Easily accessed timer/stop watch app on smart watch

March 22, 2019 5:57 AM

I work in 15 minutes installments as a pair with a co-worker, and need a reliable and easy way to measure that time. What kind of watch should I get?

I've been meaning to get myself a watch for a while now, and if possible one with a timer/stop watch function. I interpret in a team and not always in an office setting, so I can't just carry a desk clock with me, but I need to make sure I release my partner after 15 minutes. If possible, I'd like to do that without counting or calculating or using my phone to check the time, because I also have to listen to the conversation or watch out for construction traffic etc.

I thought of getting a Casio because they're sturdy (we work on a construction site), but apparently those only have a stop watch function, and I don't know how appropriate that is. (Would it ring?)
Then I considered getting a smart watch if there's an easily accessible app (no endless fumbling) that basically lets me press a button and then buzzes when 15 minutes are up.

Does that kind of watch/app exist? Have you used it, and how much money would I pay (as in, can it be done on any smart watch or does it have to be Apple or something similar)?
Thanks in advance!

posted by LoonyLovegood to Shopping (4 answers total)

Some casio watches have a feature that would do this for you - the countdown timer. In the picture of the watch in the link, you see that row of numbers along the top? when you press the upper right button, a little blinking line appears below those numbers, which advances with each button press, so press once for 1, twice for 3 etc... that starts the timer, and the watch beeps once that many minutes are up. So for 15 minutes you'd press that button 5 times. it sounds complicated, but once you remember the sequence of numbers you can set the timer without even looking at your watch. I used to wear one all the time and used the alarm to get up in the morning, and the countdown timer as a snooze button. Now I keep it in the kitchen and use it for cooking timing. They last forever and are waterproof too!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:14 AM on March 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Sorry, I forgot to mention that it must not beep.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 6:20 AM on March 22, 2019

Best answer: Most of my G-Shocks have a countdown timer page, that can be preset to 15 minutes and will beep at the end at that period. Then it will reset itself to 15 minutes. A few will display the current time on that same page (most do not). A very select few will vibrate instead of beeping. The 15 minute preset will stay even if you go back to normal timekeeping. This is the manual for one of them, most operate pretty similarly: Casio 1545 PDF Instruction Online.

My Pebble and Garmin GPS watches have a shortcut function that allows holding a button down that goes to any app, and both have a countdown timer app. So on both I simply hold down the upper right hand button for a few seconds, which goes to the app, and then I click the same button, which both are preset for 15 minutes. Both can do vibrate and not beep.
posted by meowzilla at 8:15 AM on March 22, 2019

With my Apple Watch (Series 3, I think) I can raise the watch to my face and say "Set timer for 15 minutes" and it does, and then vibrates when the 15 minutes is up. No button presses or fumbling at all, and no beeping! I find it extremely convenient and use it all the time.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:41 AM on March 22, 2019 [1 favorite]