Timex 38 mm Q Timex Reissue Stainless Steel Case Blue Dial Stainless Steel Bracelet

Product Information

The bezel seats a boxed plexiglass crystal, which definitely echoes the vintage aesthetic that they were going for. And I understand why they’d go for plexiglass, since an equivalent sapphire crystal would increase the overall price of the watch by at least 30%. To further the accurate reproduction of the Q Timex reissue, the brand used a nicely domed acrylic crystal that gives some period correct vintage charm. The domed crystal stands about 2.7mm proud of the bezel, which in turn makes for an impressive side profile not often seen in modern watches. Covering the dial is a domed acrylic crystal that just exudes the perfect vintage feeling. Sure, you’re more likely to get scratches, but there is just something about the distortion on the dial when looking at it from a different angle.

If you don’t follow watch news, you’ll have missed the 411 that every man and his dog, probably named Patek or Gerald, has been talking about. The jocular return of France’s horological joker, Romantic André. Renowned for spicing up a watch dial with a graphic witticism or two, this week, he took on Timex with two models, one an automatic M79 model, and the other a quartz. To be entirely honest, I was pretty surprised that this watch had any lume at all. And while it isn’t great lume, it is decent and should last at least an hour or two in the dark.

Closing Thoughts

There are now myriad iterations of the bi-color bezel Q. But are there many more available distinct quartz models within the archives to reimagine within this heritage collection? What’s the future of the Q line? Below the hands is “Quartz” in all caps, making sure you don’t forget that this watch is a battery-powered movement. The watch is measured at a proportional 35mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug of about 40mm. These dimensions make the watch perfect for just about any wrist, especially slender ones.

Recognisable for its dual-coloured bezel, the Rolex Pepsi tends to hog this particular spotlight. “I bought my very first Timex in 2019 as I was looking for an affordable alternative for Rolex GMT II Pepsi,” shares watch expert of Chronondo, Danar Widanarto. “At that time, my daily companion was Tudor's GMT Pepsi and I thought the Timex Q Reissue Pepsi would be the perfect matching piece for double wristing. I was amazed by the features of this timepiece: rotating bezel, vintage lume, symmetry of day & date display, the harmony between the strap and the case.” Selling out in mere minutes, clearly there was thirst for the Diet Pepsi too. At the start, we chose styles for Q reissues that we thought would resonate most with watch collectors and Timex enthusiasts, so we were not surprised at how excited they were about the first Q Timex 1979 Reissue. We also choose reissue styles where the design aesthetic and functionality have a story to be told. We lean into classic ‘70s design elements such as the band style, unique colorways on the watch face and the recent gold and rose gold colors we launched. As you know, the Q story is one of our favorites and we are glad to see it resonate so well with fans, too. So much so, in fact, that Timex continued to riff on the design and release numerous Qs throughout 2020: the original in myriad bezel and dial colors; the 1978-inspired Falcon Eye; and an outlier, the automatic M79, which retained the Q's looks but added a mechanical movement. People were hooked, it would seem, and Timex was happy to oblige its fan base.With the quartz crisis well underway in the late 1970s, many watch brands were threatened by this new technology and felt it would affect the sales of mechanical watches. Timex was different. They knew quartz had numerous benefits over traditional mechanical movements and they wanted to help it go mainstream. Although not their first quartz watch, the Q Timex was one of their most popular models because of its pleasing design and “Pepsi” rotating bezel. Originally released in 1979, Timex wanted everyone to know this was a quartz watch by branding it “Q” and proudly printing “QUARTZ” in bold font on the dial. They were not ashamed or embarrassed about this new technology, a stance that has made them a highly successful watch brand today. The dial on the Q Timex 1978 screams 1970s style, with a dressy, sporty flare. It’s a silver dial with a vertical brushed linen pattern that adds a bit of panache. The textured silver of the dial can appear a bright silver to a deep silvery-gray or even shine with a warm gold-tinted glow, depending on the light. I was surprised to see how many dimensions such a simple dial like this could take on throughout the day. The bracelet has a significant taper from 21.5mm where it meets the case to 16mm at the ends. This taper creates an aesthetically pleasing bracelet profile that improves comfort while looking good. The actual lug width is 18mm and could accommodate aftermarket straps of this size. However, the factory bracelet is a perfect match for this piece. Nevertheless, a quartz movement with a date function where you can change the battery yourself is a welcome addition.

In true dress watch fashion, the watch’s water resistance is only rated at a shallow 50 meters. Yeah, it’s nothing to write home about, but it’s a dress watch with an accessible battery hatch so what more can you ask for? Dial This watch just hits a lot of the boxes that one would find in an expensive dress watch, but for low price.In Timex’s own words, the hour markers are fashioned after the towers and skyscrapers of New York City. The bezel is friction fit and has pretty good grip, so the alignment is as good as you want it to me. Timex calls this bezel a top ring, which is an interesting way to describe a bezel, and is made of aluminum. The quality is pretty good, and I think the printing on it is well executed too. I don’t expect these bezels to age very well, but they sure look great.

In true 70s fashion, you have an angular case design with lots of flat surfaces. The lugs are hidden by the brushed case surface, with a flared bracelet joint from 18mm to 21mm.

Another standout design element of the Q Timex 1978 Reissue is the tall, generously domed acrylic crystal. The crystal probably makes up at least 40% of the overall height of the watch. All that curvy glass adds another touch of class to the Q Timex 1978, and adds to the vintage look. It should help the watch stand out a bit more on your wrist, too, while still easily sliding under a shirt cuff. The Leather Strap Many watch companies focus their heritage releases on mechanical products. Can you explain the original inspiration to look specifically into Timex’s quartz archives? The first Q reissue was an instant hit, selling out multiple times. Were you at all surprised by its incredible success, or did you anticipate its resonance with the Timex audience? Overall, I like the dial design and I think the finishing is great too. The colors are great, and this dial is the reason why this watch is so much fun to wear.