Timex - fashionable watches for the masses
The credo of the American manufacturer must have been more or less the same, with which they flooded the market, especially the German market, with price-sensitive and desirable pin-stick watches, especially in the 1970s.
With simple chrome-plated cases, many of them “100% waterproof” and a tight watchmaking palette, which consisted mainly of very sturdy stone-free hand-wound movements, they could not shine technically, but provided low prices, the aggressive advertising, and a sheer endless variety of models that no other watch brand at that time could be found on as many wrists as Timex.
Every year a new “collection” was launched, and hardly a model was available for more than two years. In conjunction with low prices and many not really watertight housings made for a certain turnover, and so the masses could afford every few years a new fashionable watch. Much to the displeasure of the domestic competition (v. Kienzle was really “not amused”), as well as the Swiss manufacturer.
Apart from the electromechanical works, which Timex breaks through in the mass, simple pin lever mechanisms were installed, which were provided depending on the version with center seconds, with date and day date and in the top with an eccenter selfwinding mechanism. In the case of a defect, these could be replaced for a few dollars, as the dial and the movement offered a removable unit. The Electric models were always priced (up) out, but were marked especially in the 70s with the emergence of the base M40 by extreme simplicity. In any case, they could not warm the heart of a watchmaker, but they must be conceded that they were truly genuinely simple in design, and even expandable so far, that from 1972 onwards a quartz module was simply added, offering the first analog quartz watch to the masses , at prices where the competition was just bad. In 1978, the second generation of quartz movements came on board, this time with a shift motor that worked in minutes (!) And ensured really minimal battery consumption. For the first time an analogue quartz watch for under 100 DM was possible! In the early 80s, as well as the competition brought cheap quartz watches on the market, it was over with the Timex supremacy. Mechanical models were made in the Philippines for a few years, but were barely found on the wrists. At the end of the 80s, the legendary indestructible stone-less mechanics of Timex were finished.
Collection
In the collection presented here you can get a good idea of the enormous variety of offers.
Wherever texts are, they have been taken from the original “Timex Collection” catalogs and translated, as well as the prizes in DM (German Mark - the local currency before the Euro). Prices in parentheses mean that this model no longer appeared in the then current catalog, so it was already phased out models. The prices were taken from the last catalog, in which they were still regularly included.
Most watches are very easy to date from the code on the dial. It consists of two number blocks, the first of which designates the model number and the second contains the factory number (front two or three digits) and the year of production (last two digits). There are very few models where no dating and no model number can be found.
undated
- Timex ladies' watch with fixed lugs
- Timex Electric with Laco 880 (backset)
- Timex 400
- Timex “Military”
- Timex Taiwan Quartz
- US Time Minnie Mouse 21-28150
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
Chrome case with stainless steel back. 24 hour indication. Date. Luminous dots and hands. Red center second. Water resistant.
1973
automatic, calendar und weekday indication, nicely shaped goldplaqué case, attractive dial, 100% waterproof
1974
M80
nice and virtually indistrucable youth watch
1975
Blue is the favorite color for many. Chrome case with stainless steel bottom. center seconds
Timex Boutique Kollektion - in the middle of fashion. Cream hostaform case, 100% waterproof
Ladies diver watch, tested to 25m depth, calendar, light fittings, dial with sunburst, stainless steel link bracelet
Ladies or Youth sports watch. Waterproof. Tested to 25m diving depth. Date. Lighting device.
4x chic with Timex 4. The watch with variations. Fashionable and up-to-date. With four different colored ribbons and lunettes to change.
1976
A funny colorful girl watch. Chrome case. Stainless steel back. center seconds
(2x) Chrome case with stainless steel bottom. Link bracelet. Waterproof.
M255
Lady electric. Goldplaqué case with stainless steel bottom. Central second. Waterproof.
1977
Ladies or youth sports watch. Waterproof. Tested up to 25 m diving depth. Luminescent hands.
(2x) Chrome case with stainless steel bottom. Dial with sunburst. Clearly readable numbers
Case and bracelet made entirely of stainless steel. Very clear dial. Day and date. Waterproof.
Pretty ladies' watch with modern quartz technology. Gold plaque case with stainless steel back. Waterproof.
1978
Chrome case. Night blue metallic dial. Central second. Metal bracelet. Waterproof.
Chrome case. Metallic dial. Lighting device. Red central second. Minute ring. Tropic band. Waterproof.
M106
Chrome case. Gray brown, textured dial. White offset hands and wedges. Central second. Day-Date. Metal bracelet. Waterproof.
Chrome case. Black dial. Lighting device. Central second. Date. Minute ring. Tropic band. Waterproof.
Quartz watch. Chrome dial. Black dial. Minute ring. Central second. Lighting device. Day-Date. waterproof
1979
Chrome case. Night blue metallic dial. Central second. Metal bracelet. Waterproof.
Chrome case. Bright metallic dial. Black inlaid hands and wedges. Central second. Calendar. Waterproof.
Gold-plated case. Bright, cut metallic dial. Black inlaid hands and wedges. Calendar. Waterproof.
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1988
?
M0
Perfectly shaped ladies watch with the comfort of quartz technology. Chrome case with stainless steel bottom. Waterproof.