What can you can say about one of the popular watches of all time? We all know the Timex Triathlon as the standard in Walmart watches. It’s familiar black and orange case and large screen has been around for years and has graced the wrist of millions. Timex has gone ahead and spruced up the new generation with a new case style, a more legible screen, solar power, and a robust and tough shock resistant exterior. This is the quintessential entry-level digital watch, and after wearing it around for a little while, its not hard to see why.

View the TX 730 photo gallery.

When we think of Timex, we usually think of the king of the American bargain bin. Timex is known for inexpensive "drugstore" watches sold in places like Walmart and Target. But they are good inexpensive watches, and because they are such a good value, we like Timex. Besides, any company that has put over a billion watches on wrists over the years deserves and gets our respect.

And now, with their new TX line of premium quartz watches, Timex deserve even more respect. The TX 730 Flyback Chronograph is a watch to stand against the canons of Asian elites like Seiko and Citizen. Like Ford beating Ferrari with the GT40 in the LeMans in 1966, Timex is showing the world that even a good old-fashioned American staple can rise to the occasion.

Features of the TX 730 include:

• PVD coated stainless steel case, and PVD coated bracelet with solid end links (SEL).
• 46mm case.
• German designed 6-hand quartz movement.
• Sapphire crystal.
• Analog time, retrograde GMT, retrograde chronograph, and compass.
• Date between the 2 and 3 o'clock positions.
• 100m water resistance (about 330 feet).
• Retail price of $550.

Case and Hands

Given the price point, the case is very good, and the finish is on par with the Seikos and Citizens that tend to dominate this price range. The crystal is flat and sits over an inky black dial with inlaid markers that are too small to glow brightly in low light. The hands are interesting, unique, and nicely fashioned, however they, too, do not glow as brightly as I would have liked. This is one area where TX has some room for improvement.

We're big fans of Timex watches here at Watch Report. They have a wide variety of styles, functions, and we think Timex represents excellent value. However, we've always wondered why they haven't tried to compete more directly with Casio G-Shocks. G-Shocks have been extremely successful for Casio, and although Timex has a great line of Ironman watches, it seems they've been hesitant to encroach directly on G-Shock territory by adding features like solar power. Until now.

Timex recently introduced several new solar powered watches. You can see the entire Timex Solar lineup on their site, but here's a breakdown:

• Three analog/digital combinations.
• Three shock-resistant digital models.
• Six in the Triathlon series.
• Two reverse LCD displays, which are white on black. (The conventional LCDs all seem to have the new high contrast displays we found in the Timex iControl.)

All the Timex Solar watches have the following in common:

• One-year warranty.
• Indiglo night light with the "FLIX" system (more below).
• Power (charge) indicator.
• Water resistant to either 50 or 100m (165 or 333ft).

Prices range from $80 to $110 USD which, in typical Timex fashion, is very reasonable for what you get. I like that they've added what they're calling FLIX; like Casio, this is a feature that allows you to activate the electroluminescent backlight when its dark just by flicking your wrist. Very clever and useful when you're in dim situations where your hands are full.

So let's see: shock-resistant, automatic backlight, and solar powered. These are all things we've traditionally loved about G-Shocks, and hopefully we'll love them just as much in the new Timex Solar watches.

View the Timex iControl Photo Gallery.

MP3 players are becoming an increasingly standard piece of workout equipment. Music can help keep runners "in the zone" or help keep weight lifters' adrenaline pumping, and audio books and podcasts can help us make more efficient use of our workout time. Now that MP3 players are small enough, battery life is long enough, hard drives and flash memory is large enough, and prices are low enough, just about any athlete can have access hours of audio content anywhere their workout takes them.

But not all the problems have been solved. Although the iPod's user interface is widely considered revolutionary for its simplicity and intuitiveness, there's no getting around the fact that interacting with an MP3 player while working out is usually not very convenient. Removing your iPod from wherever it's stashed can be tricky while running, and after you've managed to retrieve it, the controls can be clumsy to use and the screen difficult to see. Of course, the risk of fiddling with your MP3 player too much while working out is that it can easily break your concentration and flow.

Enter the Timex iControl watch. Timex IRONMAN watches have always been designed to make interacting with them while running as simple and natural as possible, so why not extend the functionality of your watch to also control your iPod?

The Timex iControl watch is a fully functional IRONMAN with the following features:

Apple's line of solid-state iPods have long been popular for exercise and sports. The iPod shuffle and nano are shockproof and have a longer battery life than the higher capacity hard drive models, making them a great choice for running, hiking, and general active use. The nano can even be used with the Nike iPod interface which transmits data from your shoe to the iPod's display. Very cool!

So if your shoe can talk to your iPod, why not your watch? Introducing the Timex iControl IRONMAN watch. As you can see from the picture, it looks just like a standard 50-lap IRONMAN, but adds a few more buttons. Combined with a small receiver that plugs into the iPod, the iControl allows you to control your iPod from your watch up to ten feet away!

I can see some serious potential in this. For instance, if you have your ipod strapped to your waist or upper arm, it's easier to place one hand on the watch while running as opposed to groping for the iPod itself. Or if you've got your iPod stashed in your backpack with just the headphone cable emerging, you can still drive the tunes. Another possibility is if you, like me, use your iPod while in your car, the Timex iControl gives you a cool remote control which you're not likely to misplace. An additional benefit is that leaving your iPod out of sight, especially when combined with a pair of generic non-white ear buds, reduces the changes of theft since nobody will even know you have an iPod.

According to the Timex iControl home page, the iControl is compatible with both the 1st and 2nd generation iPod nano, and the 5th generation iPod video. For more details as to how it works, check out the manual (PDF).

As you'd expect, the watch portion of the iControl remains at Timex's highly functional standard, with a readable face and a long list of features: time, alarms, countdown timer, Indiglo, interval timers, etc. Visually, the new buttons are not obvious, so the iControl can easily pass for a standard IRONMAN. However, if you want to stand out, Timex offers the iControl in five colors: blue, green, orange, black, gray, and silver.

If reaching for your watch is more convenient for you than reaching for your iPod, the Timex iControl is available now for $125, so go have a look. Personally, I love the gadget factor, and would like being able to leave my iPod in my backpack while on public transit. Count me in.

Update: Read the Timex iControl review.

By Paul Hubbard

Timex has just introduced the new T Series, a collection of simply-styled analog quartz watches incorporating Indiglo, long battery life (7 years), stainless steel cases, and good water resistance (100 meters, or 330 feet).

Several have perpetual calendars, which automatically correct for shorter months, and others have chronographs (stopwatches) for event timing. All have clear, readable faces, and are affordably priced at $80 to $120 retail.

The T Series represents classic Timex: good values, reasonable styling, and a few nice features.

By Paul Hubbard

Christian says: The other day, my sister-in-law was asking me for advice on a simple, affordable (she's in college), nice looking metal watch for her boyfriend who doesn't wear a watch at all. The T Series seems to fit the bill perfectly.

Historic American watchmaker Timex has been doing some interesting things lately. In addition to their broad line of quartz watches, they've reintroduced a line of inexpensive mechanical watches based on Chinese movements, and more recently added upscale lines under the TX brand. These are analog quartz watches, with retrograde displays (where the hands move back and forth in an arc) and lots of hands. Timex designed these in Germany over a five-year period, with six-sigma manufacturing. The watches have a lot of the details that you get with nicer watches, such as sapphire crystals, four motors, legible faces, deployant buckles, enameled crowns, and nicely finished cases.

There are three series of TX watches right now: the 300 perpetual calendar (which doesn't require adjustments on months with less than 31 days), the 500-series with a second time zone display, and 700-series with a stopwatch, second time zone, and an electronic compass. The picture is from the 730 model.

It's difficult to find prices for TX watches online, but they appear to be in the $500 range, which is quite good for what they offer. It's good to see the classic American brand stage a comeback, and I hope these new models succeed.

By Paul Hubbard

My regular readers know that I love four features in watches: solar, atomic, countdown timers, and vibrating alarms. The first three are relatively easy to get these days, but a vibrating alarm is a far less common feature, and often means ordering a watch from Japan, and/or spending a fair amount of money.

But now Timex has three nice and inexpensive solutions: the 41731, 41701, and the 41741. All are simple, nice-looking, affordable analog watches with easy-to-set vibrating alarms.

The Timex Vibrating Alarm line actually has two types of alarms: the over 60-minute alarm, and the under 60-minute alarm. The over 60-minute alarm will vibrate twice per day, 12 hours apart, at the desired time, and the under 60-minute alarm will vibrate once per hour on the desired minute. Both can be set using the crown on the lower right-hand side of the case, or simply by rotating the bezel.

The full feature set of the Timex Vibrating Alarm watches includes:

• Two types of vibrating alarms.
• Ability to set the alarm using the alarm crown or the bezel.
• Date.
• INDIGLO illumination.
• Water resistant to 50 meters, or about 165 feet.
• 4.5 year battery.

I always say that you should pick the right watch for the job. And if the job at hand is running or speeding walking, the Timex OVA (Optimal Viewing Angle) looks like it could be the right watch.

First of all, if you're looking for a heart rate monitor, you won't find one in the Timex OVA (check out the Suunto n3i or the Nike HRM Triax Inspire instead). But if you're looking for a comfortable, simple, and inexpensive watch to wear on your long runs or walks, then the Timex OVA might be one to consider. The primary feature of the Timex OVA is that it is designed to ride on the side of your wrist as opposed to the top which puts the watch into your natural line of site while running. Additionally, the large digital numbers are slanted to further improve the viewing angle, and the band is lightweight and breathable.

Full list of features :

• Optimal viewing angle (hence the name). Even the digits are slightly slanted for better readability.
• Flexible and breathable plastic band.
• Large, easily accessible button below the face for operating the timing functions.
• Stopwatch with 75 laps, best lap, and average lap time.
• Two interval timers.
• Repeat countdown timer.
• Three daily alarms.
• Water-resistant to 100 meters (about 330 feet).

Timex recently introduced three new models to their line of Expedition compass watches. What sets these new watches apart from the other Timex Expedition compass watches is that they use a fourth analog hand as a compass needle as opposed to just indicating your heading numerically. And they look quite nice, as well, with stainless steel cases and either a stainless steel bracelet, or one of two leather straps. Features of these new Timex Expedition watches include:

• 4th hand compass needle.
• Declination adjustment. Enter the magnetic declination (the angle between magnetic and true north) of your location, and the watch will calculate true north for you.
• Bi-directional rotating bezel.
• INDIGLO backlight.
• Quick-date function. These watches do not have perpetual calendars, so after months with fewer than 31 days, the date needs to be adjusted. The Quick-date function allows the date to be set quickly and easily.
• Stainless steel case.
• Water-resistant to 100 meters (10 BAR, 10 ATM, or 330 feet).
• $100 for the model with the stainless steel bracelet, $95 for the two with leather straps.

If you're looking for a nice looking, affordable compass watch, look no further than the new Timex Expeditions. TIMEX.COM is even offering free shipping on all orders over $75 right now.

Additional Resources

• All Timex Expedition watches.
• The Timex Expedition 40721.
• The Timex Expedition 48751.
• The Timex Expedition 48741.

Timex has just introduced a new collection of watches with perpetual calendars. Timex Perpetual Calendar watches do not have to be reset after months with fewer than 31 days. They work by keeping track of not just the date, but also the day, month, and the year so that the watch knows how many days are in the current month, and even takes leap years into account.

As an added bonus, not only do Timex Perpetual Calendar watches come with 7-year batteries, but Timex will even replace the battery for you for free. All Timex Perpetual Calendar watches also have the Timex Indiglo night-light built in, and are water resistant to either 50 or 100 meters (165 or 330 feet).

Timex Perpetual Calendar watches range in price from $60 to $85 which they state is "hundreds less than other similar brands." By "similar brands," I'm guessing they are referring to Seiko Perpetual Calendar watches. Seiko offers a higher-end collection of perpetual calendar watches for between $300 and $495 retail.

So if you're sick to death of fixing the date on your $4,000 Rolex 5 times a year, send it to me, and I'll send you a $60 Timex in exchange that you will never have to mess with. I'll even pay for your battery replacements.