Timex Allied Coastline Review
Timex are normally known for their affordable and reliable watches, but not for their style. That is for sure.
Some of their most well known watches, like the Weekender and Expedition are nice watches, but they are not winning any “stunning watch” awards.
The Allied Coastline however, is quite an interesting beast. And I say beast, because in many ways it is a hybrid Aviator and Dive watch. It has the bezel and crown of a diver, but the dial of an Aviator (or Pilot) watch.
But that is just a simple description of a worthy watch, so let’s take a deeper look and see if it fits the bill as – your next watch
The Allied Coastline Features
Bulova’s current range of Marine Stars feature a dive watch bezel with a 3 sub-dial chronograph that is very reminiscent of the Rolex Daytona, at least from the face.
This watch has some great features that something of this price level often don’t have, but of course they have also had to make some cost savings on things like the glass. Here are the specs:
- Quartz Movement
- Mineral crystal
- 43 x 12 mm low lead brass case
- Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over clasp/safety
- 100m / 330ft water resistance
- Date window at 3 o’clock (also black)
- Uni-directional bezel (Aluminium)
The Dial
Now, this is your typical easy to read diver’s watch at first glance. With large arabic numerals and white rectangle hour markers, it is clear and well contrasted with the background.
The hands, although not the most attractive I have ever seen, are large are obvious, something that also makes it easy to read.
And the simple white on black makes it all very functional, with just a hint of red on the pilot’s style arrow at 12 o’clock.
There is an inner ring of numbers, that help with 24 hour time. Normally a pilot’s watch would have minutes on the outside and hours (if at all) in the middle, but this is a hybrid after all, so are there any rules?
The date window is a bit of a let down I find, because it is just too blended in with the rest of the dial. It should be black numerals on a white background, but instead it matches the dial too well…you almost miss it. Even if you get the blue version of the watch, the problem is the same.
Timex Allied Coastline Dial
The Case, Bezel & Bracelet
Of course, for a watch this affordable, Timex had to cut a few corners. They have chosen to use low lead brass for the case, but in this situation it actually works well. It gives the case a very unfinished (non-brushed) look along with a dull color that is more in line with a pilot’s watch than a diver.
The bezel surprisingly functions on this watch, which a lot of Timex’s lack. So, it’s also useful, functional and good for setting a timer of sorts, if you like using your watch for that.
The straps is reasonable enough. They have used stainless steel here, which is great as a hypoallergic material. It also has a foldover claps with push button safety, which is a nice touch on a low-end watch.
The Quartz Movement
No surprise that this watch uses a Quartz movement and not an automatic, but if you are as practical as me you will appreciate it. It always runs, doesn’t require winding, and is far more accurate over time than automatics tend to be. It also means the watch is thinner on the wrist (12mm) than an automatic because there is less space needed.
Where exactly the movement is made is hard to say. Timex has operations all over the globe.
Water Resistance & Dive Watch Specs
The Allied Coastline is a kind of diver watch, in style at least. But I would not take it diving.
It is rated to 100m, which means you can go swimming with it, but not much else. So, don’t worry about getting it wet, but don’t plan a week-long dive holiday where this watch is your go-to time keeper.
Timex Indiglo
One of Timex’s most unique and helpful features is their backlit Indiglo dial. It uses the power from the quartz movement and enables you to easily see the time, no matter how your lum is charged or how dark it is. If you have never seen it, it’s pretty cool. Here is a quick gif image to show you how it works.
Color Choices & Style Options
The Allied Coastline comes in the black color I have been reviewing here, but also a very stylish blue you may be interested in too. I have linked them both below with an image. All you have to do is click on it to jump to Amazon and the current price.
Should You Get The Timex Allied Coastline?
If you are someone who does not need to spend a thousand bucks on a watch, but still wants something that looks stylish and lasts, then this might be the watch for you.
It’s reliable quartz movement, quality build and unique diver/pilot watch combination will certainly stand out from the crowd. Add to that the brushed metal look and you can not only wear it every day, but also out on the town if you need to.
What have you got to lose?
