of the unsung heroes of its lineup — the MK1 aluminum Chrono.

Look at it — the same sub-dials and date layout while utilizing the shiny new hands and casing. 

Of course, this version has a higher price point: $119 vs. the base model’s $89. But in addition to the added complications and features (and based on previous experience), I can all but guarantee that the chronos run a bit quieter. 

Conclusion: Timex Standard Wristwatch Review

Years ago, I would have been hard-pressed to recommend the Standard in this price range. But now that the Citizen Garrison/BM8180 retails for an outlandish $152 (really?!), the $80-$100 space is again hotly contested, and the Standard gets a lot of things right. 

As much as I lust after its chronograph cousin, I hold this watch (and the lineup itself) in healthy esteem. Timex did a lot to rehabilitate its image among watch nerds over the last few years, even as prices increased overall.

The Standard carries subtle inspiration from a lux icon, along with an uptick of fit and finish to match. If you’re looking for an attractive, low-frills timepiece with a versatile look and carriage, the Timex Standard lives up to its name.