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.

The success of their labeled Timex watches pushed the company to finally rename itself the Timex Corporation in 1969. Case We had the chance to speak with Timex Group's Chief Design Director, Giorgio Galli, once again to discuss the Q line, the new model, and what the future holds for this wildly successful model that's popular with newbies, aficionados, and everyone in between. The hands have plenty of lume surface area as well. Overall, I can’t really fault this lume too much, even though the longevity isn’t great.

The Woven Bracelet

The Q Times 1978 Reissue really impressed me. It’s a watch with a lot of class and a ton of vintage appeal. This Timex is both sporty and sophisticated, with a dial, case, and crystal combination that adds up to a uniquely stylish look. The sizing is just perfect for a slender wrist, and the lugs and polished case just scream vintage. The amazing silver champagne dial just pulls the eye to the watch. 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. This is where Timex fits in. Long champions of affordable watchmaking, the American firm has been in business since 1854, first producing mechanical timepieces, and then, in the 1970s, quartz. Most of their production is still quartz-based, though they've been introducing more and more mechanical wristwatches lately. We have tried to replicate the aesthetic values of the original watches as closely as possible. The case designs and measurements are per the original watches and the movements have been selected to replicate the original functions (or recreated in the case of the Q Timex Reissue Digital LCA). However, we have upgraded the case materials to stainless steel and in the case of some functions, such as the lighting system on the LCA, we have replicated the look of the single bulb to the side of the display as used decades ago, only this time using a single LED bulb.

So, should you get the Timex Q 1978 Reissue Date? I think that’s a definite yes. It just exudes class and vintage looks, all for an attainable price. Are each of the models fairly faithful to their inspiration, or have you upgraded or improved the designs to suit the modern wearer? The case is fully polished, with smooth, rounded contours. The polished finish gives the watch a more dressy appearance and provides plenty of opportunities to shine when it catches the light. The cushion case is sleek, but it also gives the watch a more commanding presence on the wrist. It’s an uncommon yet sophisticated look with a strong 70s vibe that feels vintage but not out-of-place today. And it feels substantial and well-made while remaining thin. You could even call it svelte.

Contents

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 The M79 is an interesting outlier in that it’s mechanical, but seems to fit within the “Q” collection. Did you sense a hunger for a mechanical version of the Q aesthetic after the original “Pepsi” model was released? The longevity of the movement is inherent in its accessible design. You can expect this movement and watch to last a long time. Strap

Sadly, there is no information on the supplier of their quartz movement. We get online that the quartz movement is Japanese, so one can assume that the supplier is either Seiko or Miyota.

Vintage-Inspired Men’s Watches

The entire case is made of stainless steel and is given a polished surface. The lugs extend out in a slight slant from the case and are designed to resemble old art deco lugs from watches of years ago.