Timex is an American watch brand whose roots go back to 1854, when the Waterbury Clock Company was founded in Waterbury, Connecticut. The company started out making clocks with brass gears that were priced more affordably than European clocks. From there they became used to mass-producing timekeepers, so that a dependable timepiece could be bought by many people at a time when watches were often seen as luxury goods. The Timex name itself debuted as a brand in 1950. Toward the end of the 20th century, Timex became one of the best-known brands in America, through its image of tough watches, the Ironman sports series, and the Indiglo night light. For secondhand buyers, Timex is appealing because of its long history and wide range of models, from simple watches to digital sports watches.
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Waterbury Clock Company was formed in 1854 by Benedict & Burnham, a brass manufacturer. The Naugatuck River Valley in Connecticut was then full of clock factories, so much so that it was nicknamed the "Switzerland of America". In 1887 the company introduced a large pocket watch called the Jumbo. In 1896 the Ingersoll Yankee was born, a one-dollar pocket watch that Waterbury supplied to Robert H. Ingersoll & Bro. In World War I, the company modified the small Midget pocket watch into one of the earliest wristwatches: lugs were added for a canvas strap, the crown was moved to the 3 o'clock position, and the numerals and hands were made luminous. The Mickey Mouse watch, introduced at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, became their first line to bring in a million dollars.
In 1941 Thomas Olsen and Joakim Lehmkuhl took control of the company. Production shifted to fuse timers for defense use, and in 1944 the name became United States Time Corporation. After the Korean War, Lehmkuhl wanted watches that were cheap, accurate, and durable. The way to get there was automation, precision tooling, designs simpler than Swiss watches, and a hard alloy called Armalloy for bearings, which replaced jewels. The Timex brand officially debuted in 1950. Television ads with John Cameron Swayze, who put Timex watches through all kinds of durability torture tests, made the brand stick. In 1962, one in three watches sold in America was a Timex.
The 1970s hit the American watch industry hard because of digital quartz watches from Japan. Timex cut its workforce from 30,000 to 6,000 people. In the mid-1980s they refocused on watches, with improvements in battery life, gold plating, accuracy, and water resistance. The results included the Ironman Triathlon (1986) and the Indiglo light (1992). Since 2008, the company has been named Timex Group USA.
- Ingersoll Yankee: a one-dollar pocket watch introduced in 1896 and supplied by Waterbury Clock Company, very popular in its day.
- Mickey Mouse: Disney-licensed watches and clocks sold under the Ingersoll name, introduced in 1933.
- SSQ (Solid State Quartz): Timex's digital watch line from the early days of digital watches, competing with Casio and Seiko.
- Ironman Triathlon: a sports watch launched in 1986 and the most successful Timex watch of the post-mechanical era.
- Indiglo: a backlight system introduced in 1992 and used in many Timex series.
What we check before listing
We usually start by checking whether the watch keeps steady time and whether the Indiglo light comes on evenly, since that is a feature people often look for in Timex. We look at the case back to match the stamping and text with the series in question, and for signs of having been forced open. The crystal, bezel, and case corners are checked for deep scratches, while gold-tone or metal plating is checked for flaking. The crown and buttons must work normally, and on digital watches every part of the display must be intact. For straps, we look for stretched holes, cracks, and whether the strap is original to that series. These are our observations, not a guarantee of authenticity.
Caring for it
Avoid soaking an old watch, because the rubber seals can age even if the watch was originally made water resistant. Wipe the case with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry it. Keep leather straps away from water and excess sweat, while rubber or resin straps only need a clean rinse. If a quartz watch goes unused for a long time, replace the battery on time so it does not leak and damage the movement.
FAQ
Where does Timex come from?
Timex is an American brand. Its parent company was founded in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company in Waterbury, Connecticut. The Timex name has been used as a watch brand since 1950.
Is Timex a luxury watch?
No. From the start Timex has been known for making dependable, affordable watches for many people. Its value lies in durability, design, and the history of each series, not in status.
What is Indiglo, and does it need to be checked?
Indiglo is a backlight system Timex introduced in 1992. On a secondhand watch we suggest testing whether the light comes on and is even, because this feature is used often in daily wear.
Are secondhand Timex watches mechanical or quartz?
Both exist. Early Timex watches used mechanical movements, and since the quartz and digital era many series run on batteries. Check the movement type of the series you are after, because the care is different.
References
Facts summarised and rewritten from the sources above (CC BY-SA licence).