Watches like the Rolex Submariner and Omega Speedmaster tend to spring to mind when we think of iconic watches, but a watch needn’t be expensive to be considered iconic. Just take a look at the Timex Ironman.
Initially created in the 1980s to meet the needs of Triathletes, the Ironman — whose name is part of a licensing agreement with the Ironman Triathlon — has been regarded as a rugged and affordable digital watch for four decades.
The watch reached iconic status in the 1990s thanks in part to the time it spent on the wrist of President Bill Clinton, where the athlete-aimed Ironman became a symbol of the everyman thanks to its low cost and function-first design.
We’ve seen a number of takes on the Ironman over the years, including a colorful retro collab between Timex and The James Brand last year, but now Japanese clothing brand Beams has given the watch a full-metal makeover, creating what is likely the most premium version of the icon yet.
The Timex Ironman finally lives up to its name
OK, so the new collab isn’t actually made of iron, but the name “Ironman” certainly feels more fitting on a metal watch.
The Timex x Beams Ironman 8-Lap Metal swaps out the plastic parts of the original for stainless steel, which is used for the case, bezel and bracelet of the new watch.
