Review of Timex Men's Expedition Metal Analog and Digital Combo Watch #T41361

I have had a 'cheaper cousin' to this watch for nearly 10 years (Timex Expedition #T45181 - Resin Combo).This new watch (Timex Expedition #T41361 - Metal Combo) offers three major functional advantages over what was already an outstanding watch.

First, the body is all stainless steel, rather than resin, for superior durability (for the past five years, one of the posts on my previous Timex consisted of a piece of a paperclip that I fashioned to the watch base after painstakingly melting two small holes in the resin body after one of the pin mounts broke off).It is, however, noticeably heavier than the resin version, which means it will flop around your wrist more readily unless you keep the strap snug.

Second, the digital display is slightly larger and, more importantly, higher contrast (due to a lighter background) so that the numbers are easier to read in all lighting conditions.Unlike my old resin model, whose digital display never lit up properly when using the Indiglo feature, the digital display of this watch is quite visible when using Indiglo at night.In fact, the numbers appear light in color (almost glowing) against a dark background.I'm quite happy to finally have access to the digital display at night since I was always having to turn on a light or flashlight to set the alarm on my previous watch.

Third, because the body is all metal, the base is held in place using a snap gasket, which makes changing the battery much easier (simply insert a jeweler's screwdriver or other small, flat-tipped tool into the provided notch and pop the base off) than was the case with my old resin model whose base was held in place by 4 tiny screws that were a nuisance to remove and replace.

Form-wise, I find this to be a very sharp, yet unpretentious-looking watch with a clean, uncluttered, and classy-looking face; suitable for both casual and business settings.I especially like the use of the 'oversized' 12, 3 and 9 hour marks in combination with simple hash marks for the other hours; gives the face a distinctive, yet highly functional appeal.In fact, other than perhaps the engraved 10-minute-interval numbers on the stationary bezel surrounding the face, there are no superfluous features (e.g., extra dials with numbers that are always way too small, and imprecise, to be of any real use anyway) to distract the eye, interfere with use of the watch or otherwise annoy the user.Even the seconds tick marks, 24-hour numbers and the button function labels have been removed from the face (unlike on my previous resin model, which, with all the extra face markings--including half-second tick marks!--had a slightly crowded 'compass' look to it) and are instead situated rather inconspicuously on a slighly bevelled rim surrounding the face.Thus, these less-frequently used elements are much less intrusive than if they had been included directly on the face.

Like my old resin model, the alarm (and timer beeper) on this watch is loud enough to be heard in most ambient noise conditions.In fact, I never once, in the 10 years I had the resin watch, slept through the alarm, which I used almost daily (I do not own or use an alarm clock).One reason is that the alarm beeping increases in tempo after about 5 seconds if the user does not turn it off.To conserve the battery, the alarm automatically shuts off after about 15 seconds, but then goes off again every 5 minutes for another 15 minutes or so, which is a handy feature should you somehow manage to sleep through it the first time!

The digital display adds the versatility and timing precision of a digital watch, while still preserving the classic analog look that I prefer.It is this unique combination of analog and digital functionality that I believe sets this (and similar Timex Expedition models) apart from most other watches.The added functionality can, of course, can be a bit of a challenge to master at first.However, I think that anyone who has had a digital watch will be quite comfortable with the digital controls on this watch (and will likely not even need to refer to the instructions), which, for the most part, are quite intuitive and straight-forward (well, except for the chronograph split/lap time feature, which I still have yet to figure out).I prefer to have the date and day set as the default digital display, but you can choose to have any one of the various other functions (alarm, count-down timer, chronograph, alternate time zone time, 24-hour time, etc.) set as the default.

Those who are sensitive to loud watch ticking (like me) will find this to be a pretty quiet and unobtrusive watch.

My only criticism of this watch is that, depending on the angle of the watch face to the viewer, the minute and hour hands can be a little hard to see against the light colored watch face because they are nearly the same color as the face and are outlined in silver rather than a darker, more contrasting color.On the other hand, depending on the lighting conditions and the angle at which the watch is held when viewing it, the silver edging around the hands will reflect light and thus increase the visibility of the hands.Nevertheless, the silver edging of the hands is, in my opinion, the one element of the watch where the designers have compromised a bit by placing form ahead of function, since it appears they were more interested in matching the edging color of the hands with the brushed silver of the bezel and watch face numbers and markings, rather than provide a higher contrast edge color that, even though it might not 'match' the other watch elements, would improve readability.

The light colored stitching along the edges of the watch band compliments the cream colored watch face and the band itself seems to be made of good quality, water-resistant leather.

Finally, I notice that the crown dial (for adjusting the analog time) is slightly larger thnn on previous watches I have owned, which I find makes the task of setting the analog time easier on the fingers.

Summary:

Pluses:
+ Highly versatile analog/digital combo watch
+ Very clean, simple, and elegant analog face
+ No unnecessary gimics or features to distract or annoy the user
+ High contrast digital display that is visible in all types of lighting conditions, and at night when using the Indiglo feature
+ Pretty quite mechanism (if that is an issue)
+ Good quality band
+ Durable quality metal construction
+ Easy to change battery
+ Very good, audible alarm/timer beeper

Minuses:
- For those unaccustomed to digital watches, setting and using the various digital features may prove a bit challenging at first
- Hands can be a bit hard to make out at times
- Fairly heavy (if that is an issue)

Dimensions:
+ Body thickness: 11mm
+ Max. diameter: 41mm (excluding buttons and pin mounts)
+ Face diameter: 29mm

Product Description
This Timex Watch (but not any battery, crystal, band, or strap) is warranted to the owner for a period of ONE YEAR from the date of purchase against defects in manufacture by Timex Corporation. Timex will not repair defects relating to servicing not performed by Timex Corporation. This limited warranty applies to US Customers.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Timex Men's Expedition Metal Analog and Digital Combo Watch #T41361