The Q Timex was an enormous success when it launched final 12 months, and it’s not onerous to see why. The nice retro design, distinctive bracelet, and accessible pricing made for an irresistible quartz watch that fans love. Lately, the model adopted up with the Q Timex Shade Collection — three coloration variants that add lots of selection and enjoyable to the already interesting package deal. I bought an opportunity to go hands-on with this trio of recent Q Timex watches, and I’m certain everybody goes to have their private favourite. For me, it’s the inexperienced and black bezel variant, although that white dial is lots of enjoyable. There was a persistent subject with the primary Q Timex reissue being offered out all over the place, resulting in markups within the secondhand market. I can’t converse to how lots of the new Shade Collection they’ll produce (these will not be restricted), however I hope the larger catalog relieves a few of the shortages. As of now, they’re in inventory on the Timex web site (hyperlink right here).
The three new colorways are: white dial with blue and purple bezel; blue dial with blue and orange bezel; and black dial with black and inexperienced bezel, which, paradoxically, is the least colourful but nonetheless narrowly my most well-liked mannequin. The colours on the bezel are vibrant and fairly engaging, echoing a theme that persists throughout the case and bracelet: high-quality ending made much more spectacular when the sub-$200 worth is factored in.
The primary Q Timex dates again to 1979, and the reissue stayed very near the unique with its design and recognizable bracelet. Measuring 38mm-wide and 11.5mm-thick, the lug-to-lug measurement is available in at simply round 45mm. That is partly because of the sq. and beveled (or hooded) lugs which can be designed with the “woven” bracelet in thoughts, which itself is sort of snug. Frankly, it could be troublesome for a model with out the huge assets of Timex to drag off a bracelet like this and nonetheless preserve prices stage. This goes for the bezel, as nicely, which is a bi-directional friction lock bezel that doesn’t click on. Oftentimes, at this worth level, the “umph” required to show the bezel by no means actually hits the Goldilocks “good” zone. Not the case right here, because it’s simply resistant sufficient when turned.
The domed acrylic crystal is one other contact from the 70’s authentic, and the classic allure is actually there (notice that there’s a little bit of a scratch on the middle of the dial of the white mannequin which is the results of a free plastic cowl throughout transport). Thick and old-school, the acrylic crystal will get the job accomplished and legibility actually isn’t a difficulty. On the purpose of legibility, the lumed palms are properly sized and all three dial colours are simple to learn. The purple seconds hand, day and date window at three o’clock, and lumed hour indices are all carried over from final 12 months’s first reissue.
The Q Timex has 50M of water resistance, which implies getting it moist is okay however in all probability don’t go swimming. Turning that metal case round reveals the battery hatch, which lets you simply change batteries — you simply must seize a coin and open it up. Contained in the Q Timex is the Seiko PC33, which is pretty unremarkable although dependable. One thing barely annoying is that whereas the date is quickset, the day will not be and requires full rotations to regulate.
Timex is aware of it has a winner with the Q Timex, and it looks like quartz has by no means been extra in style and accepted, which makes me completely satisfied. Once more, the worth of all three new Q Timex Shade Collection watches is $179 every, and they’re, on the time of writing, out there on the Timex e-commerce web page (hyperlink right here). You possibly can be taught extra at timex.com
