Beepless watch with a timer and a stop watch?

March 28, 2007 4:05 PM

I'm looking for a digital watch that has both a timer (set the amount of time and it counts down) and a stopwatch (starts at zero and counts up) that doesn't beep when you press any of the buttons to start or stop the timer/stopwatch.

I'm preparing to take a standardized test and need to time myself while practicing, and I like to study in the library. I have a crappy old Timex Ironman watch that has a stopwatch and timer, but it beeps when you start or stop the timer even when you have the button chimes setting turned off. I need a watch that I can set to be totally quiet. (And I'd like to pay no more than fifty bucks for it, if possible.)

posted by buriedpaul to Shopping (14 answers total)

Can't you just use your existing watch? Who says it has to start/stop at zero? Start it before you enter the library. Then when you're ready to start the test, if the watch says 34:30, for example, plan to start at 35:00 (write that down.) When you're done at say 47:30 - its been 12.5 minutes. etc.
posted by vacapinta at 4:18 PM on March 28, 2007

I used to have a digital watch that performed the same functions and behaved the way you described yours is working.

I found that the "speaker" part was something glued/attached to the back cover. So when I removed the cover, it performed the same way, but didn't make any noises at all.

Worth a shot to look and see if yours is similar. Could be a free way out :-)

Good luck!
posted by sandra_s at 4:28 PM on March 28, 2007

My lovely casio databank old school calculator watch, DBC-62.

Push the "adjust" button while in calculator mode to turn off all beeps except the alarm.

(also has a schedule and stores phone numbers)
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 4:32 PM on March 28, 2007

Best answer: The Silent Timer.
posted by trip and a half at 4:42 PM on March 28, 2007

Best answer: My Nike Triax watch has a stopwatch function, and the beeps can easily be turned off to make it totally silent.
posted by frogan at 5:02 PM on March 28, 2007

I could be wrong (I haven't worn a digital watch in years), but can't pretty much any watch with a countdown timer have the beeps turned off? I seem to remember all my old watches having that functionality.

Also, does it have to be a watch? Most cell phones have count down timers and stop watches nowadays.
posted by quin at 5:23 PM on March 28, 2007

I have a crappy old Timex Ironman watch that has a stopwatch and timer, but it beeps when you start or stop the timer even when you have the button chimes setting turned off.

Ah, I missed that. Never mind.
posted by quin at 5:24 PM on March 28, 2007

you could always get my watch:

the Casio LDF-10 - it can count down, it can count up...and it vibrates!! so totally silent yet will tell you when your time is up. plus it's cheap and comes in red!
posted by 6am at 5:27 PM on March 28, 2007

Best answer: Lots and lots and lots of Casio digital watches will do this. The beep on mine, for example, can be silenced by holding down the "mode" button for a few seconds. Many work differently, but lots will have the same capabilities.
posted by Mwongozi at 5:52 PM on March 28, 2007

I recommend the Nike Hammer. It's the perfect timer watch, in my opinion.
posted by Phyltre at 6:45 PM on March 28, 2007

If you have a cheap digital watch or stopwatch, you can try opening it up. There should be a large metal circular disc, which is the thing that produces the beep. If you put a piece of tape in between the disc and where metal contact touch it, you can silence the beeper while keeping everything else functional.
posted by alex3005 at 6:47 PM on March 28, 2007

God bless the DBC-62. Although that LDF-10 looks pretty rad too.
posted by designbot at 6:46 AM on March 29, 2007

Damn, I wish the LDF-10 was sold in the US.
posted by selfmedicating at 9:24 AM on March 29, 2007

There are a bunch of vendors on ebay who will ship them to the US, selfmedicating.
posted by SteveInMaine at 10:00 AM on March 29, 2007