The team at Wind Vintage have teamed with True North for a fourth iteration of the Vintage Rally Timer in a colorway they are calling ‘Dreamsicle’. The expressive design was created in collaboration with Eric Wind’s daughters, Adelina and Gemma, and it shows in the best possible way. The True North Vintage Rally Timer is a watch that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and this collaboration takes that a step further with a palette of pastels that come together way better than they might on paper, all in the confines of a classic 37mm, three register design boasting a Seiko (SII) VK63 Mechaquartz. Oh, and it can be had for under $500.
This watch represents the fourth collaboration between Wind Vintage and True North, and once again it brings a healthy sense of levity to an otherwise very serious corner of watch collecting. What I love about the watch is that it brings a refreshingly original vibe to a platform that we typically see used to create homage designs. There are plenty of little throwback details to be found here, but they’re all placed within a whimsical landscape of pastel tones that define the overall character of the watch.
Setting aside the homage discussion, this watch takes on a more personal tone in nature when set into context. Not only were the colors selected by the Wind family, but the number of units planned for production, 1,986 is aligned with Eric’s own birth year. As a writer who came up with Eric within this space many moons ago, this watch represents just how far some of us have come. Eric and I both hail from the great state of Wisconsin, and my earlier memories of working with him revolve around his ability to find hidden gem Speedmasters on E-Bay back when that was still possible. His ability to do so inspired me to lurk for old Subs, and led to my discovery of a 5510 being sold for no reserve by a man named Bob, and the viral story that it spawned (which is no longer archived on Hodinkee, but is referenced in this article from TechCrunch).
The Vintage Rally Timer IV is very much built on these vibes, and I imagine will carry meaning with those who have interacted with Eric or the folks at True Vintage in any meaningful way. The watch itself is fun and approachable in nature, but that’s not really the story. What makes it special are those people behind it and how watch culture has shifted around what really amounts to a few nerds that helped to shape it over a generation or two. What is today a fashion statement and investment grade flex used to be a handful of dedicated collectors on a smattering of loosely organized forums and early blogs, setting the groundwork for what has become so much more in some ways, but for some of us, hasn’t changed at all.
Okay, back to the watch. The ‘Dreamsicle’ is aptly named for its use of five different tones that comprise each of the sub-dials, the base dial, and the bezel. Yes, that’s a lot of different colors, but they work surprisingly well here, all playing off one another to create a, well, dreamsicle-like theme. It’s fun without really being in your face. Still, I wouldn’t recommend it with a three-piece suit. It’s exactly what makes some homage brands worth paying attention to.
The Wind Vintage x True North Vintage Rally Timer IV Dreamsicle will be available for purchase on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 1pm ET at True North, limit one per order. The price is set at $490. Wind Vintage / True North
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