Todd Snyder Classes Up One of Timex’s Best Affordable Watches

Don Draper called; he wants his watch back.

a todd snyder x timex watch on a mans wrist

Published November 6, 2024

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The Timex Marlin is more than just a great affordable dress watch. It’s a symbol of Timex’s resurgence.

The modern Marlin debuted in 2017 as the first mechanical watch from the brand in decades. A reissue of a 1960s dress watch from the brand, the Marlin reignited interest in Timex among both enthusiasts and the greater watch-buying public, kicking off a yearslong success story fueled by more vintage-inspired releases and a vast expansion of mechanical watches.

There are currently dozens of Marlin variations on offer from Timex, but arguably none classier than the latest version from frequent brand collaborator Todd Snyder.

a todd snyder x timex marlin watch on a wooden table — Todd Snyder nailed the classy ‘Mad Men’ vibes he was going for.

The Black Marlin

The Black Marlin might sound like the name of an obscure member of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, but it’s actually the name of Snyder’s latest take on Timex’s “Mad Men-era dress watch.”

The 38mm stainless steel case has been given a fully polished gold-tone finish, which is contrasted with a flat black dial. The alpha hands and lollipop-counterweighted seconds hand are also in gold, as are the simple printed Arabic numeral indices, providing excellent legibility.

Dial text has been kept to a minimum in line with vintage styles, with only the words “Timex” and “Water Resistant” appearing at 12 and 6, respectively. There’s also a full minute track in white, marked with a number every five minutes — an unusual detail for a dress watch that provides a touch of sportiness.

a todd snyder x timex marlin watch against a gradient red background — The only Todd Snyder branding on the watch appears printed on the display caseback.

The black leather strap has been given a crocodile pattern, another luxury-inspired touch, and it sports a matching gold-tone pin buckle. Finally, a display caseback gives a full view of the Japan-made Miyota automatic movement powering the watch, along with some subtle Todd Snyder branding.

Pricing and Availability

Unlike most of what you’ll find on Todd Snyder’s site, the designer’s Timex collabs are always priced like, well, Timexes, avoiding the luxury price tag of typical Todd Snyder products even though they sport the same high-end styling. The Black Marlin is priced very reasonably at just $279, keeping it in line with other examples of the Timex Marlin Automatic.

I have to say, this watch does look awfully good. Is anyone going to mistake it for a solid gold watch on a real crocodile leather strap? No, at least not up close. But it still looks fantastic, and it’s pretty damn hard to beat for an automatic dress watch costing under $300.