Timex has teamed up with End Clothing on a new retro sports watch that looks far more expensive than its price suggests. Called the End x Timex 1981 Reissue, the watch takes inspiration from Timex’s archive, summer tennis and classic menswear, giving it a very different character from the brand’s usual affordable reissues.
The case is one of the main reasons it works so well. Timex has used a brushed stainless steel TV-shaped case measuring 35mm across and just 8.5mm thick, which gives the watch proper vintage proportions. Around the mineral crystal is a softly octagonal bezel with a polished, stepped design, adding just enough dress-watch flair without making it look like a Royal Oak copy.
The dial adds to the vintage-inspired design without pushing it too far into nostalgia. It comes in ice blue with a pearlised finish and a subtle globe pattern, giving the watch a cool retro travel feel. Timex and End logos appear at 12 and 6 o’clock, while polished baton indices and skeletonised alpha-style hands keep the design sharp without making it too busy.
More of the collaboration’s character shows up on the caseback. The engraved caseback features a globe, two stylised tigers, a calligraphic “E” and a “Globally Sourced” banner. It is a surprisingly decorative touch for a watch that costs $199, and it makes the design look more complete than a simple logo swap.
Even the bracelet has been designed to match the retro sports-watch look. It has a vertically brushed, single-row layout with a retro taper and a faux-integrated design. The narrow links should help it wear smoothly, while the foldover clasp is engraved with the End wordmark and can be adjusted for a more precise fit.
Inside, the 1981 Reissue uses an analogue quartz movement. End describes the watch as made in Japan, although it is not fully clear whether that refers to the whole watch or the movement inside.
At $199, the End x Timex 1981 Reissue can be considered as one of Timex’s strongest affordable sports watch releases in a while. Between the TV-shaped case, octagonal bezel, ice blue dial, and detailed bracelet, it has the kind of personality that usually costs a lot more.