Founded in 1854, the American company celebrates the important milestone of 170 years in business this year.
Timex celebrates the 170th anniversary of its foundation, continuing its tradition of creating watches that are robust and suitable for all occasions. Since its beginnings, Timex has embodied the American spirit, breaking into the watch industry by imprinting its production with a distinctive personality. The brand drew inspiration from the European watchmaking tradition of the 19th century and chose to revolutionise it by introducing brass movements and the concept of industrial production, making watches that would welcome significant innovations over time.
The brand was founded in 1854, in Connecticut, under the name Waterbury Clock Companymanufacturer of, among others, train station clocks, clocks and pocket watches. At the time, even the famous writer Mark Twain was a Timex customer. Thanks in part to competitive prices, the house earns in America the nickname of 'people's watchmaker'.
The Timex name appears in 1950
Already in the 1960s, the American company achieved considerable commercial success.
In the first half of the 20th century, Timex pioneered feminine designs and small movements without sacrificing quality and durability. The name Timex was introduced and used from 1945, and in 1950 the first wristwatch under this brand name was launched. By the 1960s, the brand had already achieved considerable popularity, amplified by the famous television commercials aired from 1952 to 1977, in which watches were 'mistreated' to demonstrate their quality and robustness.
Dating from this period is the launch of the Timex Marlin, appreciated for its subtlety and elegance of design, which represented the marriage of tradition and modernity. In the early 1970s the use of the quartz movements, which obviously allowed the timepieces not to be constantly rewound. The models Q Timex, The brand's first watches equipped with quartz movements rewrote watch design for the new generation of the time. Then, in 1977, the Timex Easy Rider, produced in millions of pieces.
Among the innovations introduced in more recent times is the Indiglo technology, launched in 1992. It is a brand exclusive, named after the 'indigo' colour that characterises the luminescence of the dial. This technology incorporates an electroluminescent display that allows the dial to be illuminated at the push of a button.
Timex today: the new models
Timex is a brand owned by the Group of the same name, which is based in the United States just 7 km from the historic factory in Waterbury, Connecticut.
The design of the Timex collections is entrusted to the Italian Giorgio Galli, Global Creative Director. "This 2024 marks an important milestone for Timex: we celebrate 170 years of exceptional watchmaking," said Shari Fabiani, CMO (acronym for Chief Marketing Officer) of the Timex Group. "Our story is imbued with passion and craftsmanship, but wearing a Timex goes beyond the mere possession of an object. A Timex doesn't just mark the time, it tells your story. When you place your gaze on your wrist, let it remind you to live every moment to the fullest."
"In creating these collections, I trace a path that is nourished by our history, while integrating elements of current trends and innovations", explained Giorgio Galli. "The result of this process is a series of timeless models, true to the essence of the brand and that they fit as indispensable pieces in the Timex legacy'.
In the 170th anniversary year, the brand offers new models celebrating its most iconic collections, including the Timex Q with the model Falcon Eye Chronograph, inspired by a 1979 timepiece, or the Marlin Sub-Dial Automatic, which takes its cue from a 1960s model. And again, the Waterbury Traditional Flyback Chronograph, powered by a proprietary movement with retrograde chronograph hour and minute display. Finally, fun and jaunty are the collaborations with the Peanutsfor the famous line of digital watches T80 and analogue M79.
Price: 299 euro.
"Combining the allure of the present with timeless tradition, our new collections are inspired by contemporary styles, while integrating classic models from our rich Timex heritage." stated Giorgio Galli again. He adds: "I am excited to present the latest additions to our iconic families and eye-catching re-editions. This collection celebrates our heritage and embraces innovation with élan." Today, after 170 years in business, Timex continues to produce timepieces drawing on the brand's heritage and tradition to continue offering quality products at competitive prices.
