Timex 38 mm Q Timex Reissue Stainless Steel Case Blue Dial Stainless Steel Bracelet

Product Information

The dial on the Q Timex 1978 screams 1970s style, with a dressy, sporty flare. It’s a silver dial with a vertical brushed linen pattern that adds a bit of panache. The textured silver of the dial can appear a bright silver to a deep silvery-gray or even shine with a warm gold-tinted glow, depending on the light. I was surprised to see how many dimensions such a simple dial like this could take on throughout the day.

You then have large printed indices that are entirely covered with a faux patina lume material. I’m usually not a fan, but I think it works here and the faux vintage color isn’t obnoxiously yellow or orange.

In true 70s fashion, you have an angular case design with lots of flat surfaces. The lugs are hidden by the brushed case surface, with a flared bracelet joint from 18mm to 21mm.

So much so, in fact, that Timex continued to riff on the design and release numerous Qs throughout 2020: the original in myriad bezel and dial colors; the 1978-inspired Falcon Eye; and an outlier, the automatic M79, which retained the Q's looks but added a mechanical movement. People were hooked, it would seem, and Timex was happy to oblige its fan base. The bezel seats a boxed plexiglass crystal, which definitely echoes the vintage aesthetic that they were going for. And I understand why they’d go for plexiglass, since an equivalent sapphire crystal would increase the overall price of the watch by at least 30%. But things changed further with 2019's introduction of the wildly popular Q Timex. Based on a model dating to the 1970s and featuring a blue dial with day-date display, a colorful, Rolex-inspired 12-hour bezel and a fun, lightweight mesh bracelet, the Q was an instant smash hit, and sold out several times over. Its easily accessible battery hatch celebrated rather than derided quartz, and people loved it.The Q Times 1978 Reissue really impressed me. It’s a watch with a lot of class and a ton of vintage appeal. This Timex is both sporty and sophisticated, with a dial, case, and crystal combination that adds up to a uniquely stylish look.

At the start, we chose styles for Q reissues that we thought would resonate most with watch collectors and Timex enthusiasts, so we were not surprised at how excited they were about the first Q Timex 1979 Reissue. We also choose reissue styles where the design aesthetic and functionality have a story to be told. We lean into classic ‘70s design elements such as the band style, unique colorways on the watch face and the recent gold and rose gold colors we launched. As you know, the Q story is one of our favorites and we are glad to see it resonate so well with fans, too.With the quartz crisis well underway in the late 1970s, many watch brands were threatened by this new technology and felt it would affect the sales of mechanical watches. Timex was different. They knew quartz had numerous benefits over traditional mechanical movements and they wanted to help it go mainstream. Although not their first quartz watch, the Q Timex was one of their most popular models because of its pleasing design and “Pepsi” rotating bezel. Originally released in 1979, Timex wanted everyone to know this was a quartz watch by branding it “Q” and proudly printing “QUARTZ” in bold font on the dial. They were not ashamed or embarrassed about this new technology, a stance that has made them a highly successful watch brand today. Who would I recommend the Q Timex 1978 Reissue to? If you are a fan of vintage 1970s or even early 1980s style, I think you’ll dig this watch. If you want a watch that will stand out on the wrist and get noticed, something with a unique look and a touch of sleek sophistication and class, the 1978 won’t disappoint. It would be a great, easy daily wear watch for someone with the right sense of style. Or a solid occasional-wear dress watch for most everyone else.