TIMEX Movements - a timeline and their characteristics

TIMEX is known for its sturdy and robust watch movements. Often pin lever movements without jewels and no need to service them. Containing an unbreakable mainspring and shockproof. A simple design where the gear train is positioned between two main plates, instead of using bridges like most swiss movements use. TIMEX named their movements Models and from the late sixties the model number was printed at the edge of the dial. 

The movements of TIMEX can be divided into 3 main categories: Maunual Wound, Automatic, Electric and within each of these categories the time only, the calendar and the day-date versions. I give you an overview of these Models and when they were used. 


Manual winding movements

For TIMEX it started with its manual movement Model 21 that rapidly evolved into Model 22. This movement can be found in lots of 50's and early 60's TIMEX watches. In 1961/1962 TIMEX introduced the time only Model 24 followed by the Model 25 calendar movement in 1965. It took until 1972 before they issued the Day Date Model 27. 

TIMEX Model 24 - Time Only

TIMEX Model 25 - Calendar

TIMEX Model 27 - Day-Date

TIMEX Model 104 - Time Only

TIMEX Model 105 - Calendar

TIMEX Model 106 - Day-Date

In 1978 the next movement change appeared. Models 24, 25 and 27 were replaced for the Models 104 (time only), 105 (calendar) and 106 (day-date). These Models were used until TIMEX stopped using mechanical movements and only quartz movements were to be found in the TIMEX watches. This would have been around 1987.


Automatic movements

All automatic movements of TIMEX are based and build upon their manual wind counterparts. So the early selfwinding TIMEX movement Model 26 was based on the Timex manual Model 21. When manual Model 22 appeared, the self winding movement was also upgraded to Model 29. When manual Model 24 was introduced in 1961/1962, the selfwinding Models 31, 32 and 33 appeared.  

TIMEX Model 31 - Time Only

TIMEX Model 32 - Calendar

TIMEX Model 33 - Day-Date

TIMEX Model 107 - Time Only

TIMEX Model 108 - Calendar

TIMEX Model 109 - Day-Date

Off course, the same applies to TIMEX's movement change in 1978 as described earlier. The manual Model 104 formed the base movement for the new automatic movements Model 107 (time only), 108 (calendar) and 109 (day-date). 


Electric and Electronic Movements

In 1962 TIMEX released their first electric mechanical movement, the Model 67. Although cheap they were of moderate quality being fully jeweled and with polished screws. It's successor was the Model 84 (time only), followed by the Model 85 (electric calendar) and Model 87 (electronic calendar). 

TIMEX Model 84 - Time Only

TIMEX Model 85 - Calendar

TIMEX Model 87 - Electronic Calendar

TIMEX Model 40 - Time Only

TIMEX Model 41 - Calendar

TIMEX Model 42 - Day-Date

TIMEX Model 260 - time only

TIMEX Model 261 - calendar

TIMEX Model 262 - day-date


Electric Dynabeat Movements

For their in 1975 released Dynabeat series TIMEX introduced the TIMEX Models 253 (time only), 254 (calendar) and 255 (day-date). They all had an increased beat rate of 28,800 bpH. The Dynabeat with dual-time zone was powered by the Model 265. 

TIMEX Model 253 - time only

TIMEX Model 254 - calendar

TIMEX Model 255 - day-date

TIMEX Model 265 - Dual-Zone