Tracking times with the ESQ Scout

As I mentioned in yesterday’s ESQ review there were two models that we had come in for review. The first was a three-hander with some unique nautical design cues; today, we’re going in a slightly more complicated direction with a quartz chronograph, in the form of the ESQ0134, which I took to referring to the ESQ Scout.

I probably need to explain myself on that name. As with any other watch that I’ve had in that only goes by a reference number, I’m practically driven to come up with some sort of name for it, as I find that so much simpler to remember than a string of letters and numbers. So, for the ESQ0134, our loaner was in a blue and gold two-tone. Following my path of free association, the blue and gold leads to the Blue and Gold Banquet (an end of year awards banquet we did in Cub Scouts) and then to the ESQ Scout. So, there you have it, a peek behind the curtain into how my brain works.

As with the prior ESQ watch, the ESQ Scout has some interesting details on the dial. In the larger, center portion you’ve got a waffle texture that surrounds the subdials. Things then smooth out on the outer edge, and that is where the applied indices pop in, and then are set into the angled chapter ring (which has some confusing markings on it, especially since the central seconds hand is for the main time, not the chronograph). For the subdials, you’ve got a 1/10 second register up top, chronograph seconds down at the bottom, and then a 60 minute register (again, for the chronograph) over at 9 o’clock. The hands there pick up the golden accents, and the minutes subdial is ringed in a gold tone, which is balanced out by the golden logo over at 3 o’clock.

Far from being an all-gold bling affair, the gold on the ESQ Scout is used for an accent. Aside from the dial, you’ve got the gold tone on the bezel, and then on the crown. Those are set into the 45mm stainless steel case (with alternating brushed and polished surfaces). This is set into a brown leather strap with a slight taper from the 22mm lugs. All in all ,it makes for a very classic look for the watch.

Long-time readers will surely recall that chronographs and me are, well, it’s not a combination that I really go in for. Here, the chronograph is made possible by the Japanese VD55 movement, and gets the job done. For me, though, a chronograph is just not something I find terribly useful. When I remember that I’ve got one on, and trigger it to time something, I then forget I’m timing it until I look down and see things spinning away. For that, I really just prefer digital displays, or even a countdown time that chimes at me. But, that’s just me, and plenty of other folks like chronographs. And here, the ESQ Scout is giving you a 1/10th of a second chronograph at a price point that a mechanical wouldn’t be able to touch – just $200. And, should you not care for this particular color combo, there are some others – complete with a steel bracelet – at the same price. shopesq.com

Review Summary

Brand & Model: ESQ Scout (ESQ0134)
Price: $200

Who’s it for? You want sub-second precision in your timings, but don’t want to take out a loan for the watch
Would I wear it? No, but that’s because chronographs aren’t my thing
What I’d change: I’d give some attention to whatever that marking is on the chapter ring, and either adjust it or remove it.