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In the Venn diagram of affordability, quality, and style, the Timex Marlin hits dead-center every time. Released in the 1960s and re-released, more or less unchanged, in 2017, it’s that exceptionally rare sub-$200 watch that can easily go face-to-face, as it were, with counterparts that sell for thousands more. In the years since its much-hyped re-release, that first 34mm hand-wound Marlin has been joined by a steady stream of new Marlin re-editions featuring bigger cases, automatic movements, and one incredible Beagle Scout Snoopy riff, among many others. Fortunately, the brand’s latest drop, equipped with a moss-hued dial, proves Timex is nowhere near out of ideas (or archival inspo). Better still, its green dial is right on the money in 2022.
The newest Timex Marlin is based on the Viscount, an original design from the era of the Timex All-Star Jazz Show, with a unique dial configuration featuring quarter-hour numerals set in black rectangles against a sunbrushed green backdrop. Not only does it represent a funky piece of Timex history, its dial color puts it directly in line with new releases from luxury watchmakers like Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Omega—all of whom added sunbrushed green dials to their collections this year.
In addition to its on-point color scheme, the latest Marlin has all of the right specs, from a 40mm stainless steel case to a Japanese automatic-winding movement with a 40-hour power reserve (a flourish that refers to the amount of time the watch will continue running once you take it off). Details like the domed acrylic crystal take their cues straight from the ‘60s, and complement new additions like the sturdy leather strap from Red Wing, Minnesota’s S.B. Foot Tanning Company. At $249, the automatic Marlin is one of the best deals around for a self-winding watch, whichever of its dozen variations—including a similar version in sunbrushed navy—you choose. Save a little green, get a little green in return: everybody wins.
