Timex and I revived a watch from the '90s
(with the help of Foundwell, inspired by the eternal John F. Kennedy Jr.)
Here’s the watch. Here’s the story:
Two years ago, I was aimlessly scrolling through Getty Images looking at photos of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy… As one does.
I stumbled across this photo of JFK Jr. in what looked to be a diving watch and sent it to Alan Bedwell (aka Foundwell, who I work with to sell vintage watches) to have him identify it.
“It’s a Timex,” he said. Followed by: “DO NOT POST THIS PHOTO. Let’s send it to Timex and see if they’ll reissue the watch.”
I thought Alan was dreaming. But we got our friends at Todd Snyder, who’ve worked on several Timex collabs, to connect us, and one Zoom led to another, which led to serious conversations about reissuing this watch, the Intrepid from 1995.
The Intrepid has always been a big boi (46mm), designed for sailing and diving (perfect for John John). Timex let us know that the version he was wearing seemed to be modified. Instead of fitted to the steel and resin bracelet it came with, his had a simple rubber strap.
We decided to reissue it the way JFK Jr. wore his, with the rubber strap – that’s just how powerful he is. We worked with the lovely Timex design team based in Milano (led by the iconic Giorgio Galli) to ensure the rest of the design is an honorable reinterpretation of the original, complete with the nostalgic “Indiglo” button (when you press it, the dial is flooded in indigo light to allow for legibility in the dark or under water) and the “slide rule” bezel, which helps with navigation if you’re sailing around Martha’s Vineyard or whatever.
“The importance of Timex as a brand should not be ignored,” says Alan Bedwell. “The Snoopy tennis watch was my first watch as a child… It has always been my mantra to find cool timepieces across all price points.”
The fact that Timex is a strong American brand that, as Alan says, “has kept people on time for generations” is so cool – especially when the watches are affordable. Like, American Royalty JFK Jr. wearing what would have been a sub-$100 watch on his commute is just gorgeous.
Our’s is $199 (#inflation) and water resistant up to 100M, which will be just great if you’re splish splashing in the Hamptons at your rich friend’s family’s pool.
And, although it’s a big watch, it looks hot with the right styling. Like, if you’re wannabe JFK Jr. wearing it with a suit. I’ve been wearing mine in Central Park and I feel sexy in it with my skimpy workout clothes, which has me closer to understanding why supermodels and y2k it-girls like Paris Hilton loved to style their crop tops and low-rise jeans with big ass watches.
YOU CAN BUY ONE HERE. WE ONLY HAVE 90 OF THEM LEFT AND THEY’RE SOLD OUT ON TIMEX.COM <3 SO GET IT IN TIME FOR THAT TRIP TO THE CAPE OR *IBITHA*.
If it’s too big for you, buy it for a man friend. Or wait for the Dimepiece edition, which is a full 10mm smaller and is coming out later this summer (!!! this is the official teaser !!! more on that soon)
Parting shot – a vintage Timex ad featuring a sibling of this watch:
Timex made and now makes again amazing watches.
I have a Timex Ketchup, a basic Timex Marlin from the 1980s (I think) with a Heinz ketchup bottle for the seconds hand. It's cool.
Can't wait for the Dimepiece edition!! 36mm is perfecto.