From time to time, I find it healthy to take a step away from whatever the current meta of the watch enthusiast space happens to be, and reconnect with the space in your own manner. Over the past week or so, I’ve done just this by wearing something of a palette cleanser, but in the process, have discovered a watch that I genuinely enjoy wearing. That watch is a reissue of the Timex Ironman 8-Lap that originally appeared in 1986. This watch was released back in 2022, and has been exclusive to the Japanese market ever since, though it can be purchased online directly from the brand for a mere $91. Yes, there is a nostalgic appeal to this one, but there’s something else going on here that pushes it over the top compared to similar watches from the likes of G-Shock.
The original Ironman 8-Lap was developed as a training tool for, well, triathletes subjecting themselves to the rigors of training across three disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. The module at use boasted more memory than your typical stopwatch of the era, allowing for the tracking of 8 laps consecutively via two large buttons right on the front of the watch. It’s a simple, pragmatic solution that doesn’t rely on many bells and whistles. It might not have the toughest case or the deepest depth rating, opting instead for an approach that feels actually wearable while in use for its intended purpose. This is a small, super lightweight frame that easily goes unnoticed during activities until it’s needed. A great quality for a sport watch.
The design comes from none other than John T. Houlihan, who worked as an automotive designer for General Motors in the late ‘60s (where he designed Buick’s Boattail Riviera), and an industrial designer for GE and Texas Instruments through the ‘70s, and finally for Timex from the ‘80s until 2001. Houlihan’s design has been faithfully recreated here, which is a very good thing as it captures the vibe of an era in a way few things do.
Homan products of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s will find a specific connection to a design language ushered in with the wave of commercial technology products that largely defined the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The Sony Walkman, Conion C-100F boombox, IBM Model M keyboard, Kevin’s Talkboy… all peak examples that tap into a retro-futuristic tone that was lost when more organic designs began to take hold by the late ‘90s. This Timex Ironman 8-Lap falls squarely into this camp, and it feels shockingly on point today in the midst of a resurgence of exactly this kind of style.
As a product of the early ‘80s myself, this is indeed a design that resonates with me on a deep level. Like the dashboard of a Group B racecar or, on a more personal level, the Talkboy referenced above (1992 Christmas hit a bit different). However, unlike those two items, this Timex is a practical daily companion, both then and now. The 39mm resin case is ultra lightweight, and the strap hinges to a traditional 19mm lug span allowing for more articulation than you might expect from a watch like this. It feels more than a novelty to be worn ironically. This is genuinely compelling on the wrist as a blend of aesthetic and practicality.
For me, this watch is also a great reminder to not take myself too seriously, and that there’s plenty of enjoyment to be found outside of the high end pockets I sometimes find myself in. There’s also plenty of great, innovative designs to be found at all ends of the spectrum, and I’m happy that Timex has chosen to preserve this specific design in such high fidelity.
Wearing this watch over the course of a week has been a welcome reset of sorts. An unexpectedly pleasant step out of the weeds in a few weeks marked by the release of the Patek Philippe Cubitus, Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT, and other non-watch related unpleasantness – and all the discourse brought about as a result. There’s no drama associated with this Timex.
This is a sport watch of a bygone era, and it bears charmingly few features the likes of which we’re used to seeing in something like an Apple Watch, or even modern G-Shocks, for that matter. There’s no bluetooth here. No GPS functionality. Just a timer, an alarm, a chronograph, and the time, date, and month. It’s pure in that sense, and a focused experience, though ironically, less than useful if you’ve become reliant on those fancy features listed above. Because of that, it’s difficult to judge as it would have been when it was first released in the ‘80s. That said, if you know the mileage of your route, it could still easily be used in a practical context.
The Timex Ironman 8-Lap has been rendered in a variety of colors, and even gets a fully lumed case in its modern guise, but the original character remains beautifully intact. That character is the real experience when it comes to these watches, and it’s worth celebrating. Timex