An Obscure Timex Returns as the Big, Bold, Affordable Statement Watch of Summer

This obscure watch was designed for sailing, and it probably would have been forgotten entirely if not for one notable celebrity connection.

By Brad Lanphear

Published June 12, 2025

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Updated June 12, 2025

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Over the past decade, Timex has become a leader in affordable men’s watches by leveraging its extensive and impressive archive.

The revived Marlin and Q Timex collections, popular during the 1960s and 1970s, respectively, are currently the brand’s foundation.

One of the brand’s newest callbacks is the 1995 Intrepid Reissue, a deep-cut sports watch that Timex has decided to revisit as part of a three-way collab that includes Dimepiece and Foundwell.

And it might just be the big, bold, affordable statement watch of the summer.

a Timex watch with a white dial — The Intrepid has a huge 46mm case with a slide rule bezel.

Going deep

The original Intrepid was designed for sailing and other water sports, and as such, it featured a huge 46mm case with highly legible black hour markers and hands on a white dial. There was even a slide-rule bezel marked for nautical distance calculations.

Three decades later, the watch is an obscure artifact of a different century, and it probably would have been forgotten entirely if not its celebrity connection: it was a favorite of the 1990s style icon and noted sailing enthusiast John F. Kennedy Jr.

a watch laying on a newspaper — The Intrepid became a cult favorite in the 1990s after being spotted on the wrist of JFK Jr.

An illuminating dial

In 1992, Timex revolutionized the ability to read watch dials in little to no light with the Indiglo system. It is essentially a small light placed along the gasket between the dial and case, which illuminates the dial when triggered.

the case back and band of a Timex watch — The rubber pin-buckle strap has quick-release spring bars for easy strap changes.

It sounds simple, but until it was introduced, radioactive tritium lume was the only way to mark watch dials for low-light visibility. (Non-radioactive LumiNova paint debuted the following year in 1993.)

Indiglo was added to Timex’s affordable everyday watches like the Easy Reader, but it was more prominently featured in sports watches like the iconic Ironman and Chrono Sport diver.

the dial and case of a Timex watch — The Indiglo light is triggered with a large green button opposite the crown.

The Intrepid is an interesting piece of Timex history because it was a niche design for sailing enthusiasts, offered as an affordable alternative to pricey regatta timers from luxury watch brands.

Reading a watch dial at arm’s length in adverse conditions is crucial for sailors, so it was an ideal vessel for the Indiglo system.

An affordable sailing watch

What makes the 1995 Intrepid Reissue a sailing watch is the slide rule bezel, which is marked with a nautical distance scale. It works by rotating the bezel to align with the scale printed on the gasket, allowing the wearer to make quick calculations in their head.

the case side and band of a Timex watch — The Intrepid’s case measures 11mm thick.

Slide rule bezels are most associated with aviation and the Breitling Navitimer. However, sport sailors like JFK Jr. wore them to practice old nautical navigation techniques and have a backup for emergencies. Using it to calculate distances traveled over open water takes a lot of practice, so it is more of a novelty for enthusiasts.

The Intrepid is still very useful for water sports because of the oversized dial, water resistance and Indiglo light. Even after 30 years, Indiglo remains one of the most useful methods for reading a watch dial in low light on the move.

the white dial of a Timex watch — The Intrepid has a slide rule bezel, with scales on the bezel and gasket that line up to assist with calculating nautical distance.

Nostalgia for the 1990s still has a strong hold on popular culture, so owning an obscure watch once worn by one of the era’s definitive fashion icons is appealing.

But regardless of the association with JFK Jr., the 1995 Intrepid Reissue is a good-looking, affordable sports watch that still holds up for nautical pastimes. Plus, it’s a fun piece of deep-dive Timex history.