One of the most recognisable watch brands in history is Timex and their past is filled with plenty of spectacular releases. Most notably, their Marlin collection has allowed collectors with even the smallest of bank balances to access vintage-inspired mechanical watches. It’s a collection that gets plenty of attention, but we think it deserves a little more…
Where Did the Timex Marlin Come From?
Timex Marlin - Credit Guest Author
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Timex was originally founded as the Waterbury Clock Company, named after its hometown in Connecticut. They began specialising in clocks before later moving onto wristwatches during World War II.
The American watch brand rather quickly garnered a reputation for creating affordable and reliable watches, first mechanical and later quartz. Their 1950’s slogan "Timex Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking" is possibly one of the most famous advertising slogans in history and highlighted the dependability of their timepieces.
Timex Marlin - Credit Timex
It was also during this time that Timex stopped creating mechanical watches completely, and focused entirely on the popular, modern quartz calibre. It clearly wasn’t a bad decision for Timex as they solidified themselves as an immoveable competitor in the world of luxury watches. Fun fact: by 1962, one out of every three watches sold in the United States was a Timex.
For the next fifty or so years, Timex continued to dominate the quartz market but while still undeniably popular, they never quite captured the attention of those of us traditional watchmaking nerds that foster an appreciation for the complexities of mechanical movements. That was until 2017, when the Timex Marlin collection made a return.
The Timex Marlin Collection
Timex Marlin - Credit Guest Author
In 2017, Timex did something that would elevate their reputation in the watch industry even further. They launched their first collection of mechanical watches since 1982. And with no model surpassing the £300 mark, they provided a much-needed entry point for enthusiasts with a love of the mechanical genre.
Named the Timex Marlin, the collection was inspired by a line of mechanical watches of the same name launched during the 1960’s. The designs are obviously inspired by their predecessor, opting for Art Deco fonts and simple, slender cases worthy of the Mad Men era. Except this time, you don’t need some swish, top floor corner office to afford one.
Timex Marlin - Credit Timex
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- £68.00
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- £68.00
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- £68.00
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- £68.00
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- £68.00
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- £68.00
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Today’s Timex Marlin collection is filled with varying case sizes, movements, and designs to suit different tastes. But ultimately, they are all inspired by the golden age of watchmaking, so expect retro, mid-century DNA but modern mechanical movements at their core.
The inaugural 2017 Timex Marlin is a favourite with many collectors. It boasts a design almost identical to the original Marlin with a compact 34mm case, manual-winding movement, and champagne sunray-brushed dial. (You can find this one under reference TW2R47900 if you’re interested). It’s a watch that proves Timex are confident in their mission; they got the Marlin right the first time so why not replicate it again? It’s a watch comfortable being small in a market of large watches and with a price tag of £175, it becomes one of the most affordable mechanical watches out there.
Timex Marlin - Credit Timex
The Timex Marlin collection is also home to several special editions created in collaboration with Peanut’s Snoopy and the L.A Dodgers plus some time-only variations with unique California dials. In fact, the Timex Marlin under reference TW2U96700 is a model I’ve chosen for myself. I chose it largely because of my love for California dials, I’d also wanted to own a manual-winding watch for quite some time, but I was happy to admit that my bank balance wasn’t quite ready for some of the more expensive models on my bucket list.
Another popular Timex Marlin of late is the Marlin Jet. This launched just a matter of weeks ago, once again harking back to the space-age era of the 1960’s. It arrives with a crisp white concave dial, 24-hour subsidiary dial, tall Hesalite crystal and an equally vintage price tag of £279.
Conclusion
Timex Marlin - Credit Guest Author
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when watch collecting is buying outside of your means. It’s OK not to be able to afford the latest Rolex, a vintage Omega or some other expensive, luxury timepiece. Sure, some of you may view owning an expensive watch as a status symbol or mark of success, and that’s OK. But it’s also equally fine to value a watch not on its price tag but on factors like its craftsmanship, design, and personal significance.
If you’re like me, and you’re quite happy to admit that you don’t have thousands of pounds to spend on your next watch, brands like Timex are essential. They allow us to demonstrate our love of retro-inspired design and mechanical watchmaking at an accessible price point. If you’re someone with a love of the same, it’s highly likely you’re already familiar with the collection, but on the off chance you’re not, I beg you to go check it out for yourself. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
