I’ll be honest. I didn’t think I’d still be talking about the Q Timex in 2025. But here we are, and somehow, this new Continental GMT has me reconsidering just how far a nostalgic blueprint can stretch before snapping. Spoiler: it hasn’t snapped yet. In fact, it might have just gotten sharper.
Let’s rewind a bit. Back in 2019, Timex basically broke the internet (and a few collector brains) when they reissued the original Q. Pepsi bezel, domed crystal, battery hatch—it had all the retro vibes you could ask for without requiring you to pawn a kidney. That thing was everywhere. And while they’ve expanded the Q line with color swaps and a GMT version since then, nothing’s really challenged the original’s crown. Until now.
The Q Timex Continental GMT doesn’t feel like just another offshoot. It feels like a genuine evolution. It pulls together a bunch of design cues we’ve all been quietly craving (or loudly chasing on forums): integrated bracelet, slim steel case, clean baton markers, and yes, a GMT complication that doesn’t scream “cheap travel watch.” It’s subtle. Maybe even… mature? Weird for a Timex, I know.
Now, before anyone screams “Royal Oak knockoff,” slow your roll. Yes, there’s some DNA in the dial—maybe those hands are suspiciously close—but the rest is pure Timex: familiar case shape, standard etched globe on the back, and their go-to H-link bracelet that’s been around longer than most of our strap boxes. There’s no polished beveling, no ornate finishing. Just honest, wearable steel.
The coolest feature here? That inset rotating GMT dial. Not a fourth hand, not a bezel, but a rotating disc under the hour indices—something you usually only see on dressy complications, not budget tool watches. It feels unexpected and smart, like someone at Timex actually said, “What if we didn’t just copy-paste?”
It comes in two versions: a silver-dial-on-rubber combo that leans sporty and affordable at $169, and a slightly dressier sunburst gray-blue on steel for $189. No micro-adjust, which sucks a little, and 50 meters of water resistance isn’t winning any dive badges. But at this price, and with a quartz movement keeping things low-stress, those feel more like trade-offs than dealbreakers.
This isn’t a watch trying to be everything to everyone. It’s just a really thoughtful, trend-aware, and collector-savvy release that doesn’t try too hard. That’s rare. The Q Reissue gave us vintage vibes for the cost of a pricey dinner. The Continental GMT might be doing the same thing for the Royal Oak crowd—no hype, no waitlist, no pretension. And if this is where Timex is headed next? I’m listening.
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.