Nautica Competition Yellow Dial

Today, I'm back to the Nautica brand of watches with this yellow quartz model.

The Nautica brand started as a menswear brand in 1983, but have expanded into a global brand for lifestyle products. They are know part of the VF Corporation, and have a very sailing based theme with the name coming from the Latin word for ship.

This particular model is a standard 3 hand dial design with a quartz movement. The dial is bright yellow with blue numbers, and minutes numbers for the 5 minutes towards the middle. The design is missing a couple of numbers though - the 6 is not present, but the Nautica Competition name is printed on the glass at this point. The 3 is also missing as that is where the date window is located, and there is a Nautica N logo next to the date as well.

The back is a stainless steel screw-on design giving a 50m water resistance, and the watch has a base metal case. The strap is made of leathery plastic and foam rubber, giving it a nautical feel. Inside the back, the name Callanen International is printed, and so I assume they are the case manufacturer. Callanen International were the producers of Guess watches, but were purchased by Timex in 1991, who gained the Nautica licence in 1994.

The module inside this model is a WX42E from Time Module Inc (who may have been a spin-off from Seiko). They are Hong Kong based, but may have manufacturing in Japan (as the watch back says it is a Japanese movement).

I don't know when this watch is from, but I would expect it to be later than the mid 90s and it is not a current model, so I'd guess 2000s.

Timex woven strap watch

I get asked quite often how I manage to decide which watch to wear for the day. There are different things I take into consideration, mainly which have a working battery and haven't been blogged yet, but sometimes it is based on what I've chosen to wear.

Today's choice was just that I'd happened to pick up a brown top this morning and it caught my eye as the first brown watch I saw.

The watch is by Timex and will have been made by one of the companies within the Dutch Timex Group (normally the Timex Group USA). The roots of the company started in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company, and eventually morphed into Timex in 1950 (the x being used to mean eXpertise).

This model is a mystery 3 hand dial design watch with a date window at the 3 o'clock position. The look would fit nicely in their Expedition range, but there is no mention of a range or a model number on the watch. The face is quite plain and easy to read, but the main hour markers are the afternoon numbers (from 13 to 24) with the 1 to 12 in small digits on an inner circle. It has a gold coloured rotating bezel with the compass points on, and this is free rotating smoothly which is a little unusual as most I've found to have a rather mechanism and can only turn one way. The strap is brown leather and has a woven or platted style design with the sections looking like they fasten through a loop in the next section.

The back has the usual information about materials (stainless steel back), water resistance (25m), and place of assembly (Philippines), and also says it uses a Timex LA cell battery.

For the date, this is definitely a guess due to the lack of identifying information on the watch. From the style, my guess would be early 90s, as that would fit with similar looks from the other major manufacturers, but it could be a lot newer.

Timex Triathlon - Small

Today's watch was smaller when I'd put it on my wrist than I'd anticipated, but it just about fits with my small wrists.

The watch is one of the Timex watches from the Triathlon line of watches. Timex watches are made by the Dutch holding company Timex Group which has several watch making subsidiaries within the company. They released the Triathlon range originally in 1984, with the possibly more well known Ironman Triathlon being started 2 years later.

I'd guess that this watch was a 90s or early 00s design from the style, but as they don't have a good model number system, it has to be a guess (although there is the number 465-A on the back). It could well be earlier though as this is a standard design for the Triathlon range.

It has an LCD display with two lines of six equally sized digits. By default, the top line is for day and date with the bottom line showing time. The top line is set up so it can display text though, and describes the mode that is about to be selected. Modes included are chronograph, timer, and alarm, and it has an 8 lap memory.

The layout looks like a hand held stopwatch with buttons poking out of the side of the case at an angle. The stopwatch buttons are on the front of the watch for easy access while doing sports. The buttons are so small though, that I feel this must be a kids version as you need very small fingers to use it effectively. As this is a Triathlon model, it is of course water resistant (to 50m).

On the back is a US patent number D.287.341 which covers this particular design of watch and was filed in 1984 by Gary Grimes of the Timex Corporation.

The original sale price of this model was ¥9,800.

Timex Expedition Chrono Alarm Timer

It's a rugged outdoor focused watch today.

This watch is by Timex and is part of their Expedition range. Timex watches are made under the Timex Group B.V. which is a holding company for the different Timex watch companies (for example Timex Group USA). The Expedition range, according to the website, 'reflect the secluded terrain that inspires adventure, and are built to endure the depths and elements you subject yourself to'.

There is no model number on this one, so I don't know it's name or date. It has a rugged looking brown and black case, and a fabric and leather strap. In the centre of the round face is the rectangular 2 line LCD (which is a little unusual as both lines are the same size, with just smaller seconds). The top line covers the day and date, with the bottom line showing the time.

The modes are given away by the title of the post - the watch has a chronograph, timer, and alarm modes. The watch also has the Timex Indiglo el-backlight, and fitting with the Expedition name, it is 100m water resistant.

Nautica Chronograph - white and brown

A different, but high profile, brand today with a smart looking design.

This watch is a chronograph model by Nautica. The Nautica brand is an American clothing brand which has all manner of apparel with a sailing theme. It is based in New York, and was started in 1983 by David Chu, but now owned by the VF Corporation.

As part of the clothing line, they make a series of watches, which judging by the customer service email address are made by Timex. These watches are actually made by Timex Group USA, Inc. which is a subsidiary of the Dutch parent company Timex Group B.V.

This watch is their Nautica Chronograph model, but I can't find the model number. It has a 3 hand dial which is powered by a Japanese quartz movement. On the main dial are 3 small dials towards the outside which cover 24-hr time (right), and seconds and minutes for the chronograph (bottom and left respectively).

The dial features hour markers as well as some sort of scale around the outside. I assume this is for some sort of nautical speed and has 19 at the 6 o'clock position, and finishes with 90 at the 2 o'clock position. The case also has a rotating bezel with compass markings.

The back has the Nautica sailing boat logo on and has information about the material, movement, water resistance (50m), and tells it uses a 371 battery.

This model comes with a brown leather strap with the Nautica name on the back and the sailing boat logo imprinted on the front of both halves.

This model doesn't appear on the Nautica watches website, so I don't think it is a current model, but I don't know when it was released.

Timex Ironman Triathlon

I've posted a few different sports models from Timex before, but this is my first from one of their more well known ranges.

This is the Ironman Triathlon from the Timex Triathlon range. The Triathlon watch originally came out in 1984, and from that, Timex developed the Ironman Triathlon as part of a collaboration with the organisers of the Ironman Triathlon events. The Timex Ironman Triathlon first came out in 1986 and differed from the normal model with 100 m water resistance (rather than 50 m), and a new shaped body and strap. The strap is a very open web-like design so that it remains comfortable to use during sports, and it has the Ironman Triathlon M logo embedded in the strap's resin. In 1992, the watches gained the Timex indiglo el-backlight system and some cosmetic updates, and by 2005 they had also lost the reflective all-day-glow screen (which makes mine a pose 2005 model).

The Ironman Triathlon which this watch is linked with is a hardcore endurance race which is held around the world. The race comprises of a 2.4 mile (3.9 km) swim, a 112 mile (180 km) cycle, and a marathon (26.2 mile /42.2 km run). This watch has become a favourite of the competitors and so the design and marketing has definitely worked!

The watch has a large and easy to read LCD display with a large 6 digit time display. Above that is a smaller 6 digit display for day and date. The digits in the time and date lines are designed with additional segments so they can also be used for letters which are used to describe the modes being selected. For modes, this model has a chronograph, timer, interval timer, and 3 alarms, and the watch has a 50 lap memory.

There doesn't seem to be specific model numbers, but on the back this has two numbers 657 and R7. It uses a CR2016 battery, and is designed to survive the rigours of an Ironman Triathlon event.

Timex Skiathlom with pink elastic strap

I've picked my watch based on weather again. It's really snowy today so I decided to blog the 3rd of my Skiathlom watch variations by Timex.

In previous posts I mentioned that there were two colour schemes for the head, and two styles of strap. I've now concluded that each watch came with both a resin and an elastic strap (as this one came with both), and each watch colour had a different colour elasticated strap (-i don't know about the resin one yet).

So, this one is the light blue and purple variation, and it came with a bright pink elasticated strap with the Timex name on. This elasticated strap also has a plastic clip fastening (that the blue strap didn't).

The Skiathlom was one of three different sports watches based around the same module. The Skiathlom was the skiing watch, the K-28 Surf was for water sports, and the Hooks was for fishermen (with all 3 to be found on this blog).

The design has a two line LCD with time on the bottom and day and date at the top. The watch has a temperature sensor (with a bar readout at the top of the LCD), timer, and chronograph modes, and the start and stop buttons are large enough to use with gloves.

It originally came out in 1987 and cost ¥14,500.

Timex Quartz 610 Analogue watch

I'm afraid it's a relatively normal watch for today's blog post.

This watch is made by Timex, and is a quartz movement analogue watch. It has a 3 hand dial, with date marker at the 3 o'clock position.

There is an unusual part to the display though - the main numbering around the dial shows 13-24 rather than 1-12 (as this is in smaller writing on an inner ring of text). There is also a rotating bezel with the compass points marked, but I think that is more decorative than of use.

This model is in dark blue and has a woven style leather strap. It says it is water resistant, however no details are given as to how much. Battery wise, it takes a CR2016 cell.

The only number on the back that could be a model number is B8, however there seem to be other different dial watches with this number too (with only 2 hands and no date, so it can't be the module number either). If it follows the code for mechanical watches, it could be the date stamp, and would mean an August 1994 manufacture. The price label that came with it mentions No. 610 though.

The original sale price was 7,800 yen.

Timex HJJKS (or HOOKS) Fishing Watch

Sometimes, companies repurpose watches for different functions. With this design from Timex, I've seen the module used for Skiing (the Skiathlom), for surfing (the Surf Timer), and now for fishing.

This watch has the same temperature monitoring module as in the ski and surf models, but in a round case with some extra features. Around the display is a rotating bezel marked High Tide so you can easily see the tide timing, and on the strap is a small compass. The LCD display shows he regular features (time, date, and temperature graph), and the module also has alarm, chronograph, and timer features.

As with the others it's 50m water resistant and has the number 707 (module number?) on the back.

The name of the watch is HOOKS, but the text on the strap is stylized so the Os look like fishing hooks (or Js). It's original sale price was 16,500 yen.

Timex Expedition WS4

An Easter Sunday tradition on a nearby island is to watch the sun rise from the highest point on the island, and hope to see the sun dance. So I decided today should be one of my hiking watches.

The chosen watch is by the Timex watch brand, and part of their Expedition line of watches.

It has probably the most comprehensive LCD display of any of my watches, having a dot matrix area (for time and mode description), two areas for numbers (both of which are also set-up to do letters), an LCD dial display, and a part with pictures of weather conditions.

The weather conditions icons are from the barometer part of the watch, as the changes in pressure can be used to predict the weather, and this is shown on the watch. Below the icons usually lies the temperature of the watch - but as with most watch thermometers, it's badly affected by body temperature. The pressure sensor is also used for the altimeter, and the watch can show graphs of a walk, store data on a journey, have alarms at a set altitude, or just your altitude on the display.

The last hiking function is the compass, which I think is gyroscope based rather than magnetic (as you have to calibrate north). On this mode, the LCD dial points as a compass, and it also shows heading in text and degrees. The LCD dial usually shows the time, but the number of LCD segments can only show changes of two minutes.

There are still even more functions in the watch. It also has a chronograph, timer, dual time, and alarm!

The model number is WS4, and on the back there are two numbers - M810, and the serial number. I guess the WS stands for Wide Screen, as the watch is known for it's widescreen dashboard display.

It is a well sealed watch (50m water resistant), but has a battery hatch on the back. It takes a CR2430 battery, and is the first watch I've come across with that big battery - 24mm by 3mm deep.
The model originally came out in 2009, but is still available today at a cost of around $120-150 (although it seems that this colour is no longer available). The instruction manual pdf can be found at the Timex website.

Timex Animated Multifunction Watch

Back to the LCD again, and a watch with a ridiculous amount of features.

It is made by Timex, and has a dot matrix LCD display. The display is 15 pixels high and 24 or 26 wide with a curved pattern. There is no model number or name on the watch, so I don't know exactly what I should name it.

The first special thing you notice is after pressing the button to see the time, once the time has shows it then has either a fortune cookie option (where it has a scrolling message with a proverb like saying - such as "Every person is the architect of their own future"), or there is a small cartoon featuring Bob 'n' Bill (a man and his dog).

Pressing the mode button reveals the normal modes, each designated by its own little animation. These modes are stopwatch, alarm, and timer. Pressing the escape key on the front takes you back from this menu to the time. There is also an option to just show seconds (as it's only normally a 4 digit display), or date (where it flashes between day of the week and the date).

Pressing the top right button takes you to the data bank menu where you can input memos, names, and numbers. If you then press the mode button, a load more options are available. These ones are Love Me Not?, Face Ball, Angel or Devil, Your Fortune, and the sound on/off option. Love Me Not? is a slot machine of hearts, 0s and Xs, which spin and see if love is the outcome. Face Ball is a Breakout or Arkanoid game where you move your bat up and down the side of the screen, bouncing a ball which knocks the block out of a face. Angel or Devil shows an angel and devils face, and then shows a picture of who today's angel and who today's devil is. Your Fortune shows a crystal ball, and then gives you a score (in %) on your love rating and financial rating.

The settings mode is activated by holding the select key, and has interesting additional options - you can add your name, birthday, and choose a face to represent you (various people, animals, or a ghost). This face then appears as the target in the Face Ball mode.

The watch has an unusual shape, and is thinner at the top, and a clear blue plastic strap. It was made in China, and takes a CR2032 battery. The date setting mode goes from 2000 to 2019, so this was released in the 2000s.

Timex SSQ Rounded LCD watch

Today is my second post of an old Timex range called SSQ.

The SSQ watch range started in the late 70s, with the name referring the module - Solid State Quartz. I've seen a booklet from 1975 in the Digital Watch Library website which features this exact watch. The manual states that the watch can withstand 50 lbs p.s.i.a. water pressure (equal to 80 feet water depth). It also says that it uses a quartz crystal vibrating 32,768 times per second, and that there are over 2000 transistors on it's silicon chip. The fact that this model was in the 1975 booklet, it suggests that this was one of the earliest SSQs that came out.

It has a basic LCD module with time, date, and seconds, selected with the button on the right. Time setting is done by the inset button on the other side.

This one has no model number on the back of the watch, but states this takes a Timex 1500A cell (which is the equivalent of an AG13).

Inside the watch, it states that it was made in France.

Timex Skiathlom - Blue with resin strap.

Very early on in my blogging, I posted about an unusual watch called the Timex Skiathlom (although it's often misquoted as Skiathlon). In that post I mentioned that there was another colour scheme, and there was a resin strap option.

I have now got one of those resin strap, alternative colour versions, and that is what I'm posting today.

The Skiathlom came out around 1987 (the trademark was registered in 1986), and had finished by 1993 (as the trademark was ended then). It was aimed at skiers, with large buttons that can be operated with gloves, and an external temperature sensor. A surf version called K-28 Surf was also released and had only cosmetic differences.

The watch has a two line LCD display (6 digits per line), with day month and date on top and time below. Temperature is displayed along a bar at the top (approximately 3C per block, but the scale isn't quite even), or can be shown as digits replacing the date display. It also has alarm, timer, and chronograph functions.

The watch was made in Korea, and uses a 2016FA (CR2016) cell

Timex K-28 Surf - Chill Factor

When my blog was very young, I posted about an unusual watch called the Timex Skiathlom (often auto corrected to Skiathlon). It was released as a watch for use on the ski slopes but didn't seem to be very common.

What I now know is that Timex also produced a (maybe even rarer) surfing version, and that is what I'm wearing today.

It is called the Timex K-28 Surf, and is nearly identical to the Skiathlom. The Skiathlom watches seem to have come out in 1987 based on some info I found on a forum, but the K-28 Surf trademark request wasn't filed until 1988, so I guess this came out in 1988 or 1989 (when the trademark was granted). The watch is sometimes it is referred to as Chill Factor as this is written along the top of the watch. It is 50m water resistant, but because of the surfing theme, it calls it "50 meters wipeout resistant".

The watch has a 2 line LCD display showing day, month, and date (top line ) and time (6-digits, bottom line). It also has chronograph, timer, and alarm functions.

As with the Skiathlom, the watch has a temperature sensor, with the temperature shown in a bar along the top of the LCD display. Pressing the top front button also shows the temperature in numbers (Celsius or Fahrenheit).

With this watch there was also an attachment for the strap called Zebug. This is a small orange plastic container shaped like a beetle (with the name Zebug on the back). This was included as a place to store your sunscreen or lipbalm while in the water.

It uses the same back panel as the Skiathlom (even saying Timex Skiathlom). There is also the number 70 along with the battery type (CR2016) etched on the back.


For more on the Timex Skiathlom, see my page here