I’ve always had a soft spot for the stranger corners of Timex’s back catalog. Not the usual Marlin or Q reissues that rack up likes on Instagram, but the real oddities. I’m talking about the ones that remind you just how weird and wonderful 1970s watch design could get when quartz tech was still new and nobody had figured out what “normal” looked like yet.
So when Timex quietly announced the return of the SSQ—Solid State Quartz, for those not fluent in vintage ad-speak—I had to squint to make sure I wasn’t looking at an old scan or something. But no, it’s real. The 1975 digital original is making its comeback, and it’s one of the more faithful nods to that era we’ve seen from the brand in a while.
Originally pitched as a kind of futuristic maintenance-free dream, the SSQ ditched hands altogether for an always-on digital display and a weirdly elegant trapezoidal case. It was about simplicity, delivered through a shape and display that looked like it belonged on the dashboard of a concept car.
This reissue brings that shape back almost untouched. At 38mm across and 13mm thick, the stainless steel case looks like a genuine throwback, not a modern reinterpretation bloated for mass appeal. Instead of a crown, you get two pushers flanking the case—a callback to the original’s button-only layout—and that funky blue acrylic mask over the display hasn’t gone anywhere either.
Timex hasn’t overloaded this with features (or variants, for now). Just a single configuration: steel case, steel bracelet, and the same minimal display with a 60-second counter. It’s the kind of restraint that feels intentional, almost refreshing, even if you know a dozen colorways are probably coming down the line.
Pricing lands right where you’d expect—a little under $200 USD, launching first in Japan on October 17 for ¥28,600. Timex’s US site has already teased the model on its “Coming Soon” page, so it looks like this one won’t stay region-locked for long.
Sure, this isn’t the kind of watch you wear for performance or prestige. But if you’re into early digital charm and unapologetic retro design—especially the kind that doesn’t try to modernize the weirdness out of its DNA—the SSQ might be one of the more interesting revivals Timex has done in a while.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.