Timex and The James Brand’s Titanium GMT Watch Is Now Easier to Buy

Editor’s note: After the initial launch in the online shops of Timex and The James Brand, the Timex x The James Brand x Titanium GMT is now also available at Huckberry — with free U.S. shipping — giving you another option to buy one of the year’s most exciting collab watches. Read on to discover my original thoughts on the watch’s release last week.

If I am allowed to brag for a moment, can I just say: I called it. After seeing The James Brand’s cryptic teaser last week about the EDC brand’s upcoming collaboration with Timex, I hypothesized that the watch was a titanium GMT powered by an automatic movement. And I’m now very happy to report that my prediction came true, as that’s exactly what the two brands cooked up.

Just to clarify: I’m not happy to report this news because it pads my prognosticator bona fides (though that doesn’t hurt), but rather because the watch looks awesome. A full titanium case and bracelet, sleek and modern TJB styling that looks like nothing else, dive watch-level water resistance, a “true” GMT movement and more. Make sure you read through this article quickly because this watch is going to sell out in a flash.

The James Brand x Timex

Timex x The James Brand x Titanium GMT

• $749 at The James Brand
• $749 at Timex
• $749 at Huckberry

The Best Timex Ever?

Timex is celebrating 170 years in business this year. In that nearly two-century lifespan, the budget brand has cranked out a number of outstanding timepieces. But I can’t think of any, at least on paper, that are better than this new collaboration with The James Brand.

This thing is impressive.

First off, let’s talk about the movement. This is the first Timex to be powered by Miyota’s 9075 automatic GMT movement. The Japanese caliber debuted less than two years ago and is currently one of the hottest in the industry, as it’s currently the most affordable way to get a “true” GMT — that is, one where the local hour hand can be adjusted independently when jumping time zones without stopping the movement — on your wrist.

The James Brand x Timex

Next, let’s have a look at the construction. The barrel-shaped case is made from lightweight titanium, a more premium metal that has only been used in a handful of Timexes before (such as the brand’s previous TJB collab). What’s unexpected here is the appearance of a full titanium bracelet, an even rarer feat for the brand. The bracelet is fitted with quick-release spring bars for easy strap changes, and the watch includes an additional black resin strap with titanium hardware and its own quick-release system.

The 41mm case has a titanium screw-down crown ensuring 200m of water resistance, so you can go diving with this watch if you wish, and the crystal protecting the dial is sapphire with anti-reflective coating. A second sapphire crystal on the screw-down caseback allows you to get a view of the movement and is decorated with The James Brand logo. How many Timexes can you think of with a sapphire crystal, let alone two … and a titanium bracelet … and an automatic GMT movement?

Spoiler: This is the only one.

The James Brand x Timex

Styling Courtesy of The James Brand

While this watch may climb the rankings of the greatest Timexes ever released, it doesn’t do so without a big assist from The James Brand. The modernist knifemaker lent its signature clean, upscale aesthetic to the watch to give us a GMT design that both looks spectacular and feels wholly original.

The dial is custom-designed, with a minimal amount of text: There’s just the Timex logo underneath twelve o’clock and TJB’s logo above the six o’clock marker. Indices, a minute track and an interior 24-hour markings in stark white contrast the matte-black dial, giving the watch a monochromatic look. But strategic punches from The James Brand’s trademark bright green color on the dial, GMT hand, crown and bezel pip give the watch just enough character to keep it from looking boring. The hands and indices also glow green courtesy of Swiss-made Super-LumiNova C1 lume.

The James Brand x Timex

I also enjoy the design of the bezel, which uniquely uses two digits to display all 24 numbers of the GMT scale. The bezel has a coin edge, matching the crown, and its insert (I’m guessing it’s aluminum) has a subtle bicolor design of black and gray, which is apparently the GMT color for 2024.

Final Thoughts

This collab is a winner if there were one, and I think it will really change how people view Timex and what the brand is capable of. With this watch, the brand now offers a strong contender for the best GMT out there under a grand, competing strongly against some of the top microbrands.

I haven’t seen the watch in the metal yet, but I can name two minor things that I would change to make it basically perfect. For one, I’d make the bezel bidirectional — right now, it’s unidirectional, which is great for a diver but is less ideal for a GMT. And I would swap out the butterfly clasp on the bracelet for a proper clasp that offers some level of micro-adjustment, preferably of the on-the-fly variety.

But other than those minor quibbles, this watch looks pretty damn perfect, especially for the price. Available now from Huckberry and both the Timex and TJB online stores, the Timex x The James Brand Titanium GMT is priced at just $749. Get it while you can below.

The James Brand x Timex

Timex x The James Brand x Titanium GMT

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Miyota 9075 automatic GMT
Water Resistance	200m

• $749 at The James Brand
• $749 at Timex
• $749 at Huckberry

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