Timex is no stranger to reissues but that doesn’t mean we ever want them to stop. For the 30th anniversary of the Intrepid model, the American watchmaker has revived the once-popular dive watch that happened to be quite the favorite of sailors, and also a notable figure.
Never Limited by Its Stature
Timex might be one of our favorite affordable watch brands but time after time we’re impressed with how they’ve embraced their reputation without ever being limited by it. And while construction and utility are keys to their success, the stylistic identities of their timepieces have always remained a hallmark.
This was never more evident than when John F. Kennedy Jr. — a style icon in his own right — was spotted several times wearing the Intrepid on his wrist. Ever the sailing enthusiast, Kennedy helped to elevate the analog quartz watch to popularity at a time when digital watches were dominating the budget scene — especially with offerings from Timex itself, such as the Ironman.
Big and Easy to Read
Marking 30 years since the original Intrepid’s debut, Timex has now brought the water-friendly wristwatch back to the catalog with the Intrepid Reissue. Measuring 46mm across, the stainless steel watch looks even cleaner than the 1995 originals, with a white dial that contrasts well with the black bezel, indices, and skeletonized hands. Even the synthetic rubber strap comes in black.
The contrast certainly helps with legibility on the dial, but so does the large case size. I couldn’t find exact dimensions of the ‘90s versions but Timex’s other divers at the time were ~40mm, which fits in with common case sizes at the time; the 46mm of this reissue is definitely more in line with modern-day watch trends.
Aside from the black and white, there are pops of color like the green INDIGLO button on the case and the green upside down triangle at the top of the bezel. Paired with the angled reflector ring is the unidirectional slide-rule bezel with logarithmic scales that can be used to calculate distance on the water. These are historically popular with astronauts for space travel but sailors found them useful as well for nautical journeys.
A Real Bright Idea
Like the original, this modernized reissue features Timex’s iconic INDIGLO lume, which can be activated via a green button on the left side of the case. INDIGLO is pretty cool because it literally backlights the entire dial, almost like turning up the brightness on an e-reader. It’s still one of the most effective and consistent lumes I’ve seen. There’s no wondering why Timex has been using it for over 30 years — even after the advent of coated lume like Super-LumiNova.
Other similarities to the original are the 4 o’clock crown and the 100m of water resistance. Likewise, both the 1995 version and the reissue feature a quartz movement. Popular at the time, these calibers are also much more durable and accurate compared to their mechanical counterparts.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 46mm
Case Thickness: 11.3mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: Quartz
Band: Black rubber strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Not limited to edition size, the Intrepid Reissue has an incredible price of just $199. It’s available now from Timex’s website.
Recap
Timex Intrepid Reissue
With the Intrepid Reissue, Timex brings back a fan-favorite sailing watch famously worn by JFK Jr.
