Timex’s Sleek, Modern Field Watch Gets an Affordable Automatic Update

The brand’s reimagined military staple timepiece gets a fan-favorite set-it-and-forget-it movement.

Close-up of a black automatic watch face with white and blue numerals, a date window showing 14, and a green fabric strap.

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Just last week, we covered Timex’s sleek, reimagined take on its most iconic field watch, the Expedition Capstone. While this reimagining is doubtless an exciting new addition, the brand has just launched a sibling timepiece that’s even more alluring.

The Timex Expedition Capstone Automatic boasts the same killer styling, but with a major upgrade to its beating heart. Best of all, it’s still shockingly affordable.

Timex Expedition watch with black dial, white numerals, date window, and green fabric strap on dark stone background. — The watch has the same stellar looks as the standard Expedition Capstone, but with a major upgrade to its internals.

Military time

Much of what made the Expedition Capstone a spectacular redux remains in this new version. For starters, it maintains its 39-millimeter case size and brushed stainless steel finish.

The standard version of the automatic also maintains the gunmetal finish, matching crown and 3 o’clock date window on the dial. However, there are some noteworthy differences.

Close-up of a black Timex Expedition automatic watch face with luminous hands, green hour markers, blue 24-hour numbers, and a date window showing 14. — The watch features both 12-hour and 24-hour markings on its dial, as well as lumed indices and hands.

Unlike the standard, this one has both 12- and 24-hour markers on the dial, so you can tell the time via whichever makes your life easier. It is also a bit toned-down on the lume — instead of fully-lumed indices, this one sticks with hour markers (and numerals) and the hands.

It also still has the quick-release fabric strap. However, if you’re into a more refined option, there’s also an all-stainless steel version with a metal link band, which is a bit more expensive than the baseline Expedition Capstone Automatic.

The case is a millimeter thicker than the quartz version, but that’s the price you pay for an automatic.

Timex

A feather in Timex’s cap(stone)

The biggest change between the standard Expedition Capstone and this one is its beating heart. Instead of a battery-powered quartz movement, this one sees it swapped for an automatic.

Unfortunately, Timex is a bit cagey as to the details of this movement. The brand doesn’t even list its power reserve. Still, it’s a much simpler set-it-and-forget-it option than the quartz movement of the standard version.

Back of a Timex Expedition watch showing stainless steel case, visible mechanical movement, and green fabric strap. — This automatic take on the Expedition Capstone also gets an exhibition caseback.

There is a slight other downside: the case gets an extra millimeter added to its depth, bringing it to 12 millimeters instead of 11. That said, it’s hardly an imposition for the convenience of a self-winding mechanical movement.

Plus, it also gets an exhibition caseback, which is a nice touch and allows you to admire the movement within. All in all, it’s exceptionally solid for a watch that costs under $300 (for the base model).

Silver Timex Expedition automatic wristwatch with black dial and luminous numerals on rocks. — If you want something a bit more refined and dressy, there’s an all-steel version of the same watch (for an upcharge.)

Pricing and availability

The Timex Expedition Capstone Automatic is now available on the brand’s site for an affordable $299. However, if you opt for the all-steel version, the price goes up to $329, which is still quite affordable.

Black Timex Expedition watch with green fabric strap and luminous hands showing date "14".

Timex Expedition Capstone Automatic

Specs

Case Size	39mm
Movement	Automatic
Water Resistance	50m

$299 at Timex

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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