I guess it’s a chronograph sort of a week here so far at WWR. Sure, Matt was looking at mechanicals earlier this week, but the quartz-driven segment is certainly alive and kicking – and this Timex packs a lot in to the case.
Of course, the Intelligent Quartz (aka IQ) lineup is no stranger to these pages (see here, here, here and here), and in many ways, these models are variations on a theme – you just need to find the variation that best fits what you’re looking for in a watch. In this particular one, you get the following:
- Fly-back Chronograph (4-hour auto shut-off)
- Slide-rule Top Ring Function
- Water-Resistant to 100 meters
- 46mm Stainless Steel Case (22mm lugs) and Bracelet with black finish
As you would expect, the watch performed flawlessly in my testing with it. Interestingly enough, this particular model, the T2P103 is part of their premium IQ lineup, but it still relies on a folded link bracelet. I’m sure this is to keep costs down, but it’s not truly keeping with a premium feel, in my book. Oh, and while the push-button deployant is nice, it omits the micro-pin adjustments you might expect (and there are no half-links), so sizing can be a little tricky.
The bracelet quibble aside, this was a great watch to tool around with. The color scheme worked rather well for the office or around the house (ie, business and casual), and the chronograph function works as advertised. It can be a little tricky to get the hang of reading the linear (or retrograde, pick your term) scales for tracking the time, but it can be done.
Also bear in mind that, while you can use the bezel for timing (or calculating things), it is unidirectional (good in slide rule usage) and non-clicky (not so good for timing). So, if you are timing something with it, be careful not to bump it up against anything, or catch it on your sleeve.
As will the previous iterations of the IQ lineup we’ve looked at, it’s initially jarring to pull out the stem of an analog watch and hear that chirpy digital beep. That quickly fades ones you have things set, and can play around with the Indiglo EL backlight (trust me, if you have kids, they will want to play with that light!)
Coming in at $225 (here), it’s not the chronograph for everyone. If it is for you (or one of the other models in the lineup), I think you’ll find yourself well served by what Timex has on offer.
