Don't Wear That Watch!

Some years ago, I saw a picture of President Bill Clinton (he may have been Presidential Candidate Bill at that time), wearing a suit, dress shirt and tie. He was smiling and waving to a crowd. And on his wrist was a lowly digital Timex Ironman. Too many times, I have been a witness to such a fashion phenomenon, whether on television or in person. If a man is well-dressed, a digital watch does not belong on his wrist!

While I believe President Bill has long since purchased a much nicer watch for himself, I imagine someone in your own life (maybe yourself) has not corrected this faux paux. Now, I'm not saying that digital watches don't have their place. They are the revered multi-taskers of the watch world, combining several timing functions in a reliable and easy-to-read package. As a runner myself, I couldn't live without the full-featured digital Timex Sleek or Timex OVA, but I only wear them while working out. A piece of black plastic simply does not belong on your wrist if you're wearing a suit, a sportcoat, or even a nice shirt with jeans. Nice apparel speaks of sophistication and self-confidence whereas a digital watch just screams "LOW RENT"! Except on the weekend.

The IRONMAN Triathalon 42-Lap Dress Watch bridges the gap between digital and analog (using three hands to depict the hour, minutes and seconds) by offering both displays. In fact, there are two separate quartz movements, one for the analog and the other for the digital. The digital display uses pale yellow numerals to display the day, date and time. It fills most of the watch face, so the numerals are fairly large and easy to read. The analog display comprises a skeletonized pointer style for the hour and minutes hand, while the seconds hand is painted a muted orange.

What Makes It Unique

While many watches offer both digital- and analog displays, what makes this particular watch unique is the ability to completely "turn off" the digital display. Doing so leaves stark, glossy black face which contrasts nicely with the hour and minutes hands. With the digital display off, the watch takes on a classy appearance that easily passes for business casual.

The Watch Case

The first thing I noticed about this watch was the large, metallic (only the caseback is stainless steel) case. It looks and feels very much like a large sports watch that may be thought of as a "pilot's watch." There are four buttons, located at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock for operating the digital functions. The analog display is adjusted with a traditional crown located at the 3 o'clock position. Surrounding the face of the watch is a fixed bezel noting 10-minute intervals, while an inner track under the mineral crystal shows seconds. Attaching the black-resin (think polyurethane) strap are lugs which angle downward to give a more comfortable position on the wrist. At nearly 40mm wide and 12mm thick, this is a hefty watch that makes its presence known on the wrist.

The Features and the Quirks

Of course, this Ironman offers all of the bells and whistles you would expect from a Triathalon model, including a 42-lap chronograph (stopwatch), a three-interval countdown timer, an alarm and the ability to display a second timezone. There are some quirks with the operation of the watch, however. Once the timer has completed its countdown, it will automatically start over, forcing the user to either manually stop it or switch to the next interval. And while the watch does have Timex's patented Indiglo backlighting feature, it is really only useful when the digital display is on. Another thing to keep in mind is that since the analog and digital movements are separate, it is nearly impossible to synchronize the time between the two. Overall accuracy has been very good during my months of use.

Prices

The retail price for this watch is $80, and it is offered at large department stores like Wal*Mart and Target. I wouldn't be surprised to find prices closer to $40 on eBay.

Who Should Buy It?

I see this watch as the perfect gift for the guy who has a hard time letting go of his old digital watch. It offers most of the features found on other Ironman watches, but in a tasteful, sporty package that goes with almost anything.


Recommended: Yes