Timex Expedition Capstone Review | GearJunkie tested

It was one of those Minnesota days that makes you forget winter snow storms And the sultry oppression of summer is present. I was lying on a pebble-strewn beach along the shore of Lake Superior, and the sun, cool breeze, and warm rocks felt divine.

In a moment of foolish reverie, I jumped up and plunged into the crystal water to cool off. Boom! The cold water destroyed every nerve in my skin. I gasped. Startled out of my stupor, I remembered that I was wearing a Timex Campaign Capstone Watch.

When I came out of the icy water I didn’t care about the time at all. But I didn’t even have to worry about the watch. I looked at the time – yes, I was due for lunch soon – but the clock was shining under the sun, ticking dutifully. That’s the beauty of the Timex Field watch. It just works, and at a price of $140, I could easily forget it existed and go about my long weekend of camping without worrying about damaging an expensive watch.

After a few months of use, abuse, and complete neglect, the Timex Expedition Capstone has once again proven that, when it comes to value, it’s almost impossible to beat a Timex.

In short: Nothing fancy here; The Timex Expedition Capstone ($140) watch tells accurate time and date, and can handle reasonable abuse at a very reasonable price. It looks good, fits wonderfully on most wrists, and packs enough water resistance (50 meters) for outdoor use. It’s not fancy, has only OK lume, and will require a battery change from time to time, but for a set-and-forget value quartz field watch, it’s perfect.

Compare the Timex Expedition Capstone with the best field watches.

Timex Expedition Capstone Watch Review

Hold the Timex Expedition Capstone in your hand, and the low-lead brass case feels substantial. At 39mm, this is a great size for many wearers. Strap it to your wrist, and you’ll feel soft leather that fits easily.

The leather looks nice, but it’s not as luxurious as more expensive models. It feels like top-grain leather, and although it should last a long time, it’s thinner and more flexible than higher-end watches.

It’s okay. We’re talking about a $140 watch here. And although it won’t break the bank, it looks really cool. The dark blue dial reflects the style behind the mineral glass crystal. Is it sapphire? No, and yes, it does make a bit of a difference.

In testing, I wore the watch while replacing the recessed light module. My wrists stuck to the hard plaster during this process, and after abuse I noticed a few small scratches on the crystal. Did I mind? Not necessary. This watch is meant to be worn, and surface scratches are minor.

If it had been a more expensive watch, I would have taken it off before working on my house. But for a field watch that can take serious abuse, it’s worth noting that the crystal, while certainly strong, doesn’t have the scratch-resistance of a sapphire.

I’ve already touched on the price a bit, but it’s an important point. The Expedition Capstone really stands out with a lot of the more expensive competition. But to get here, Timex had to make compromises.

For example, it does not have a screw-down crown; Instead, it opts for a pull-out crown. The result is a watch that has just 50 meters of water resistance. Now, ask yourself, when was the last time you were 50 meters below the surface of the water? Unless you’re a very serious scuba diver, I’d guess that was never the case. It uses low-lead brass for the case instead of more expensive stainless steel. It will scratch more easily, but should be older with good patina and less expensive.

The Expedition Capstone can handle the abuse most people will give it. Here’s how I tested it.

tests

I tested the watch for about 2 months of regular wear. During this time, I wore it camping, hiking, swimming, and during daily activities like driving and work. I found the watch incredibly comfortable. It is also simple and looks good with any type of clothes. Wear it over a t-shirt and shorts at the beach or under a dress shirt at the office. It will fit perfectly.

I also ran it through some basic bench tests, dropped it from 6 feet, monitored its timing accuracy for 4 weeks, dunked it in water for 3 hours, and stored it in the freezer for an hour. It passed with flying colors while keeping accurate time (it was within a minute after a month) and showed almost no signs of damage after my testing period.

While shallow, water immersion testing proved it could withstand the rigors of typical outdoor use, such as rain or a quick swim in Lake Superior. It handled the freezer, so if you’re in a cold climate and take it off for the night, there’s no need to worry.

clarity

Field watches should be highly legible, and the Capstone measures up well in this regard. Whether in bright sunlight or low light, it’s easy to read the time at a quick glance.

However, it lacks the high-performance lumes of more expensive field watches. In testing, I was able to read the watch for an hour or two after exposure to light. But by midnight the smoke had thinned considerably, making investigation difficult in the morning.

Option

The Timex Expedition Capstone comes in several models. I tested a quartz model with a blue dial on a brown leather band. But you can also get it in chronograph form, or in many other color and band combinations, including a bracelet. It is also available with an automatic movement – ​​with a retail price of $340 on a steel bracelet it is still a great value.

Who should buy it?

The Timex Expedition Capstone is not the cheapest watch on the market. Timex itself offers several more affordable Expedition watches in its line, many of which cost $50 or less. But the Expedition Capstone is a notch higher, with a wonderful, luxurious look that far outweighs its $140 price.

It is perfect for those who want an affordable quartz watch for anything. It can handle the rigors of dress duty or the outdoors. It’s also a great option for those who have multiple watches and want a beater for everyday wear or outings. This is a sturdy, capable wristwatch and not so precious that it requires caution at every turn.

When it comes to value field watches it’s hard to beat Timex. and with Campaign CapstoneThis proves that great-looking, capable field watches don’t need to cost an arm and a leg.