The Timex That Introduced Me To Army Style Watches

Watches

Aug 12

Written By Damian Nicholas

How a unique collaboration made me appreciate vintage-inspired army watches.

Watches

Words by Damian Nicholas Photos by Danique Lorian | 3 Minute Read

I've always been a fashionable person. Truth is, ever since high school, I've been a fan of menswear and, after I got my first retail job at J.Crew, I've become a fan of army style watches. Now, as a father, photographer, and editor-in-chief for Frasspot, my experience in retail continues to affect how I purchase gear—including watches.

My initiation to 80s military style watches was thorough, discovering the importance of watches as a statement piece to your outfit. Back then, my style was heavily inspired by blogs and street-style photography. I started wearing the Timex Weekender while working at J.Crew, where watches are worn with nato straps for a weekend in the Hamptons or with a leather strap to pair with a suit.

I loved that Timex for its minimalist design, but replaced it because of the loud movement, which made it difficult to focus when editing or designing. I replaced it with a Mougin & Piquard’s Grande Seconde, but the mineral crystal face proved to be fragile for everyday use.

These days, my work-watch ranges from a handful of army-inspired field watches, but I primarily wear a Timex J. Crew Exclusive Vintage Field Army Watch. It’s a quartz movement, but it has a 36mm diameter case size and 30 meters of water resistance.

These are simple in design, easy to read, and Timex as a brand has a rich history rooted in American watch making—since its inception in 1854, as the Waterbury Clock Company. I still use my watches as a tool for work, especially as a timing device for tracking the duration of a project, for client invoicing.

This Timex J.Crew exclusive vintage field army watch is now serving a different purpose. Fewer work-related tasks and more for the weekend or running errands.

My interest in 1980s watches started after the re-release of the Timex MK1 and researching the Timex Camper. I love that era of smaller watch diameters and the use of a watch as a man’s everyday carry (EDC)—as depicted in the 1985 TV series MacGyver.

In the first three seasons, MacGyver, played by actor Richard Dean Anderson, carried a Swiss army knife and his Timex Camper watch. Ultimately, he pawned the watch to pay for gas after being swindled by Jennifer Reiner.

I started looking for Camper’s (inspired by MacGyver) and eventually landed on a different watch listed on eBay—this Timex x J.Crew Army Style watch, circa 2010, with original strap, located in Queens, New York.

These watches were only available online and through selected retail locations. I put in an offer, which was countered twice. After a brief conversation about my experience at J.Crew and Mougin & Piquard’s Grande Seconde collab, the seller accepted my offer, and I received the watch three days later.

And that's how I got my hands on this Timex J.Crew exclusive vintage field army watch. The watch pays homage to the Timex Camper, measuring 36.15mm case size, from left to crown, and 42.76mm lug to lug. The watch is powered by quartz movement with a life-span of around 2-3 years.

Nearly eight years later, I still wear this watch, mainly on weekends or while getting coffee. It’s been updated with this rubber Archer strap, because of its color and waterproof qualities. For me, vintage-inspired army watches represent simplicity in design and the functional use of a watch.

Watch Details

Brand: Timex

Model: Timex J.Crew Exclusive Vintage Field Army Watch

Dial Color: White

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Strap/Bracelet: Archer Silicone Strap

Diameter: 36mm

Thickness: 10 mm

Movement: Quartz

Water Resistance: 30m

Damian Nicholas

Editor-in-Chief, Frasspot

Damian Nicholas is the editor-in-chief for Frasspot. He manage all content, production, and consumer experiences across all platforms. He has contributed as editor-in-chief since December 2019.

Aug 12, 2025

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