A watch to accompany you during your relaxation time. A hands-on review of the Timex EasyReader!

A hands-on review of the Timex EasyReader. This simple quartz watch combines a highly legible dial with a small 35mm case. While offering solid practicality, it also exudes a relaxed atmosphere, making it a masterpiece that teaches us how to enjoy time.

Timex, beloved by the American public

　Timex is a historic watch brand with roots in the Waterbury Clock Company, which was founded in Connecticut, USA in 1854. Typical of American companies that specialize in standardizing design and manufacturing to provide stable, high-quality products at low prices, the company's watches, born from streamlining, opened up watches, which had previously been luxury items reserved for the wealthy, to the masses, allowing anyone the freedom to know the exact time.

　From the 1920s onwards, the company's product development to meet the needs of the times gradually expanded its iconography, with reliable military watches, pop character watches featuring Mickey Mouse, and in 1986 the digital quartz watch "Iron Man."

　Today, Timex offers a wide range of models, from reissues of iconic timepieces to stylish designs created in collaboration with designers. What's even more noteworthy is their price range. While watch prices have skyrocketed in recent years, Timex watches remain within the affordable price range of several thousand yen to several tens of thousands of yen.

　The watch we'll be reviewing this time is the Ref. TX-TW2W95400 from the Easyreader collection. The Easyreader is also known as the watch favored by the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. Its streamlined design with excellent legibility is truly American.

"Easy-read" dial

　As the name Easy Reader suggests, this model offers excellent visibility and readability. The dial color is white. While white can vary from a slightly yellowish ivory to pure white like snow, this model uses a clean white with a subdued sheen.

　The Arabic numeral indexes are large. The black indexes contrast with the white dial and contribute greatly to improved visibility. The date display is located at the 3 o'clock position, making it convenient for everyday use. The date window itself is slightly inward, so there are no gaps in the indexes, which is also a plus.

　All three hands for the hour, minute, and second are bar-type. If I were to be picky, I would say that the minute and second hands do not reach the scale, but this is not enough to interfere with practical use. Considering that the watch is equipped with a quartz movement, which has less torque than a mechanical movement, the current state is sufficient.

　The Timex logo is printed at the 12 o'clock position, and "INDIGLO" and "WR 30M," indicating that the watch is water resistant to 30 meters, are printed at the 6 o'clock position. INDIGLO refers to the presence of the Indiglo® night-light, a full-diameter illumination feature introduced by the company in 1992. When the crown is pushed in, the entire dial glows light green. The Indiglo® night-light only functions while the crown is pushed in, and immediately turns off when the crown is released.

　Typically, luminous paint is applied to the indexes and hands to ensure visibility in dark places. However, in this case, sufficient light must be stored in bright places to achieve the desired luminous effect. Additionally, small parts such as the second hand are often not coated with luminous paint, and the use of paint can give the watch a somewhat sporty design. In contrast, the Indiglo® Night-Light is not luminous, so it can be turned on whenever needed. Because the entire dial is luminous, not only the indexes and hour and minute hands but also the second hand and logo are clearly visible, allowing it to be compatible with a classic design. While the Indiglo® Night-Light is known as a selling point for Timex, its convenience can only be clearly appreciated by actually using it.

Classic brass round case

　The round case is cute and chubby. It's 9mm thick, but perhaps because the middle case and bezel are one piece, it gives off a slightly chunky impression. Combined with its compact 35mm diameter, it makes you want to roll it in your palm and enjoy running your fingers over it. Perhaps it's the rounded edges and the organic shape with its many curves that make this so appealing. The lugs, especially, which are angled inward, resemble the paws of a small animal.

　The integrated bezel case and chrome-plated brass case appear to be the result of a mass-produced watch that emphasizes production efficiency, but the relaxed atmosphere they create is imbued with a unique warmth. The nostalgia that cannot be found in luxury watches is a major attraction of this watch.

　The mineral glass crystal is attached without protruding from the bezel, giving continuity to the smooth lines that make up the case. The small crown is typical of a quartz watch. The press-fit case back is made of stainless steel. The logo is engraved in the center, and around the perimeter are letters indicating the water resistance and the type of battery used.

　The black leather strap with crocodile embossing adds a touch of dressiness to this watch. With a lug width of 18mm, you can enjoy using multiple straps, such as the colorful fabric straps used in the "Weekender" collection. It is paired with a pin buckle engraved with the logo.

The comfortable fit is perfect for everyone

　The true appeal of this watch lies in the relaxed feeling it gives you when you wear it on your wrist. The small, lightweight brass case not only provides a physically light and comfortable fit, but also a sense of mental freedom. It's a slightly different style from the uptight luxury watches, and perhaps it could be described as a relaxed, comfortable feeling, like being at home.

　Of course, it's also highly practical. Equipped with a quartz movement, it offers significantly higher accuracy than mechanical watches. Like a station or school clock, the dial lets you see the current time at a glance, and coupled with the date display, it makes everyday use stress-free. When it gets dark, the dial can be quickly illuminated with the Indiglo® night-light. While the 35mm diameter is small for today's standards, perhaps due to the dial design, it doesn't appear as small as the numbers suggest. Both men and women should be able to wear it comfortably.

　The only thing that bothered me was the volume of the ticking sound. The ticking sound that echoes with the movement of the second hand is noticeable in a quiet room, but even in a noisy place, it makes a strong presence. I once attended a business meeting with the EasyReader on my wrist, and in a sudden moment of silence, the ticking sound echoed loudly throughout the room, which was a bit embarrassing.

A relaxed holiday clock that will soften your mood

　If you're a watch lover, it's not uncommon to own multiple watches. So, how do you choose which watch to wear on a given day? In my case, I follow my intuition completely, but I still have some tendencies. Depending on my physical condition and mood, there are some watches that I find it hard to reach for. Specifically, when I'm feeling down or want to relax, I don't feel like wearing a big, heavy sports watch or a delicate watch that requires careful handling.

　This is merely my own example, but the EasyReader I reviewed this time is a watch that gently embraces its user even when they're in such a mood. A high-end watch with a mirror-finished case with crisp, distortion-free edges and a mechanical movement that's perfected down to the feel of the crown is certainly of high quality. However, high quality doesn't necessarily translate to everything. There are times when the EasyReader's moderate looseness can relax the mind.

　For example, on a holiday afternoon, sitting on a bench in a park bathed in warm sunlight with a paperback book in hand, you can spend a more fulfilling time if your EasyReader is gently close by.