Introducing The Timex World Time 1972 Reissue

What We Know

Timex is at it again with another funky 1970s throwback. This time, it's the Timex World Time 1972 Reissue, a chunky, vintage-inspired quartz world timer. At just $179, it's pretty much everything we've come to expect from Timex's reissues of its heritage designs.

The Wold Time 1972 Reissue measures 39mm in diameter, and the chunky, barrel-shaped case with short lugs means it should wear with a relatively short lug-to-lug (measurement not given). The stainless steel case is polished on the sides and features circular brushing on the top, giving way to the black aluminum rotating world-time bezel. The bezel looks to have slight grooves so that it can be gripped for easy rotation. On the bezel, Timex has 12 pairs of cities – you'll notice they're spelled in French where applicable, perhaps an odd choice for a company with American roots. But, for a watch that has aspirations of reviving the jet-setting days of the '70s, I suppose that's the justification? The tuxedo-style dial is cool and retro, befitting of the domed acrylic crystal that it sits underneath. The trapezoidal date window and red seconds hand are two additional small details to be appreciated, both quirky in that retro '70s type of way.

The World Time 1972 Reissue comes on a black leather strap and is priced at $179, available now on Timex.com.

What We Think

Ever since introducing the ridiculously popular Timex Q in 2019, these types of reissues are what Timex does pretty well. It's not perfect, but then again nor is any other watch that comes in at just $179 (or perhaps, any other watch, period, which is what makes watches so fun). I might prefer the "Pepsi" Q, while you might like this new World Time Reissue – the beauty is that we can have both.

Some of the details on this watch don't make perfect sense, at least if you consider this as strictly a tool watch: the world time bezel seems to stay true to the time zones of the early '70s and don't align with today's time zones. It was surely an active choice by Timex to stay true to the original '70s bezel, but it does make the "tool watch" of it all a little less tool, but let's be honest: this thing is all about the design anyway. If you like it, it's begging for 179 of your hard-earned dollars; if not, that's groovy too.

The Basics

Brand: Time
Model: World Time 1972 Reissue
Reference Number: TW2V69500ZV

Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 12mm
Case Material: Stainless steel (aluminum bezel)
Dial Color: Black
Indexes: Luminous indices
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap