Timex Reissues Another Outstanding Affordable Retro Watch, This Time from the ’70s

This iconic, space-age timepiece has come out of the archives, its classic styling mated to a modern movement.

Close-up of a silver metallic wristwatch viewed from the side, showing the polished watch case, crown, and a portion of the linked bracelet against a dark blue background. The watch face is slightly domed with a reflective surface.

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Published August 19, 2025

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Some of Timex’s most exciting releases of the last few years have been part of the brand’s Q Timex lineup — the “Q” standing for quartz. Their unique blend of affordability and stylishness helps them stand out in a sea of subpar competitors.

The latest to join their ranks is the Q Timex 1972 Time Machine Reissue, a ’70s space-age throwback that’s historically significant to the brand and the watchmaking world.

Two Timex wristwatches are shown side by side. The left watch has a silver metal band and case with a dark blue dial featuring white hour markers and hands, and a date window at the 3 o'clock position. The right watch has a gold metal band and case with a wood-textured brown dial, white hour markers and hands, and a date window at the 3 o'clock position. Both watches display "Q TIMEX," "QUARTZ," and "SINCE 1972" on their dials. — This Q Timex reissue is available in two distinct editions (pictured here).

Back to the future

As mentioned, this watch has some significant ties to the brand’s history (and to watchmaking in general). For instance, although not the very first, the original watch was one of Timex’s first-ever quartz watches.

The embracing of quartz technology led Timex to become the affordable watchmaking monster it is today. This reissue is a love letter to that past in more ways than one.

Silver metal wristwatch shown from the side with a closed clasp and a smooth, polished finish on the case and band links. The crown is visible on the right side of the watch case. The background is a light beige color. — The watch has an acrylic crystal, stainless steel case and matching steel link band.

For instance, it boasts a modern version of the brand’s quartz analog movement, keeping it both remarkably accurate and exceptionally affordable. Per the brand, the movement is “capable of keeping time to within milliseconds per day.”

It’s housed inside a stainless steel tonneau-shaped case measuring 39 millimeters in diameter. While that sizing has come back en vogue recently, it’s also true to the era from which this watch emerged.

Silver stainless steel Timex wristwatch with a hexagonal link bracelet, shown from the back. The watch case back is engraved with details including "Assembled in China," "All Stainless Steel," "Water Resistant 50M," and "Timex" with a battery compartment labeled "377 E-Cell." The clasp is also engraved with "TIMEX. — The bracelet is a dead-ringer for the one on the Vacheron Constantin 222.

Space-age styling

Like the watch it emulates, this new version is dripping with 1970s-inspired styling. It comes in two colorway options: silver with a dark blue dial and gold with a tiger’s eye dial.

As mentioned, both come with a tonneau-shaped stainless steel case. And mated to that case is an integrated bracelet that’s extremely similar in style to the one found on the much higher-end, ultra-hyped Vacheron Constantin 222.

Gold-toned Timex wristwatch with a brown sunburst dial, featuring bold white hour markers and hands, a date window at 3 o'clock, and a distinctive hexagonal-link metal bracelet. — Of the two, the gold option definitely dials up the retro vibes to 11.

The dial also features a trapezoidal date window at the 3 o’clock position (lined in gold on the gold watch), minimalist hour markers that match the styling of the minute and hour hands and a tough acrylic crystal over all of it.

As a nice little touch of sustainability to finish it off, the stainless steel used in the case and band is actually recycled. That said, it’s still just as tough, durable and handsome.