Reissues happen all the time. The past has been the present’s major inspiration for the past few years. The industry’s fascination with models from yesteryear shows no signs of abating any time soon, and that’s not a bad thing. With the Q Timex Watch, we’re being treated to a faithful reissue that has bags of retro cool, realized with contemporary materials and manufacturing processes. For those watch-lovers tired of the endless slew of frequently lazy reimaginings, this piece should be a reminder of why it is sometimes worthwhile to dig into a brand’s past and bring models up to date in terms of quality rather than style.

Great design is often ahead of its time. The most famous designs in the history of our industry have little in common other than the fact that most of them were treated with suspicion upon release. It’s hardly surprising. Pushing the boundaries doesn’t make you that many friends but it does win you admirers. That’s the lane Timex is trying to hit with the Q Timer and, given the hefty dose of throwback style and consciously accessible price point, I’d say it’s been quite a success.

A Faithful Friend

Timex has a huge bank of history to draw from. In the company’s 165-year existence it has released more than a few enduring models. Reaching back into the past and pulling an old design into the modern day is something the brand does with aplomb. The Q Timex was first released in 1979, spearheading a new electronic era for the brand. This reissue is really close to the original. Key features such as the woven stainless steel bracelet, prominent battery hatch, and oh-so-on-trend Pepsi timing bezel have all been retained. So, too, the acrylic crystal been used again. This is not only a period-appropriate decision (that coincidentally saves on manufacturing costs), it also gives the piece a warm authenticity that sapphire, however resistant, would have lacked.

Conclusion

So the Q Timex diver may not take us all the way back to the dawn of the brand, but it does deposit us somewhere in the late seventies. It is a very effective artifact that benefits from the modern day affordability of quartz, making this watch a far greater value proposition (relatively speaking) than it was when it originally made its bow.

The name “Q Timex” was given to the original interpretation of this concept to herald the entrance into the quartz era. The Q, as well as the word “quartz,” appear obviously on the dial, with the former crowning the word mark, and the latter taking up its usual position between the center and 6 o’clock. The Q Timex will be made in (unspecified) limited quantities (which will hopefully be refreshed as this one is nailed on for a quick sell-out) for just $179 on the Timex website and select boutiques around the world from May 2019. Learn more at timex.com.