I’ve been pretty vocal about my feelings on gold-tone watches. In most cases, they either scream “pawn shop regret” or “retirement party cliché.” Listen to me… hilarious considering I’ve proclaimed my love of Rainbow Daytonas. But then Timex went and did something that made me stop mid-scroll: they dipped their Q Enigma in gold. And it actually kinda rules.
For anyone not already familiar with this little oddball, the Enigma is Timex’s modern take on a 1970s model that played with the idea of a “mystery dial.” Now, we’re not talking about the high-concept, transparent-disc magic tricks you’d find on vintage LeCoultres or 1950s novelty pieces. Timex’s version is more straightforward—more… let’s say, blue-collar illusion. Painted hands camouflaged to the dial with just the tips peeking out, and a matching dot on the underside of the crystal to keep your eye guessing. It’s simple, a bit cheeky, and totally in line with Timex’s charmingly honest take on reissues.
Last year’s Enigma (we covered it here) was already a surprise hit—37mm cushion case, quartz day-date, battery hatch (yes, Timex still blesses us with those), and a sleek tapering bracelet that didn’t try to be more than it was. But now, this new gold-tone version leans even harder into the vintage aesthetic, and somehow that little bump in flash makes the Enigma feel… complete?
There’s no mechanical upgrade here. Still quartz. Still $239 (which is just slightly more than last year’s model, but hey—what isn’t more expensive now?). Still the same quirky illusion dial. But that warm gold finish actually pulls the whole design together—especially with the black dial, gold-tone text, and that red floating seconds dot doing its weird thing. It’s playful, it’s a little gaudy, and it’s probably exactly what you’d have seen peeking out from a leisure suit sleeve in ’78.
I’d still love to see Timex go full-tilt weird with this line—transparent discs, maybe an automatic option like those Snoopy sports models—but I can’t deny the charm here. This isn’t haute horology. It’s not even pretending to be. It’s fun. It’s weird. It’s beautifully retro. And sometimes, that’s all a watch needs to be.
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.