Timex is one of the few watch companies of American origin whose name is still well-known. The history of the brand and the significance of vintage Timex watches are undeniable.
There are very few true American watchmakers. Even many of the old American names are now part of large non-American corporations. Fortunately, many of them continue to preserve American design - for example, Bulova.
Timex is similar but boasts unmatched affordability. Vintage Timex watches, at least their design, remain popular. Although Timex factories are located overseas, many modern models are typically drawn directly from the archives.
This makes perfect sense. Timex, regardless of the name it bore at any given time, has been producing genuine gems since 1854. For a non-Swiss watch company, that's a long time.
And unlike vintage specimens from a Swiss company, old Timex watches won't cost you an arm and a leg. Nevertheless, they still possess all the charm and respect you want from a horological relic.
That's why I love good vintage Timex watches.
Timex: A Bit of History
Timex was founded, as mentioned, in 1854. Initially, it was called the Waterbury Clock Company, headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley in the state became the command center of the American watch industry.
Soon it was dubbed the "American Switzerland." Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.
Nevertheless, the Waterbury Clock Company was at the pinnacle of export and domestic business. Much like Timex does today, Waterbury was democratizing chronometer production. They offered well-made watches with less luxurious gears and brass wheels.
In the 1880s, the Waterbury Clock Company produced pocket watches for the Ingersoll Watch Company (today owned by the Herald Group). Thus, by all accounts, these pocket watches are among the first "Timex" watches. They are still available on the secondary market.
Then, during World War I, the Waterbury Clock Company transformed its women's pocket watches, Ingersoll, Midget, into wristwatches. Remember, at that time, people considered wristwatches to be for women. Nevertheless, soldiers needed something more practical than pocket watches.
The brand continued to innovate, receiving an award from the Deputy Secretary of War. In 1945, the company released a small batch of watches for nurses, and in 1950 it officially adopted the name Timex.
The company continued to shrink, grow, and change hands multiple times. Today, that doesn't matter as much. The brand's history is best told by vintage Timex watches.
So, let's take a look at some of them!
9 Classic Timex Watches: Vintage and Antique Timex Watches
Here are some cool classic Timex watches, as well as a few antique Timex watches!
Remember that before 1950, this brand had many names. For simplicity, we will call them Timex.
Ingersoll Pocket Watches
As previously mentioned, Timex released several pocket watches. Here are some important ones.
Universal
In 1892, Timex released a pocket watch called Universal. Interestingly, the watch case featured a bow and winding crown, similar to modern watches. But the winding crown did not function, and you used a key and central wheel.
Today, such watches are rarely found.
Jumbo
Starting in 1887, Timex produced the Ingersoll Jumbo model. Why "Jumbo"? Named after the famous circus elephant of P.T. Barnum.
This marked the beginning of a successful partnership: Timex assembled millions of pocket watches for Ingersoll.
Moreover, on the secondary market, you can easily find Jumbo for prices ranging from $10 to $40.
Yankee
The Yankee model is perhaps the most important pocket watch of the Timex-Ingersoll era. They became known as the one-dollar pocket watch.
Due to their popularity, they became known as "the watch that made the dollar famous."
Depending on the condition, Yankee pocket watches can cost anywhere from 10 to a hundred dollars.
Timex Midget Trench Watches
Remember how Timex modified the women's pocket watches Midget, turning them into field watches for soldiers? These were some of the first field watches. They added lugs, moved the winding crown down three positions, and added volume.
You're unlikely to find genuine Ingersoll Midget.
However, in 2017 Timex released a limited edition reissue for the Japanese market. A year later, they released it in the US under the name Waterbury Welton.
These watches are rare but not impossible to find. They have a beautiful antique look. I love the onion crown and two-tiered strap.
Ingersoll Mickey Mouse
I'm a big fan of Timex collaborations. I included these watches in the list because they are, in a way, their first collaboration.
These Ingersoll watches, released in the 1930s with Mickey Mouse on the dial, debuted at the World's Fair in Chicago. They were so successful that they saved Ingersoll from financial ruin.
Today, Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watches can be found for about $300 or up to $500 if they come with the original box.
Timex Nurse Watches
Of course, I include in the story the first watches under the Timex brand. They were released in 1945 and featured a red second hand and a white or silver dial. They were powered by a mechanical movement and are incredibly rare.
Even those vintage pieces that occasionally appear online are most likely produced after 1945.
However, the Timex Easy Reader with a red second hand is a modernized version of the original nurse's watch.
Triathlon Ironman
When the quartz revolution changed the world of watches, Timex eventually got on board. Essentially, they did what they should have done. They made this efficient and inexpensive mechanism even more efficient and inexpensive.
Their development of easy-to-produce quartz movements led to the 1986 Ironman Triathlon. Over the next ten years, these watches became the best-selling in America and the most popular sports watch in the world.
Naturally, this led to the emergence of an entire sub-line of various variations.
1992 Ironman Line
The 1992 Ironman line is significant because it was the first to feature the Indiglo system. This flagship Timex technology allows the luminous backlight to be activated with a single button press.
During 9/11, one of the World Trade Center workers wore a Timex watch. He used the Indiglo backlight to guide others down the dark staircase.
Today, most Timex watches are equipped with the Indiglo feature.
Marlin 1960
The original Timex Marlin watches were released during the brand's heyday. At that time, Timex watches were famous for their ability to "take a licking and keep on ticking."
Of course, the reissue is widely available and very similar to the original. They both have a sunburst dial and a fancy dial font.
However, the original has a larger case size (36 millimeters instead of 34) and the word "Waterproof" on the dial.
Electric Dynabeat of the 1970s
Electric Dynabeat is a high-frequency version of the Electric model from the 1960s.
It is available in various visual variations, all delightfully retro.
Since they increased the beat frequency from 21,600 beats per second to 28,800, they have a truly mesmerizing ticking sound. It's like a heartbeat, only accelerated.
Like many other vintage Timex watches, you can find them for prices ranging from $25 to $300.
Black Max of the 1960s-70s
There were four varieties of Black Max. However, they all had a tachymeter bezel and a black case.
These vintage Timex watches have a sporty and unique look.
I like seeing a tachymeter on a non-chronograph, especially one that's under glass. Additionally, the depth of the dial adds visual intrigue from all angles.
Questions and Answers
Here are some frequently asked questions about vintage Timex watches!
Are old Timex watches worth anything?
Usually, not a very large amount. Vintage Timex watches can fetch from $10 to $300.
What are the most valuable vintage Timex watches?
If you manage to get your hands on genuine Timex Midget Trench Watches, they are likely to be very valuable. This is such a rare specimen that we don't know exactly how much it will be worth. Meanwhile, Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watches can be worth up to $500 if they are in good condition and come with the original box.
Conclusion: The Cool Factor of Timex Retro Watches
Vintage Timex watches are collectible, fun, and historical timepieces. The best part is that they are (in most cases) very affordable.
This is what we turn to Timex for, right? A good price without sacrificing history and functionality? It would be a shame to see even the most sought-after vintage model become completely inaccessible to the brand's primary audience.
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