Timex Group USA, Inc. was founded in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company in Waterbury, Connecticut. The company was renamed as Timex in 1941 by Thomas Olsen, after combining the brand names Time Magazine and Kleenex. After becoming insolvent in 1944, it was reformed into Timex Corporation. The company was then acquired by Timex Group B.V. in 2008 and renamed Timex Group USA.
Today, Timex are well known for their Ironman Triathlon line which was introduced in 1986 as well as their Indiglo technology.
Timex and Emerson Fittipaldi
Timex is amongst the earliest watch brands to make a signature watch for a Formula 1 driver, having made three limited edition timepieces in honor of the 1972 and 1974 Formula 1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi. Believed to have been released in 1975, the first was based on a manual wind Timex Rally M25 with a checkered flag underneath 12 o’clock as well as the Brazilian driver’s name and accomplishments above the 6.
The two models that followed were a Timex Electric and a Q Timex Quartz, both sporting a basic illustration of his racing helmet and “Emerson Fittipaldi” on the dial. While there appears to be no public consensus on when these models were released, most sources date them to within the mid to late 1970s.
Niki Lauda, Clay Regazzoni, and Emerson Fittipaldi at the 1974 Italian Grand Prix. (Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Timex Group and Aston Martin
A partnership between Timex Group and Aston Martin was announced in a January 30, 2025 press release. The licensing agreement involved the design, manufacturing, and distribution of Aston Martin and Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team branded watches and jewelry.
Early examples from September of 2025 included the Aston Martin F1 Team DWF (ref. MTFD1F50) in black or podium green, PIT (ref. MTFP1F503) in podium green or lime essence, and OVR (ref. MTFO1F505) in black or green. Timex branding does not appear on these pieces.
References
https://www.arteepee.nl/timex-ii/timex-formula-1-rallye-cup
https://www.watchcrunch.com/timetrope/posts/rare-timex-emerson-fittipaldi-marlin-calendar-6576
https://www.vintagetimexwatches.com/t/emerson-fittipaldi/
https://www.vintagetimexwatches.com/39311-26375-emerson-fittipaldi/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vkv7xvOJrw
https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/timex-group-and-aston-martin-forge-partnership-to-launch-exclusive-watches-and-jewelry-collection-302364395.html
https://f1chronicle.com/race-ready-style-the-new-timex-x-aston-martin-watch-collection-is-here/
https://shop.astonmartinf1.com/en/aston-martin-f1-team-dwf-nato-strap-watch/701242308-PodiumGreen.html
https://shop.astonmartinf1.com/en/aston-martin-f1-team-silicone-strap-watch/701242312-PodiumGreen.html
https://shop.astonmartinf1.com/en/aston-martin-f1-team-ovr-silicone-strap-watch/701242309-Black.html