Timex Teams Up with Nigel Cabourn for Classic Desert Watch

A simple, well done field watch is a beautiful thing, and a staple in many of our collections. Timex has a pretty great track record when it comes to usable, approachable field watches, especially when it comes to collaborations (this James Brand example is a personal favorite). Their latest is no exception, having teamed up with British menswear designer Nigel Cabourn to create this Desert Watch, a simple three-hander that embraces light earth tones to great effect, and even comes with a pair of straps to build on the WWII era design theme. The best part? It’s just under $200. 

Military themed field watches generally follow a familiar formula, and this Desert Watch is no exception, but where it sets itself apart is the sandy dial color with army green accents serving at the hour and minute indications, as well as a 24 hour scale within the inner portion of the dial. A single green broad arrow design sits at 12 o’clock, while a red running seconds hand provide a nod of personality.  It’s a cohesive design overall that works about as well as you’d expect in this package. Additional points of interest are a bit less obvious.

Turning the watch reveals a fixed lug design (we need more fixed lug watches if you ask me) with a prominent lug base that tucks in tightly against the wrist. This is nothing unusual for military watches, of course, as it removes the biggest potential failing point of the watch. This also means you’ll be limited to pass-through straps, and this Timex comes with two. A single color khaki strap joins a tricolor striped unit that should serve to shift the personality of the watch a degree or two depending on your mood. 

The steel case measures 36mm in diameter, placing it in the sweet spot for a field watch of this type, and the quartz movement inside keeps the total thickness to 10.5mm. Wearability, even with these thicker pass through straps should still be excellent, whether you’re trudging through the desert or not. If that’s a style you enjoy you’ll also likely enjoy the field pouch that ships with the watch. In total this is a pretty fun package for under $200. Timex.