Wristwatch Review: Refurbished Vintage HMT Pilot Watch

One of the most fun watches in my collection is a vintage HMT Pilot watch that I bought this spring (2025) from a seller on Etsy. It was an inexpensive purchase and definitely something in the fun and interesting category.

My refurbished HMT Pilot watch undergoes scrutiny

HMT Watch Features

The watch features a manually wound movement. In this era of cell phones and reliable quartz movements, it may seem like a throwback. But, if you are into watches, that is part of the charm. You get to interact with your watch, look at it, and wind it.

HMT Pilot Dimensions

As with many vintage watches, this HMT Pilot watch is a little small. I measure 34mm in diameter not counting the crown. It is 10mm thick and measures about 42mm from lug-to-lug. However, I don't mind a small, lightweight, watch from time to time.

HMT Pilot Refurbishment & Construction

When it comes to a refurbished watch, it's more about re-construction than construction. You'll want to ready Etsy listings very closely to understand what you are getting when it comes to these watches. As a refurbished watch, my HMT Pilot has a bright blue aftermarket  dial, a clear and unblemished replacement crystal, new hands, and an inexpensive leather strap. I replaced the strap with a more generously-sized silicone strap which fits the character of a pilot watch. 

HMT Pilot Aftermarket Dial Detail

The stainless steel case and watch movement are original, but they have benefited from professional attention. The case has been cleaned up and polished. The movement has been serviced and oiled. This watch uses an HMT 0231 watch movement which is basically a copy of Citizen 0201movement. It has 17 jewels and uses Citizen's para shock design to help minimize any damage from accidental drops. 

Indian Refurb Watch Performance

This watch runs and keeps time. Unlike some vintage Seiko and Orient watches, you don't have to shake this watch to keep it running. You just have to wind it and it will run for quite a long time. I realize "quite" is not a scientific term, but basically, if you wind it up at bed time, it will run well into the next day.

The Stainless Steel Case of this vintage HMT Pilot can ward off baby T-Rex bites

From an accuracy perspective, the watch keeps time practically for the day you wear it. However, it runs a bit fast. After a day, you may find it to be running 4 or 5 minutes fast. In a recent test, it picked up about 2 minutes in 2 1/2 hours.

Overall Review

I like this HMT Pilot watch. For only $37 (when I bought it), it's a practical way to have a vintage feel and experience without fungus, rust, or haziness of many old watches.

TGIF: Is Timex Trying To Draw Us A Map?

Exploring Timex Watches with Street Names

Timex has a long and storied history stretching back to 1854 when they were founded as the Waterbury Clock Company. From their start as a clock company, they evolved into Ingersoll Watch Company, Waterbury Watch Company, United States Time Corporation, Timex Corporation, and now Timex Group USA. 

The Former Waterbury Clock Factory Complex (Magicpiano,
 CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Along the way, they've been an integral part of the history of many communities--particularly Waterbury, Connecticut, and Middlebury, Connecticut. It's probably not surprising that they've named many watch models after streets in those communities. Here are some of the current Timex Models with streets for names:

• South Street
• Charles Street
• Highland Street
• Fieldstone Way
• Essex Avenue
• Woodcrest Drive
• Briarwood Dive
• Main Street
• Easton Avenue 

It makes me wonder if they are trying to draw us a map. Naturally, I got into google maps to take a tour and see what I could find out. Maybe we'll reveal a grand design like something from the movie "National Treasure?" Let's take a look at South Street and Charles Street.

South Street

The Timex South Street is a straight forward economical watch with a quartz movement, a day date window, a smallish 36mm metal case, an expansion bracelet, and with current specials on Amazon a sub-$50 price tag. You can find the Timex South Street watch here on Amazon.

A Timex South Street Watch (Amazon Photo)

Only 6/10 of a mile from the former site of the Waterbury Clock Company factory complex, South Street in Waterbury, Connecticut, seems to be a working class street with a mixture of homes and apartment buildings. Checking via Grok AI and internet searches, there doesn't seem to be direct connection to Timex. But, it's an old neighborhood and it could well have been populated back when Timex was just getting started.

South Street, Waterbury, CT, (Google Street view)

Charles Street

The Timex Charles Street is another straight forward watch from Timex. It strikes and classy note with gold and silver tones. It also sticks to a simple date window. It has a 35mm diameter case with a stainless streel expansion band and caseback and a brass bezel. As of mid-July 2025, this watch is 37% off on Amazon and also comes in under $50.

Timex Charles Street Watch (Amazon photo)

Our tour of Waterbury finds us driving about 1.4 miles to Charles Street. It's an urban residential street running along side Connecticut State Route 8. The road leads through another northern working class neighborhood. However, it is home to a rather impressive church: St. Patrick's Church.

St. Patrick's Church in Waterbury, CT (Google Streetview)

I have to wonder if this exploration will lead to some important revelation about Timex or some hidden treasure.  Time will tell. I explore more of these Timex models in the coming weeks.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Precision by Gruen Quartz Watch

If you buy a modern watch with a vintage brand name, it's not vintage. But, if you hold on to it for about 15 years, does it become vintage? This is a Precision by Gruen watch that I bought and reviewed here back in 2015. At some point, it will be a vintage reproduction or something.

Precision by Gruen Quartz Watch with Gold Tone Case

Anyway, I think it is a simple, but rich-looking, watch. My wife thinks it looks somewhat cheap. But, she mentioned that it might look better if I were wearing dress clothes. She's probably right.

Profile of a Precision by Gruen watch

These watches pop up from time to time on ebay and other auction sites. I'd note that this wasn't an expensive watch when I bought it so I wouldn't recommend paying much for a used one online. If you like the look, you might find similar simplicity and readability in this gold-toned 38mm Timex Easy Reader on Amazon.

Wristwatch Review: Geoffrey Beene Black Diamond Sports Watch with Decorative Subdials

If you are looking for a simple grab and go watch that is fine in office or casual settings, this quartz Geoffrey Beene Black Diamond Sports Watch with Decorative Subdials might be a good choice.

Geoffrey Beene Quartz Sports Watch with Decorative Subdials

Watch Construction

This watch has a stainless steel caseback and synthetic leather strap which is very adjustable and generously sized. The quartz movement is powered by a common SR626SW battery. The diamond is a tiny gem diamond that is barely discernable on this watch due to the dark dial color and lack of reflective flashing around it. The case appears to be a good quality base metal and is has a gun metal finish. The synthentic strap is attractive and lengthy enough to fit my fairly large wrists with a bit of room to spare.

Geoffrey Beene Black Diamond Sport Watch

Watch Style

This Geoffrey Beene watch is dark and understated. While the dial is a dark green, the color is only apparent in bright sunlight. The watch has a canted date window between 4 and 5 o'clock on the dial. I can only read the date when I'm wearing reading glasses. The crystal has a gentle dome quality. The ends of the hour and minute hands are generously painted white. This makes the watch much easier to read than some dark, mono-chromatic, watches. With this dark color, there really is no need for fake subdials. They are present, but can barely be seen. 

Geoffrey Beene Black Diamond Sport Watch

This watch has a 41mm diameter case that is 11.5mm thick. It's a nice balanced size that will allow it to fit easily under a dress shirt cuff and have presence on the wrist in short sleeve situations.

Overall Impression 

This Geoffrey Beene watch is a basic comfortable competent watch. It looks good and is comfortable to wear. It's not an overly exciting watch, but it is a good affordable and comfortable watch to wear anywhere and be able to tell the time.

Where can I get this Geoffrey Beene Watch?

This is one of the many watches that I've picked up at Burlington over the past year and it was a steal there at around $20. However, finding one takes a bit of luck. You can still find one of these "Black Diamond" watches in blue online at Amazon. Amazon also has regular Geoffrey Beene Diamond watches.

What's the Cheapest Movado Watch on Amazon?

I found the cheapest Movado watch on Amazon. It's called the Movado Face and, frankly, I don't like it. 

The Movado Face

It comes in a variety of pastel colors that are completely incompatible with my traditional masculinity. The best color combo that I could find is this Brown and Black combination. It's a Swiss Made quartz watch and it plays with Museum dial by blacking it out. The watch costs just under $400.

You can take a look at the rest of the colors below. If you like them, you do you. I think they suck. Of course, it's a big world and people from other cultures are more accepting of different color palettes. You can see this Movado Face watch here on Amazon.

Movado Face Watches (Amazon photo)

But, this exercise of looking for the cheapest watches has taught me a valuable lesson. You may like a luxury watch brand. You may feel the cachet of the brand. You may have even wanted a watch from a brand for a long time. But, if you don't like the watch that the brand offers at your price point, find another brand or save your money for a bit longer. Fortunately, there are other Movado watches that I do like.

The Movado Bold Versa

For example, I like this Movado Bold Versa. With a stainless steel case and blue dial, it's an attractive and masculine watch. As of this writing, this Movado is just under $450 as a 20% off Amazon sale special. 

This Bold Versa has a 42mm diameter case for plenty of presence on the wrist. It offers a more obvious play on the Movado Museum dial disc. I like it. You can also see it here on Amazon. When it comes to Movado, I'd also take a close look at their Classic Museum watch or their newer, but retro, Calendoplan models.

TGIF: The Magic of a Luxury Watch - Tribe and Vibe

I've been doing a lot of pondering about watches lately. When we think about watch purchases, there are the tangible aspects of a watch--like materials, quality, and performance--and there are intangibles. Sometimes, when it comes to a luxury watch like this pre-owned Cartier Santos 100, the intangibles and the associated emotions are what matter most in a luxury watch purchasing decision.  

Cartier Santos 100 Automatic (Amazon Photo)

As I've posted on X, when the traditional Swiss watchmakers face off against upstart Asian manufacturers, they have two things that the new companies don't - vibe and tribe.  A high-end Swiss watch is a talisman of accomplishment. The feeling of satisfaction that comes from the ability to add such a tangible touchstone of success to your watch collection must be immense. Even used, this Rolex Perpetual Sea Dweller on Amazon is something special in the world of watches.

Rolex Perpetual Sea Dweller (Pre-owned) - Amazon Photo

That's a vibe you don't get from an homage. Another part of the luxury watch vibe is class. When you reach watches that only the extremely wealthy have heard of, you have likely entered a different social class. A watch like this Breguet White Gold Marine Chronograph available on Amazon exudes sophistication and old money.

Breguet Marine Chronograph (Amazon photo)

With class, accomplishment, and wealth comes tribe. The watch becomes a part of an unspoken communication between a highly successful, monied, connected class of people. An understated watch like this Ulysse-Nardin Classico is like a membership badge. Only accomplished people with knowledge and money would wear such a watch.

Ulysse Nardin Classico Automatic (Amazon photo)

People will always strive to succeed and have something to show for their efforts. They'll need to show that they are members of that successful tribe. The prestigious watch is just one small token that represents EVERYTHING. You can't buy it for $150 off Aliexpress. This combination of tribe and vibe is the magic of an ultra-luxury watch.

Now Available: The Timex Ironman Triathlon Rugged Digital Watch

Have you noticed that Casio G Shock models are getting fancier and fancier. They are starting to become status symbols. Perhaps that leaves an opening for someone to make a low-cost beater watch that is rugged and useful? This Timex Ironman Triathlon Rugged has appeared as a suggested product for me in a couple of places lately. It may be a reminder that Timex Ironman watches were and are a competitor to the G Shock. This one has a big 44mm diameter case, a 20mm wide strap, and a case that looks like something from an Alien versus Predator movie.

Timex Ironman Triathlon Rugged

I'm not the biggest fan of digital watches, but this one caught my eye. It looks like it can do that job of timing laps and other athletic endeavors. Indeed, it has a 30-lap memory, 24-hour countdown timer, military time model; 3 daily, weekly, or weekend alarms; two time zones, and a calendar. It's almost enough to make me go jogging--or at least get off the couch and take a walk. If I work my way up to triathlons, the watch even has 100-meters of water resistance so I can take on the swimming event. This watch is a strong offering for less than $50.

If you are ready to rumble, this rugged Timex Triathlon is available here on Amazon.