Timex Revives This Extremely Obscure Promotional Watch from the ’80s

It’s nearly impossible to find originals of the $21 watch on eBay.

Black watch with textured rubber strap and a blue fish design on the dial with "Somewhere in Time X" text.

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By Ethan Brehm

Published May 28, 2026

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Just because something is affordable doesn’t mean it’s easy to find.

For hardcore Iron Maiden fans, $200 isn’t a lot for an obscure promotional watch from the ‘80s. But the question is: Where can you even get one? You might remember the timepiece. Made to coincide with the 1986 album “Somewhere In Time,” the Timex-made quartz watch was black with a large, blue image of the band’s Cyborg Eddie mascot on the dial.

Mechanical arm with exposed red muscles wearing a black Iron Maiden "Somewhere in Time" watch. — The original version of this Iron Maiden watch was a fan club exclusive in 1986 and cost just $21.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Iron Maiden has now run it back with Timex, reimagining the Somewhere In Time watch with some key upgrades for 2026.

A most unlikely reissue

Not much is known about this original watch except that it cost around £14 (~$21 in 1986; ~$64 in 2026). You were able to purchase it through the official Iron Maiden Fan Club catalog unless you were one of the lucky record stores who acquired one as a promotional item.

Black wristwatch with a digital face featuring Iron Maiden's "Somewhere in Time" album art and a textured black strap. — Swapping the cheaper material of the original, Timex gives the 40mm timepiece beadblasted stainless steel.

For this reissue, Timex keeps the cyberpunk theme and overall look but simply turns a $21 watch into a $249 watch.

Starting with the 40mm case, the material is upgraded to a beadblasted stainless steel (the original used either a cheap base metal or resin). Still in black, it now offers 100m of water resistance so you can rep your love for the band at the beach or poolside all summer long. The black coating also extends to the crown, which was originally in a raw metal state. However, the crown guards have been removed.

Black smartwatch with a textured black silicone strap and a colorful galaxy-themed watch face. — Premium NBR rubber is a big upgrade this time around for its sturdiness and durability.

The band also gets a key upgrade, now in a premium NBR synthetic rubber known for its durability and resistance to smudges and fingerprints.

Round black watch face with red graphic of a cyborg skull and "Iron Maiden" and "Somewhere in Time" text. — With the push of the crown, the entire face glows red thanks to Timex’s Indiglo backlight.

Close-up of a black watch face with red swirling design, "Iron Maiden" text, and "Somewhere in Time" on the bezel. — Timex adds its own subtle branding to the dial by tacking on an “X” to the end of “Time.”

Fear of the dark

Mineral crystal covers the dial, which has been mostly unchanged. Cyborg Eddie is still front-and-center, surrounded by a celestial dust of stars. The one major change is the text on the inner bezel. Previously colored in blue, the “Iron Maiden” and “Somewhere In Time” font is now yellow. And Timex squeezes in some subtle branding this time around too, tacking on a cheeky “X” at the end of “Time.”

Black wristwatch with textured strap and red Iron Maiden "Somewhere in Time" graphic on the dial. — Indiglo didn’t debut until 1992 so this is a brand-new addition to the timepiece.

Black Timex watch with blue and white graphic dial in a black and blue grid-patterned Iron Maiden themed box. — This is a key drop for hardcore Iron Maiden fanatics looking to relive their ’80s heyday.

Just like it did in 1986, the dial omits hour markers and indices altogether, yet sticks to a basic three-hand setup. Still ticking via a quartz caliber, the hour and minute hands have now been completely lumed rather than the single strips on the original.

Perhaps the most significant aesthetic change is the low-light appearance of the dial. Adding its groundbreaking Indiglo backlight (which didn’t exist in 1986), the mascot’s face now glows red when you push the crown.

Brushed stainless steel watch back engraved with "Iron Maiden," "Timex," and watch specifications. — The caseback also gets engraved with the band’s logo.

Availability and pricing

Priced at $249, the Timex for Iron Maiden 1986 Tribute should ship later this summer. There’s been an indication that this is a limited edition, although the edition size has been kept under wraps.

While the pre-order window has now closed, Timex might still have some inventory after it fulfills these initial pre-order shipments. So keep a close eye on the brand’s website.

Black wristwatch with a textured rubber strap and an Iron Maiden "Somewhere in Time" themed blue face design.

Timex for Iron Maiden 1986 Tribute

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About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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