Timex’s Upcoming Watch Will Cost Just One Dollar

At this point, I’m pretty used to seeing affordable watches from Timex. But the brand’s upcoming release is taking things to a level of affordability that hasn’t been seen in over a century.

This year, Timex is celebrating 170 years in business. The iconic American brand began operations as the Waterbury Clock Company in Connecticut back in 1854, making it even older than many well-known Swiss watchmakers, including Rolex (1905), Breitling (1884) and IWC (1868).

In the late nineteenth century, there was a sort of arms race among American watchmakers to create a watch with a price point of just $1 as the ultimate symbol of value. The first to do it was Ingersoll in 1896, which released the Yankee pocket watch through Timex, which then was still known as the Waterbury Clock Company.

Timex

Known colloquially as the Dollar Watch — or, as Timex describes it, “the watch that made the dollar famous” — the Yankee was a huge success and proved that anyone could own a quality timepiece as long as they had a single greenback to spare. ($1 in 1896 is equivalent to about $38 today.)

Now, Timex is renewing that spirit by releasing a new version of the Dollar Watch — this time in wristwatch form.

The Timex Dollar Watch

Timex has yet to release the full specs of the new $1 watch, but we do know several details based on the available photos and brief descriptions on the website.

Timex

First, we know what it looks like. The watch’s design is heavily inspired by the original Ingersoll Yankee and features a white dial with a railway minute track and black 3D lacquered Roman numeral indices. “Timex Waterbury” appears printed under the 12 o’clock index, with 170 Anniversary Edition appearing as two lines at 6 o’clock.

There’s a day-date window at 3 o’clock, along with some nice-looking cathedral hands that appear to be lume-filled. The seconds hand is not lumed and has a red arrow tip. The caseback features an engraving touting Timex’s 170-year history as an American icon, and the crown is signed with the classic Waterbury Clock Company logo.

Timex

There’s no word yet on what movement powers the watch, but it’s almost certainly quartz — remember, this watch only costs a dollar. The strap, however, is confirmed to be real leather and is equipped with a signed pin buckle and quick-release spring bars.

Obviously, this isn’t a luxury timepiece, but since it’s basically free, this honestly might be the best value in the entire watch industry right now. A timeless design, lacquer on the dial, quick-release spring bars on a leather strap, an engraved caseback, a signed crown and buckle … there are countless watches costing several hundred times the price of the Dollar Watch that don’t boast these features.

Timex

Dollar Watch Menunaire

If you’re looking to become the Timex equivalent of a dollar menunaire, listen up because these watches are sure to sell out extremely quickly.

Timex is producing 1,000 examples of its 170th-anniversary Dollar Watch, which sounds like a lot. But remember, each watch costs only a dollar, which means the pool of people who can afford one is essentially limitless.

What’s more, Timex is releasing the watch not only in the U.S. but also in Canada, the UK, and the European Union, meaning those 1,000 watches will be divvied up and allocated to each country.

The Dollar Watch will be available from Timex’s website on November 16 at the price of $1 plus tax, with free shipping thrown in for good measure. The watch is first come, first serve, and thankfully is limited to one per customer.

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