Exclusive: Shop the New Timex M79 Automatic Watch Before Everyone Else
A little less than a year ago, Timex unleashed a monster—or at least a monster hit of a watch. The Q Timex 1979 reissue made its debut right here at Esquire in May of 2019 and proceeded to sell out in less than 24 hours. A few months later, the Pepsi-bezeled, dive-inspired watch reappeared—and sold out again. It pulled the same trick once more, a little more than a month later. (It's finally back in stock as of this writing.) Clearly, Timex had something big on its hands.
Now, the brand is back with a follow-up that's even bigger: the new M79 automatic, priced at a very attractive $279. Like its predecessor, this new timepiece is available to shop early through Esquire. If you're in the market, you should get it now. Like, right now. Judging from the reaction to the Q Timex, you might not get a shot at this new offering if you hesitate.
Anyways, presuming you're back from your journey across the internet to acquire your new watch, let's delve into the details. The biggest difference between the M79 and the Q Timex lies in the letter preceding each. The Q stands for "quartz," which was a major innovation when it hit the watch world in the '70s. The M, well, it stands for "mechanical," which is the old-school way of making a watch. In this instance, it's a 21-jewel, self-winding movement. So, yeah, there's now a two-tone, automatic watch inspired by vintage divers available from Timex.
Is this a pretty big deal? Hell yeah, it is. Luxury watches are wonderful, without a doubt, but the prospect of getting an automatic timepiece with an iconic look from a brand like Timex should bring joy to watch nerds and neophytes alike. And with a price tag of less than $300. Well, damn. That's just plain good news.
The other good news is that this watch wears quite nicely on the wrist. The 40mm size is a slight uptick from the 38mm Q Timex—it was necessary to house the larger automatic movement and maintain 50 meters of water resistance—but feels unobtrusive and easy for every day. The Batman bezel, which is obviously one of the things that's going to get folks excited, is eye-catching in all the right ways, and the domed crystal and woven stainless-steel band keep the vintage vibe going.
I can say from experience wearing the Q Timex 1979 reissue that it's the kind of watch people notice—and ask you about. I'd legitimately shocked if the new M79 Automatic doesn't inspire the same kind of reactions. It's just that now, instead of showing off the special battery hatch on the back of the quartz model, you'll get to flip this one over and show off that automatic movement.
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