GiftXGet the app
Review · Sourced specs

Timex Easy Reader Review: The Plain Watch Grandpa Can Read?

A simple analog watch from Timex with a blue dial, a 38mm brass case, a leather strap and the Indiglo light. No charging, no phone, no app.

Timex Men's Easy Reader 38mm Watch
Timex Men's Easy Reader 38mm WatchAround $43 on Amazon [1]
View on Amazon
Verdict

Yes, for a grandpa who stopped wearing his old watch and does not want a smartwatch. It has the Indiglo backlight and a clear dial in a 38mm case [1]. Skip it for a man with a wrist over 8 inches, since the strap fits up to that size [1].

By , GiftX founder · Updated October 29, 2026 · Sources

Specs at a glance

Case38mm brass, silver tone [1]
DialBlue [1]
CrystalMineral glass [1]
Strap20mm genuine leather, brown crocodile grain [1]
FitsWrists up to 8 inches [1]
LightIndiglo backlight [1]
BatteryLithium battery included [1]
ModelTW2R63800 [1]

Pros and cons

What we like
  • Indiglo lights the whole dial at a button press [1]
  • Clear dial that is easy to read
  • Battery included, no charging [1]
  • Genuine leather strap [1]
  • Brass case with a mineral glass crystal [1]
  • Timex's Easy Reader has sold for decades
  • Classic size that suits most wrists [1]
Small trade-offs
  • Strap only fits up to 8 inch wrists [1]
  • Leather does not like swimming or dishwater
  • No date window

A watch that only tells the time

Plenty of grandpas stopped wearing a watch when their old one broke, and nobody wants to teach them a smartwatch. The Easy Reader is the simple answer: hands, numbers, a light.

This version has a blue dial and a silver tone 38mm brass case on a brown leather strap [1]. It looks like the watch he wore to work, which is the point.

There is nothing to charge and no phone to pair. The battery is included, so it runs the day he opens it [1].

Indiglo, case and strap

A quick push of the button lights the dial with Timex's Indiglo backlight [1]. For a grandpa who wakes at night and wants to know the time, the light beats a phone on the nightstand.

The case is brass with a mineral glass crystal, built for daily wear [1]. The strap is genuine leather, 20mm wide, with a crocodile grain finish [1].

At 38mm the watch sits in the middle of the size range. It reads clearly without looking oversized on a slim older wrist [1].

Wrist size and water

Check his wrist first. The strap fits up to an 8 inch wrist [1]. A bigger wrist needs a longer replacement strap, which is easy to find but one more errand.

Leather straps age with water. If he washes dishes or gardens with his watch on, the strap will wear out before the watch does. A spare strap is cheap.

There is no date window on this dial. A grandpa who checks the date on his watch every morning may want a model with one.

Giving grandpa a watch again

Set the time before you wrap it, so he can put it on at the tree. Show him the light once, and he will press it every evening.

From this guide, it pairs with Grandfather, I Want to Hear Your Story for a grandpa set, or with the VeraCosy slippers for a practical morning bundle.

Keep the box. If the strap ever needs replacing, the model number on the listing makes ordering the right size easy [1].

Part of our guideChristmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents: Gifts for Two

FAQ

Does the Timex Easy Reader need charging?

No. It runs on a lithium battery that comes included, so there is nothing to plug in [1]. For a grandpa who does not want another device to charge, it just keeps time until the battery needs replacing years later. Any watch shop can swap the battery when that day comes [1]

What is Indiglo on a Timex watch?

Indiglo is Timex's backlight. A quick push of the button lights up the whole dial in the dark [1]. It is handy at night, at the movies or in a dim church, and it makes the watch easy to read without glasses or a phone screen [1]

Will the Timex Easy Reader fit a large wrist?

The 20mm leather strap fits wrists up to 8 inches around [1]. For most men that is enough, but measure if you are unsure. A larger wrist needs a longer 20mm replacement strap, which is a cheap and easy swap at a watch shop or online [1]

Featured in these guides

Sources and how we checked

  1. Amazon.com listing for the Timex Men's Easy Reader 38mm Watch

Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 29, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.

As an Amazon Associate, GiftX earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change, so check Amazon for the current price.

Add this to a GiftX wishlistGet GiftX