This Affordable Timex Revisits a Retro Dial with Vintage Omega Vibes

The TV dial is associated with retro-futuristic digital watches, but it looks damn good on a dress watch.

Published February 17, 2025

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Timex is on a real burner with reviving archival pieces. And its latest, the Automatic 1983 E Line, harkens from an often-overlooked horological era.

It was the height of the quartz movement, and watch design as a whole was often based on what people thought tech would look like in the future.

Of course, they didn’t get much right in that regard. But there were some aesthetically pleasing developments, such as the E Line, which returns in near identical fashion over 30 years later.

a silver timex watch with a blue dial — The Timex E Line is named in reference to the New York City Subway.

As seen on TV

TV dials date back to the early 1970s and were popularized by Omega, Longines and Patek Phillippe. Their rise coincided with the proliferation of quartz movements and the introduction of colored TV.

a dark blue dial on a silver Timex watch — The E Line reissue is virtually identical to the original 1983 version.

A decade later, Timex introduced an affordable alternative to Omega’s TV dial Seamaster called the E Line. The name was a reference to the New York City subway system. The square-shaped dial has soft rounded edges with a polished steel frame over a brushed 34-millimeter steel case.

the stretched out band on a silver Timex watch — The Automatic 1983 E Line has a Perfect Fit band.

This reissue is a mirror image of the original, with the only visual difference being the exposed lugs on the newer version. It even features the same expansion steel bracelet, which Timex now brands as the Perfect Fit band.

Inside, ticks away Miyota caliber 8215 automatic movement.

A modern take

The new Timex E Line comes in four color options. Two of them stay true to 1980s nostalgia, while two provide a touch of modern style.

a silver timex watch — The all-silver version has a particularly retro feel to it.

One option has a dial that matches the brushed steel surface of the case, creating a uniform silver color. Another is completely covered in a gold-tone finish. Both of these could be pulled directly from the mid-1980s by way of a time machine.

a silver watch with a light blue dial — The robin’s egg blue dial is the most eye-catching model.

The other two models have the same steel case, bracelet, hands and dial markings. One has a navy blue dial, and the other is robin’s egg blue. Each watch has a more contemporary feel, with the TV dial being an interesting visual twist.

Availability and pricing

At $229, the Timex Automatic 1983 E Line is an absolute steal. It is available right now from Timex and a wide range of authorized dealers.

The two blue dial options are excellent all-purpose watches for everyday wear, thanks to 100 meters of water resistance and a low-maintenance bracelet.Alternatively, the steel and gold options have a retro flare that adds a perfect change-of-pace piece to any watch collection.