Today, Timex introduces a new limited edition of its Made in America watch series, American Documents, created in collaboration with California-based company MadeWorn. If you recall, American Documents is a special collection from Timex, initially released in 2019, where the cases, dials, hands, crystals, and straps are made in the USA. The watches use a Swiss quartz movement.
As far as I know, the Timex x MadeWorn watches are the first serious limited edition of the 'American Documents' collection. It was the perfect collection for MadeWorn founder Blaine Halvorson to create a limited series, considering his deep interest in American culture and Made in America products. MadeWorn became famous in the watch market for taking Rolex and some other elite watches (as well as the Apple Watch) and creating beautiful hand engravings on them. Halvorson's creative work sparked a mini-trend in the luxury watch sphere. A few years ago, I helped Timex establish contact with MadeWorn and organized the initial meeting between the parties here in Los Angeles. It is very pleasing to see the convincing results of MadeWorn's patented aging processes embodied in the Timex limited series wristwatches.
MadeWorn, as a brand, deserves attention for several reasons. Besides producing a range of officially licensed apparel for the biggest names in music, MadeWorn is probably the world's most successful manufacturer of new products designed to appeal as 'found vintage treasures' - whether it's a shirt that looks like it was bought at a concert in the 1970s or a watch.
Although this is not his first watch project, the Timex x MadeWorn American Documents collection was Blaine Halvorson's first opportunity to create a unique dial. He drew inspiration from old American pocket watches with two-tone dials intended to depict AM/PM indicators. For Halvorson, the two-tone black and tan dials symbolize the duality of being (it's a gentleman with 'love' tattooed on one knuckle and 'hate' on the other), and he finds the aesthetic contrast of the two facets appealing. Inspiration was drawn from a range of samples, including vintage military and other 20th-century watches intended for professional use.
MadeWorn's products are not just about design but also about the process of artistic aging. This is where much of the value lies and why the Timex x MadeWorn watches are about twice as expensive as standard American Documents products. Once you understand how much handwork went into each watch (and their incredible presentation box), the value proposition becomes clear. Besides the original dial, the MadeWorn version of the American Documents watches features a unique case back and strap. Particularly the case back, designed to enhance the feeling that the watch is a 'found treasure', looks like found military Timex watches with MadeWorn branding.
The leather strap (also made in America) undergoes a special aging process to acquire an elegant brown hue that fits well within the MadeWorn world. However, your attention will be drawn most to the 41mm wide steel case. It has been coated and then subjected to a special tumbling process to give it the appearance of aged brass. Timex and MadeWorn invented several entirely new processes for aging various components of the watch, allowing each of the limited editions to have a completely unique look and feel. Accordingly, no two Timex x MadeWorn dials are the same. Halvorson wanted the watches to look as if they had been used in the sun while their owner worked and wore them for years.
The resulting watches are imbued with MadeWorn's DNA and Blaine Halvorson's personal style. Yes, the watches are polarizing, but so are virtually all 'used' items in the world, be it clothing or watches. The worn look, even for luxury items, is still very popular, and Halvorson's MadeWorn is an absolute master of his craft. The richness of detail and craftsmanship create a deep experience with the product, offering an imagined life for the items that in some cases is more interesting than the life of a real vintage item.
MadeWorn is all about subtle details and techniques that ultimately turn into organically looking tools and items with character, rarely found in new, industrially produced clothing and goods.
The final icing on the cake of the Timex x MadeWorn American Documents watch is the presentation box. It is here that you will see the best of MadeWorn, and it is here that the entire charm of the product is enclosed. The presentation box begins with a sealed outer layer of waxed paper and transitions into a hand-burned wax-sealed presentation box. The level of detail and artistic direction in the packaging itself demonstrate the level of love and emotion that went into this product. Fashionable, artistic, and polarizing, the Timex x MadeWorn American Documents watches are among the most interesting conversation pieces this year and will initially be sold exclusively through the Timex.com website.
The price of the limited edition Timex x MadeWorn American Documents TW2U67900 Reference is $850 USD.
