Timex Q 1978 Day/Date men's watch with green dial

There are watches that try to look vintage, and then there are watches that actually are vintage, just reissued. The Timex Q 1978 Day/Date falls into the second category. This is a faithful revival of a square-cased men's watch Timex produced in 1978, and wearing it today feels less like nostalgia and more like a deliberate choice. If you prefer your watch to have a story behind it, this one has a legitimate claim to that.

The square stainless steel case measures 37.5 mm across and sits 13 mm thick, slim enough to slide under a shirt cuff without a fight. The green dial is the first thing people notice, fitted with white indices and white hands that keep the look clean and easy to read in any light. Timex placed the day and date window at 3 o'clock, which is right where your eye falls naturally, and both the day and date display in crisp white text against the green background. The crystal is acrylic, which is entirely correct for a watch of this era and actually contributes to the retro character rather than detracting from it. Acrylic picks up fine scratches over years of daily use, and many owners consider that part of the appeal. The quartz movement keeps accurate time with no fuss, and the watch is rated to 50 metres water resistance, so rain, handwashing and the odd splash are all fine. The strap is black leather with a quilted texture that suits the square case well, and the 20 mm width gives it a solid, proportional look on the wrist.

Details

• Case shape: square
• Case diameter: 37.5 mm
• Case thickness: 13 mm
• Case material: stainless steel
• Dial: green with white indices and hands
• Crystal: acrylic
• Strap: black leather with quilted texture
• Strap width: 20 mm
• Movement: quartz
• Functions: day and date at 3 o'clock
• Water resistance: 50 m

This watch works just as naturally at a Friday evening dinner as it does on a Tuesday morning commute. The green dial sets it apart from the sea of plain white and black faces out there, and the square case gives it a shape that stands on its own. It comes on the leather strap ready to wear, but the 20 mm fitting means you have plenty of options if you ever want to change things up down the line.