Timex is one of few American-originated watchmakers whose name is still on the market. The brand’s history and the importance of a vintage Timex watch is undeniable.
True US watchmakers are few and far between. Even many of the old American names in the game are now part of bigger non-American corporations. Fortunately, many of them continue to retain their American design sensibilities — Bulova, for example.
Timex is similar but boasts incomparable attainability. Vintage Timex watches, at least their designs, are still popular. In fact, though Timex has their factories overseas, a lot of their modern releases tend to come straight from the archives.
This makes perfect sense. Timex, regardless of what name it was going by at any given time, has been serving up some real gems since 1854. For a non-Swiss watchmaker, that’s a long time.
And unlike vintage pieces from Swiss hard-hitters, old Timex watches aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. Yet, they still have all of the charm and esteem you want from a horological relic.
Here’s why I love a good vintage Timex watch.
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Timex: A Little History
Timex was founded, as mentioned, in 1854. It was originally called the Waterbury Clock Company, headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. The state’s Naugatuck Valley became a command center for American horology.
It soon was dubbed “the Switzerland of America”. Sadly, this is no longer the case.
Still, the Waterbury Clock Company was at the top of export and domestic business. Similar to what Timex does today, Waterbury was democratizing timekeepers. They offered well-built clocks using less luxurious gears and brass wheels.
In the 1880s, Waterbury Clock Company produced pocket watches for the Ingersoll Watch Company (today owned by Herald Group). So, for all intents and purposes, these pocket watches are some of the first “Timex” watches. They’re still affordable on the secondary market.
Then, in World War I, the Waterbury Clock Company turned their Ingersoll ladies’ pocket watch, the Midget, into a wristwatch. Remember, people thought wristwatches were feminine at the time. Nevertheless, soldiers needed something more practical than a pocket watch.
The brand continued to develop innovations, having won an award from the Undersecretary of War. In 1945, they debuted the Timex name in a small run of nurse’s watches and started officially using it in 1950.
The company continued to shrink and grow and change hands repeatedly. That isn’t important today. The brand’s stories are best told through Timex vintage watches.
So, let’s take a look at a few!
9 Classic Timex Watches: Vintage and Antique Timex Watches
Here are some cool classic Timex watches, as well as some antique Timex watches!
Remember, this brand went by many names before 1950. To keep things simple, we’ll stick to referring to them as Timex from here on out.
Ingersoll Pocket Watches
As mentioned, Timex produced a few pocket watches. Here are some important ones.
The Universal
In 1892, Timex produced a pocket watch called the Universal. Interestingly, the watch case featured a bow and crown pendant, similar to watches today. But the crown didn’t function, and you’d use a key and a central wheel.
Today, there aren’t a lot of these in the wild.
The Jumbo
Starting in 1887, Timex produced the Ingersoll Jumbo. Why “Jumbo”? After the name of P.T. Barnum’s famous circus elephant.
This would launch a successful partnership, Timex assembling millions of pocket watches for Ingersoll.
Even more, you can easily find a Jumbo on the secondary market for anywhere between $10 and $40.
The Yankee
The Yankee is probably the most important pocket watch during the Timex-Ingersoll era. It became famous as the $1 pocket watch.
Its popularity earned it the tagline “the watch that made the dollar famous”.
Depending on its condition, a Yankee pocket watch can cost anywhere from $10 to hundreds.
Timex Midget Trench Watch
Remember when Timex modified the ladies’ Midget pocket watch to make it into a field watch for soldiers? It was one of the first field watches ever. They added lugs, moved the crown down to the three positions, and added volume.
You’d be hard-pressed to find an actual Ingersoll Midget out there.
However, Timex released a limited edition reissue in 2017 for the Japanese market. A year later, they released it in the US as the Waterbury Welton.
These are rare but not impossible to find. They have a beautiful antique look. I love the onion crown and two-tier strap.
Ingersoll Mickey Mouse
I’m a big fan of Timex collaborations. The reason I included this watch is because it’s, in a way, their first collab.
These Ingersoll watches, produced in the ‘30s, featured Mickey Mouse on the dial and debuted at the Chicago World’s Fair. They were so successful that they saved Ingersoll from financial collapse.
Today, you can find an Ingersoll Mickey Mouse for around $300 or up to $500 if it comes with the original box.
The Timex Nurse Watch
Of course, I’m including the first Timex-branded watch in history. It came out in 1945 and featured a red second-hand and a white or silver dial. It ran on a mechanical movement and is incredibly rare to find.
Even the vintage pieces that pop up on the internet every so often are likely from runs after 1945.
However, the Timex Easy Reader, the one with the red second hand, is a modernized version of the original nurse watch.
The Ironman Triathlon
When the quartz revolution changed the watch world, Timex eventually got on board. In fact, they did what they’re known to do. They make this efficient and low-cost movement even more efficient and low-cost.
Their development of easy-production quartz movements led to the 1986 Ironman Triathlon. For the next ten years, it soon became the best-selling timepiece in America and the world’s most popular sports watch.
Naturally, a subline of different variations came from this.
The 1992 Ironman Line
The 1992 Ironman Line is important because it was the first to have Indiglo. This is Timex’s flagship technology, which allows you to switch on a phosphor-based lume at the click of a button.
In fact, during 9/11, one of the workers in the World Trade Center was wearing a Timex watch. He used the Indiglo light to guide other people down a dark flight of stairs.
Today, most Timex watches feature Indiglo.
The Marlin 1960
The original Timex Marlin came out during the brand’s heyday. At that time, Timex watches were famous for it’s ability to “take a licking and keep on ticking.”
Of course, the reissue is widely available and quite similar to the original. They both feature that sunburst dial and that ornate dial font.
However, the original has a bigger case size (36 millimeters instead of 34) and has a “Waterproof” moniker on the dial.
The Electric Dynabeat 1970s
The Electric Dynabeat is the high-beat version of their subline, the Electric, from the 1960s.
It actually comes in a range of different visual variations, all delightfully retro.
Since they upped the beat rate from 21,600bph to 28,800, it has a truly captivating ticking sound. It’s like a heartbeat but sped up.
Like many Timex vintage watches, you can find them anywhere from $25 to $300.
The Black Max 1960s and 70s
There were four Black Max variations. However, they all had that tachometer bezel and a black case.
This Timex vintage watch has a sporty and unique look.
I love seeing a tachometer on a non-chronograph, especially one that sits under the glass. Plus, the depth of the dial adds visual intrigue from all angles.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about vintage Timex watches!
Are Old Timex Watches Worth Anything?
Usually, it’s not a large sum. Vintage Timex watches can fetch anywhere from $10 to $300.
What Are the Most Valuable Vintage Timex Watches?
If you can get your hands on a real-life Timex Midget Trench Watch, it will likely be valuable. It’s so rare that we don’t know exactly how much it would cost, though. Meanwhile, the Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Watch can cost up to $500 if it’s in good condition and comes with the original box.
Conclusion: The Cool Factor of a Timex Retro Watch
Vintage Timex watches are collectible, fun, and historical. The best part is that they’re (mostly) quite affordable.
That’s what we turn to Timex for anyway, right? Good value without compromising the lore and function? It would be a shame to watch even the most sought-after vintage model become fully unattainable to the brand’s core audience.
What are some of your favorite old Timex watches? Let me know in the comments!
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