Timex Waterbury Gets a Major Upgrade
The Specs - Waterbury Automatic
Year: 2021
Case Diameter: 39mm
Case Height: 47mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Thickness: 13mm
Movement: Miyota Automatic
The Specs - Waterbury GMT
Year: 2021
Case Diameter: 39mm
Case Height: 47mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Thickness: 13mm
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Timex recently released their 2021 line of Waterbury watches, with a brand new case design and several models to choose from. Heritage 1854 was fortunate to get our hands on both GMT and Automatic models, and we can truly say that Timex cranked it up a notch in 2021.
Let’s start with a brief history (because that’s what we do best here.) I think many people who are not familiar with the Timex story, do not often understand where the Waterbury name comes from or what it means. The name speaks to the earliest roots of the brand we know today, when the Waterbury Clock Company was established in 1854 in Waterbury, Connecticut. In the several decades leading up to Aaron Benedict and Gordon Burnham establishing this early ancestor of Timex, the area that the town was located had already made a name for itself as a leading producer of clocks in the U.S. This was due in large part to the large amount of brass, a key component in most clocks and early watches, that was produced in the region. The area is still known today as the Brass Valley. The “WoW” symbol that you see throughout the marketing and on the crowns for these new pieces is not Timex trying to be funny about the wow-factor of their new pieces. It is the original logo for the Waterbury Watch Company, established by Benedict and Burnham in 1880. The rest is history for another day.
I was actually prepared to be fairly critical of the GMT as it looks from very first impressions like a watch that might be trying to do too much. When I opened the box to reveal the dual-tone bracelet version of the watch (there is a leather option as well), I was instantly struck by just how well all the features of work together. I would think that combining shades of blue, red, and white, with green and gold would be overwhelming, but everything fits together just right. The shade of green used on the new “W” trident seconds hand grabs your attention, but still doesn’t take away from the cozy blue tone of the dial. I think it was also wise to have the date window be the same color as the rest of the dial, because this is something that can quickly busy up a GMT that already gets dangerously close to that point. The choice to use the same gold tone to outline the indices that is used around the bezel, pusher, crown, and bracelet creates great depth around the dial. That easy gold finish, by the way, is something I’ve really enjoyed. This is coming from someone who completely stays away from dual tone watches. The balance is all there, and I am here for it.
The new (for Timex) case design in 39mm sits just right on my very small wrist, but I can see that because of its flatter design and tall lug to lug size, it would look good on most anyone’s hand. I love the curve of the lugs, especially with the the way it flows into the new bracelet. Timex very rarely does a fitted bracelet on their watches, so it is nice to see it executed well. The bracelet and case have a good weight to them, so you really don’t feel like you are wearing a quartz watch that cost under $300. I think more than most recent releases, this watch brings a ton of visual and physical value.
The automatic comes in two color-ways; a dark blue (similar to the GMT), and a silver dial. I spent some time with the silver dial for this review. I think that I would overall put this piece into the category of “casual dress watch”. It catches your eye with green “W” trident seconds hand, but otherwise has a very easy look that will fit into most any outfit. I can see this being more of any everyday watch for the watch owner who want’s that feel of a good automatic, without breaking the bank to own it. The case design is the same as the GMT, sans the GMT pusher, but it somehow feels taller on my wrist. This thickness is probably my only gripe about this piece. Since I look at it as a dress watch, I would love it if it could be a little fitter to be able to easily fit under any suit cuff. My favorite parts of of the watch are the various brushed tones around the case, crown, and even the dial. It is hard to tell in some photos, but that brushing adds some nice character to the dial. As with many Timex automatics, this piece has an exhibition case back where you can see the Miyota automatic movement at work. Overall, I do not have much more to say about this piece, as it truly is a what you see, is what you get type of item. It is a simple, dependable watch that anyone would be happy to own in their collection of any size.
You can find these two watches and the other new pieces from the Waterbury collection on the Timex website.
