Timex’s $149 Cartier Clone Returns with a Slick New Look

Who needs a seconds hand anyway?

Close-up of a Timex watch with a rectangular silver face, blue hands, Roman numerals, and a brown leather strap.Timex

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Back in March of this year, Timex turned heads by debuting the 1976 Lexington Reissue.

It’s perfectly on-brand for the Waterbury watchmaker to revive a 1970s archival design that resembles a far more expensive icon. But a two-hand rectangular dress watch is a stark departure from its modern catalog, and it now comes in a more approachable polished stainless steel.

Rectangular silver Timex watch with Roman numerals and dark brown crocodile leather strap on a wooden surface.
The 1976 Lexington Reissue is now available in polished stainless steel.
Timex

The 1976 Lexington Reissue, somewhat confusingly, copies a model Timex originally called the Cavatina. However, the real draw is its resemblance to the Cartier Tank, one of the most iconic watches ever designed.

Timex flirted with the Tank blueprint in 2024, partnering with Noah on a collaboration that promptly sold out twice over. It also hinted at the Lexington’s release with a Todd Snyder collaboration subtly revealed during the designer’s runway show in September 2025 (which eventually hit the market in April 2026).

Snyder’s limited-edition Lexington featured a distinctive hour track, so it was a welcome surprise when the regular production model revealed a Tank-esque Roman numeral hour track wrapped around a rectangular railroad minute track.

Rectangular silver Timex wristwatch with white dial, black Roman numerals, blue hands, and brown leather strap worn on a wrist.
The 1976 Lexington Reissue is 21mm wide and 36mm lug-to-lug.
Timex

The positive reception was demonstrated by the debut 1976 Lexington Reissue selling out in a flash. Fortunately, it is back in stock with a more versatile revamp.

Blue leaves

The gold-tone plating is gone, leaving a polished stainless steel case that measures 21mm wide and 36mm lug-to-lug. It creates a more subtle contrast with the vertical-brushed metallic dial and is better suited for daily wear.

Rectangular Timex watch with silver dial, black Roman numerals, blue hands, and brown leather strap on an open book.
The stainless steel 1976 Lexington Reissue’s alpha hands have a blue coating.
Timex

The hour and minute tracks are still printed in black, but the diminutive alpha hour and minute hands now have a blue coating. The combination of blue hands and a steel case is another Cartier hallmark that Timex pulls off nicely.

A flat mineral crystal is raised slightly above the case, adding a touch of visual intrigue around the dial’s border.

Going gator

The two-hand, time-only dial is powered by a quartz movement. Not only does this keep the price low, but it minimizes maintenance, and without a seconds hand, it’s the logical choice.

The movement is secured beneath a pry-off faceted caseback etched with a decorative Timex logo.

Rectangular silver watch case with engraved back and black crocodile-pattern leather strap with silver buckle.
The 1976 Lexington Reissue comes on a brown embossed crocodile leather strap.
Timex

The stainless steel 1976 Lexington Reissue comes on the same embossed crocodile strap as the gold-tone version, but in brown instead of black. It features a signed stainless steel pin buckle and quick-release spring bars.

Availability and pricing

I’ve always preferred Cartier’s Tank, in all of its variations, with a steel case and blue hands. So this is a welcome update, and probably my favorite Timex dress watch since the final Noah collaboration.

The polished stainless steel 1976 Lexington Reissue is available now from Timex for $149, the best price you’ll find for a good Tank stand-in without hunting through the vintage market. If you’re interested, I recommend acting fast, because every previous iteration of this watch has sold out quickly.

Rectangular silver Timex watch with white dial, black Roman numerals, blue hands, and dark brown leather strap.Timex

Timex 1976 Lexington Reissue Steel

Specs

Case Size 21mm
Movement Quartz
Water Resistance 30m

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google
, ,