Cast your mind back to 1978. Disco was in, John Travolta ruled Rydell High and vengeful great white sharks were our biggest concern (thank you very much Jaws 2). It was an era characterised by glitz and glamour, set to the undeniably alluring Studio 54 backdrop and the fashion didn’t disappoint. Satin, spandex and silk dominated the style bastions and while trends have come and gone since then, some fragments of the bell-bottom legacy live on.
In a fitting nod to the classic cues of the 1970s, designer Todd Snyder has again teamed up with American watchmaker Timex for a revived take on the icon’s most revered timepiece. The 1978 Timex Q, famous for its refined cushion case shape and raised ‘box style’ crystal feel, has again been reborn, this time with a vintage-inspired gold and silver two-tone finish. Gold highlights on the crown are paired with the luxurious gold on the bracelet, echoing the same dual-tone aesthetic favoured by ’70s stalwarts such as Rolex and Audemars Piguet, but there is one major difference; the price.
At just USD$310, the revamped timepiece is a surprisingly affordable foray into the world of vintage-inspired watches. This is courtesy of the quartz movement, which Timex was instrumental in bringing to the American market in the 1970s. Powered by a battery, this form of movement significantly streamlined the production process at the time, allowing brands to create far more watches at a fraction of the price. Admittedly, quartz has certainly fallen out of favour with watch purists since then, but the accuracy and reliability of the movement cannot be denied.
Arriving like a quintessential ’70s dive watch, the new Todd Snyder x Timex Q 1978 Two-Tone maintains all the hallmarks you’d expect from the era. Sleek and minimalist, it arrives in a petite 37mm stainless steel case with both day and date windows visible on the dial. The ultra-legible design also adds luminescent paint on the hour markers and hands, while Timex notes that the piece is water resistant to 50 metres.
“For his latest, limited edition watch, Todd’s created the horological equivalent of that moment in Goldfinger when 007 steps out of the ocean and removes his wetsuit to reveal a tuxedo,” the official description reads. “The new Timex Q “Two-Tone” combines a seventies dive watch vibe with a gold-and-silver colour story of a dress watch. The result is polished enough to hold its own with tailoring yet rugged enough to wear with a dress shirt and denim.”
Rugged enough to tackle an everyday adventure, yet sufficiently refined for an elegant soiree, the Todd Snyder x Timex Q 1978 Two-Tone offers the best of both worlds. When it comes to classic style at an affordable price, Timex and Todd Snyder drive a hard bargain.
