Did Timex Just Top Its Most Popular Watch of the Past Decade?
Part of the Q Timex collection, it features a quintessential case shape in an ideal size and a bonus complication.
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Introduced in 2019, the Q Timex Reissue was so successful that it remains one of the Waterbury watchmaker's most beloved and impactful designs.
With a diver-inspired look and unbeatable value, it solidified Timex as the king of sub-$200 watches and was only matched in popularity when a GMT complication was added .
The Continental adds an integrated bracelet to the Q Timex Reissue case design. - Credit: Timex
Even after five years of expanding the Q Timex collection, the only releases that have matched the success of the Reissue have been variations on the original .
But Timex may finally have released a watch that can dethrone the Reissue by converging multiple trends in one expertly crafted timepiece.
The Continental GMT has an ideally sized 39mm case. - Credit: Timex
The Q Timex Continental GMT has the most sought-after case size, bracelet design and complication of 2025, and all three fit together in a natural balance that doesn't feel like trend-jumping. If there is a watch that can become the new Q Timex king , this is it.
True to form
Inspired by iconic luxury pieces like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus , integrated steel sports watches have become the hottest trend in the industry . It seems like every brand is trying its hand at the genre.
The Continental GMT has an H-link steel bracelet. - Credit: Timex
Rather than copying specific design elements or knocking off those icons wholesale, Timex is tweaking its existing watch and borrowing from its own archive to conform to the trend.
Starting with the Reissue case, the covered lugs have been replaced with an integrated bracelet, the bezel has been replaced with a fixed steel bezel and the crown is nearly identical.
Timex has used the H-link steel bracelet with a center clasp multiple times before, and the case back is a standard-issue etched globe logo used throughout the current lineup.
The bracelet has a three-piece central clasp. - Credit: Timex
Where the Continental GMT differs most from the rest of the existing Q Timex collection and strays closest to copycatting is the dial. The baton applied indices are nearly universal but resemble the Nautilus in this case. However, the minute and hour hands are nearly a knockoff.
Timex differentiates itself from the crowded integrated sports watch market with a diver-esque second hand and a category-divergent GMT window. An inset rotating dial is rarely used as a GMT complication and is almost exclusively found on dress watches.
Can't go wrong either way
Timex is offering the Continental GMT in two varieties at launch. The gray-blue dial has a fine snailed texture that creates a sunburst effect. It comes on a steel H-link bracelet with a three-piece center clasp. While there are six removable links, it does not have micro-adjustment.
It is also available with a steel dial. - Credit: Timex
For $20 less, a black rubber pin-buckle tropical strap with a herringbone texture and sidewalls is available. It comes with a silver dial that has the same fine snailed texture.
Aside from the quartz movement, which is unavoidable at this price, the only significant drawback to the Continental GMT is the weak 50m water resistance. Like a pool without a lifeguard, you can swim in this at your own risk.
Timex accomplished the precarious feat of jumping on a viral trend without coming off as desperate or pandering. The Continental GMT is a natural fit and logical progression of the Q Timex collection and checks so many desirable boxes that it can't go wrong.
The steel dial comes with a black rubber strap. - Credit: Timex
The Q Timex Reissue was a resounding success because it came out when the Rolex Submariner was the hottest watch on the planet and offered a very affordable but respectable alternative. The Continental GMT offers the same deal for 2025's most coveted and copied watches.
Availability and pricing
The Q Timex Continental GMT is available now from Timex for $189 with a steel bracelet and $169 with a rubber strap.
Q Timex Continental GMT
Specs
| Case Size 39mm |
|---|
| Movement Quartz |
| Water Resistance 50m |
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men's Health. Now, he's on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.
