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Introducing A New Color For Timex's Enigma 1975 Mystery Dial (Live Pics + Pricing)

Space age design gets the jet-black treatment.

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What We Know

If you've taken a look at the Timex Q collection, you'll know that there isn't a coherent design language across the board. Rather, the Timex Q name serves as a sort of historical playground for the designers at the brand, where vintage Timexes can be resurrected or new homages created based on historical models. This year, Timex introduces a new colorway in a sequel to last year's blue-dialed Q Timex 1975 Enigma reissue.

In the same way that the original model from 1975 attempted to execute a mystery dial, a dot is painted on the center of the crystal, color-matched to the dial color. This covers the center posts of the phantom hour, minutes, and seconds hands. In the right angle (basically perfectly top-down) and ideal lighting conditions, the highlighted tips of the hands appear to float around the dial.

Timex Dial Up Close
Case Side of Timex Enigma
Caseback of Timex Enigma

The 37mm cushion case in stainless steel showcases a fully polished top case with brushed sides and bottom. The dial features black date windows and a contrasting outer minutes track, while the rest of the dial remains unsurprisingly sparse, with negative space required to maintain the illusion of floating hands. The seconds hand features a contrasting lume-filled dot in light blue, highlighting the effect as it whizzes around the dial every minute.

A thick, domed acrylic crystal sits on top of the case, contributing quite a bit to the total case height of 12.7mm (according to my calipers). But a compact 42mm lug-to-lug ensures that the watch still fits well on most wrist sizes. Multiple strap options are available, ranging from a steel bracelet to vegan leather or single-piece fabric straps, with the model featuring a leather strap priced at $209.

What We Think

Calling the Enigma a mystery dial might be a stretch, given that since its original release in 1975, we've seen many more successful executions of the idea with transparent discs (even from Timex, with its Snoopy Tennis watch). It's a rare occasion when I wish Timex had strayed further from the original design, incorporating acrylic discs as hands to truly create an amazing mystery dial watch at a quartz price point.

Timex Enigma 1975 Black Wristshot

However, at the $200 price point, the Enigma continues to add another uniquely designed offering to the collection, featuring well-balanced proportions, an interesting execution, and, of course, a healthy dose of space-age seventies inspiration to tie everything together.


The Basics

Brand: Timex
Model: Q 1975 Enigma
Reference Number: TW2Y34500​ (black)

Diameter: 37mm
Thickness: 12.7mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Black
Indexes: Printed
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Bracelet, vegan leather, and fabric options available


The Movement

Caliber: Quartz movement
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day of week, date


Pricing & Availability

Price: $209 on vegan leather or fabric strap
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No

For more, click here.