Two legends under $120, one analog and one digital. Only one deserves your wrist.
8.0
KADS SCORE
Quick Take
The Weekender and the Casio A158W are the two names that come up in every best cheap watch conversation. The Timex is the dressier analog pick with its clean dial and Indiglo; the Casio is the featherweight digital icon with a seven year battery. Both are excellent, but they serve different wrists.
What We Like
- Timex: classic analog styling that works with smart casual outfits
- Timex: Indiglo backlight lights the whole dial at night
- Casio: seven year battery means near zero maintenance
- Casio: featherweight chrome look that defined 90s style
- Both cost less than a nice dinner and run for years
What We Don’t Like
- Timex: famously loud ticking
- Timex: only 30m water resistance
- Casio: chrome plated resin case scratches and shows wear
- Casio: small digital display with no analog charm
Product Details
Full Review
Quality
The Weekender is the better built feeling watch: brass case, mineral glass and quick release straps give it a solidity the Casio cannot match. The A158W is chrome plated resin over a digital module, light and a little toy like, but its honest simplicity is the point. The Casio’s seven year battery embarrasses the Timex’s shorter lived cell, while the Timex’s Indiglo beats the Casio’s dim LED bulb for night legibility.
Value
This is where the Casio lands its punch: at about $28 it costs less than a quarter of the $119 Weekender. The Weekender justifies the gap with better materials and a more versatile look, but the Casio is arguably the better value in absolute terms. If money is the deciding factor, the Casio wins outright; if style per dollar matters, the Timex makes its case.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Weekender if you want one watch that looks intentional with everything from jeans to a blazer.
Who Should Skip It
Skip both if you need real water resistance or smart features, and skip the Timex if a ticking watch on your nightstand will drive you mad.
FINAL VERDICT
Winner: Casio A158W. This one comes down to what each watch promises. The Casio promises almost nothing and delivers decades of faithful service for $28, an unbeatable ratio. The Weekender is the nicer watch and the better looking one, but at four times the price it has to be, and the Casio’s value is simply harder to argue against.
8.0 / 10
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