Subject: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch... Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:10 pm
The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch: Plastic, Disposable, And A Product Of T
Something about the J.Crew / Timex military watch never really jived with us. They claimed it was designed after a watch built to military specifications in the 1940s, but we could never actually find that watch. Even when we went into the vault at Timex, we saw watches from the 1940s, but they didn't look anything like the modern interpretation that we see so often on the wrists of the young menswear set. So, we went on a mission to discover where this design came from, and when, if ever, Timex had a military contract to make wristwatches. We found the watch that inspired the J.Crew piece, but we came to realize that it wasn't from the 1940s at all, but rather from the first half of 1982. And the story doesn't end there.
Posts : 4263 Join date : 2009-07-08 Age : 112 Location : CT
Subject: Re: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch... Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:27 pm
I knew that Benrus made a plastic watch from the 70's for the military, but never heard this story before.
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sixtysix Consigliere
Posts : 7362 Join date : 2009-12-06 Age : 58 Location : North of Syracuse NY
Subject: Re: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch... Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:59 pm
Great story, I commented on it. I have the JCrew Timex and like it..it's cool little watch. Anybody who thinks it's something other than a quartz fashion piece didn't read the ad copy carefully from JCrew...words like 'style' are important.
____________________________________ Later, Gary
Remember we are the caretakers of mechanical art..... Member NAWCC, National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors
pacifichrono Senior Associate
Posts : 1543 Join date : 2009-06-17 Age : 76 Location : Sunny San Diego
Subject: Re: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch... Wed Apr 20, 2011 7:23 pm
My recollection from 1966-67 is that Marine Corps infantry squad leaders (typically E-5 sergeants) and above were typically issued drab-green plastic watches (similar to that pictured above). However, my research and purchases of military watches from that era only include metal watches. Dunno why...
AtomicTom Senior Consigliere
Posts : 19457 Join date : 2009-08-25 Age : 52 Location : New Jersey
Subject: Re: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch... Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:34 pm
What a great history lesson Guy ! ..To tell the truth, I really did not know much if anything about this watch here, or when Timex stopped making the mechanical movements either. I really like the military style of these particular watches here, as well as the whole rare factor. Don't think I could throw one out if it stopped working though. ..Terrific info, and link. Thanks alot !
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Subject: Re: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch...
Subject: The History of the REAL Timex Military Watch... 
Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:10 pm
..To tell the truth, I really did
..Terrific info, and link. Thanks alot !