In the 19th century, when men were busy inventing a small watch that could be worn on a strap around the wrist, women already looked boldly into the future. The history of women's watches is a bridge between the fashionable and functional sides of these accessories. After the war, when the world looked for new ways to live and explored the idea of freedom, Timex began to introduce extremely stylish and, at the same time, functional watches for women of different social classes and professions.

History of Timex women's watches

Elfin - first Timex women's watch

Elfin - this is the name of the first Timex women's watch. The brand was founded in 1854 and became famous for its affordable pocket watches produced on a mass scale. Elfin had a movement with as many as 100 parts. It is worth pointing out that women played a huge role in the company's development as they were responsible for assembling small parts of the movement. Their slender hands handled them much better than men's.

World War I and the development of Timex watches

World War I made it necessary to transform Timex pocket watches into wristwatches. American soldiers asked for it as they found this way of controlling time much more comfortable than reaching into their pockets.

Timex - women's watches combining functionality with stylish design

At that time, Swiss designers began to introduce women's watches with beautiful stones. They quickly gained popularity and were seen mainly as jewellery accessories. A while later, the approach to women's timepieces underwent a rapid evolution - they were no longer just aesthetically pleasing accessories. Mercedes Gleitze, a British swimmer and the first woman to swim the English Channel, significantly contributed to this. While swimming, she was wearing a water-resistant watch on her wrist. History has shown that both appearance and functionality are important aspects of watches. Moreover, it has proven that it’s possible to strike a balance and combine these both qualities.

The end of the war didn't bring the end of wristwatches - on the contrary, Americans found them convenient and started to produce them on a large scale. It was also the time when Timex released affordable watches for kids. Especially fruitful was the cooperation with Walt Disney, thanks to which the image of the well-known Mickey Mouse appeared on the dials of kids’ watches.

Timex watches during World War II

During World War II, the brand's factory, then known as Waterbury Clock, manufactured artillery and anti-aircraft weapons. It was only after the war that the company resumed producing watches. What's more, it started working on a stronger case and a more accurate movement. The turn of 1950 and 1951 marked the launch of the Timex model, which later gave its name to the whole brand. It was also at that time that more attention was paid to marketing activities. Especially popular were advertisements in which endurance tests of products were carried out. Successful promotion meant that by the end of the 1950s every third person in the United States wore a Timex watch, which eventually led to the renaming of the company.

1960s - the heyday of Timex women's watches

In the 1960s, the Cavatina women's collection was launched. The collection was said to include crucial accessories to the outfit. Thanks to affordable prices of Timex watches, women could, instead of one expensive watch, have several watches perfect for many different outfits. Timex watches were also a common gift for girls graduating from college or women starting their careers. This approach significantly increased the company’s turnover. In 1986, Timex Ironman Triathlon men's watch collection was released, co-created with top designers and famous athletes. It was a huge success, so in the following years it was completed with women's watches as well.

Technological improvement of Timex watches in the 1990s

In 1992, the brand launched the first watches with the revolutionary Indiglo backlight. Timex significantly increased its sales in the United States and Japan. This success also led to a collaboration with Microsoft and launching Data Link watches in 1994. They were equipped with a calendar and a phone book. Four years later, however, thanks to a collaboration with Motorola, the Turn and Pull line of analogue alarm watches were released.

Timex watches today

Timex is one of the largest watch manufacturers in the modern market, selling its watches in over 80 countries worldwide. Since its inception, the brand has created several collections, each with its own individual style and functionality. The best-selling watches include those from the Timex Expedition, Timex Waterbury or Timex Ironman collections. Women's timepieces are highly rated - after all, they are both fashionable and functional.