The Timex Q Reissue pays homage to the brand’s 1979 introduction of the diver-inspired Q Timex. When this quartz watch initially came out in the 70s, it offered watch enthusiasts a sleek, contemporary timepiece with quartz technology. The “Q” stands for quartz.
Fast forward to 2019, and Timex has methodically restored their Q Diver with a touch of contemporary precision. The reissue maintains the original’s distinctive features, including a rotating bezel, braided stainless-steel band, domed acrylic crystal, and functional battery hatch. You don’t need a jeweler to open the hatch; simply use a cent piece and you can access and replace the battery. Vibrant bursts of color give the Reissue a uniquely subtle contrast to its ancestor.
Pros
A great retro throwback
Good price for the features
Crystal dome is easy to polish
Cons
Can pull arm wrist hair
Clasps are delicate
Features
- Stainless Steel Watch Case
- Day & Date Window
- Water Resistant to 50 Meters
Specs
- Case Material: Stainless Steel
- Band Color: Stainless Steel
- Buckle/Clasp: Clasp (Self-Adjust)
- Case Color: Stainless Steel
- Case Finish: Brushed/Polished
- Case Shape: Round
- Case Size: 38 mm
- Crystal/Lens: Acrylic
- Water resistance: 50 meters
- Case height: 11.5 mm
- Strap and lug width: 18 mm
- Attachment hardware color: Stainless Steel
Movement
For decades, watchmaking relied on intricately designed springs and gears to provide mechanical time keeping. On December 25th, 1969, that changed when Hattori & Co. announced the first quartz movement watch for sale to the public. This changed the watch industry forever.
In 1972, Timex unveiled their first quartz watch. The exceptional accuracy made the new watch movement a smashing success. By the decade’s close, quartz watches surpassed mechanical watches in popularity.
The 1979 Timex Q Reissue’s movement is a Seiko caliber PC33, which can display the time, date, and day of the week. This particular
As a testament to the demise of the mechanical movement and Timex’s transition into the quartz era, the navy blue dial is branded with “Q TIMEX” and “QUARTZ.”
How it Feels
The Timex Q is well-proportioned and trim. At 3.2 ounces, it’s light but heavy enough to feel solid and dependable. It feels balanced on your wrist, and while the case measures 38mm, the lugs help accentuate the length and size of the case. Even if you have larger wrists, you can wear the Q without feeling like it’s a smaller watch.
The band is made of woven stainless steel and harmonizes nicely with your wrist. It feels thin, but sturdy. The only con with the bracelet is that it can pull your wrist hair. This doesn’t happen often, but is something to take note of.
The clasp is comfortable and easy to adjust. Centered on the back is the company’s brand, TIMEX. The nice thing about this clasp is that you really don’t notice it throughout your day while you’re sporting it.
Overall, a very comfortable piece.
Original Timex Q Comparison
The video below walks through a thorough comparison of the Timex Q 1979 original with the Todd Snyder 2020 reissue.
Quick note, the Todd Snyder reissue is very similar to the 2019 reissue of Timex’s Q discussed above, but does have a few small differences. Nevertheless, the video below showcases a really great comparison of the retro and modern versions of the Timex Q from 1979.
