If you’ve ever purchased a wristwatch in the past, you’ve probably at least heard about Timex watches. Easily one of the most popular brand names within the North American market, the company has been doing quite a bit of business for a number of years now. They have essentially taken over a large part of the wristwatch market, and as a result, their brand is advertised almost everywhere. In many cases, a child’s first watch has the brand name attached, and that allows a measure of loyalty to continue increasing the company’s hold on the market.
History of Timex
Interestingly enough, the mens watches created by the company weren’t the initial products they tried to tackle. The first product released by this company was the famous and iconic Waterbury Clock, a product that was geared to working class Americans, allowing them to go ahead and own a little bit of history while at the same time getting a great clock that did the work of much pricier models. Initially released in the 1850s, it was a household staple for nearly 20 years.
Next on the agenda for the Timex watch spirit of innovation was the pocket clock, and they were able to come out with a pocket timepiece version of their famous Waterbury design, allowing people on the go to carry this timepiece around with them and steal glances at it when they needed to know exactly what time it was. This product set the stage for the 20th century, a time that easily belonged to this company as far as the North American market was concerned.
A large part of this was because they became the official watch of the United States, even if the government never really endorsed it. The help they provided the army during both World Wars did not go unforgotten by Americans everywhere, which initiated much of the brand loyalty seen today. In the United States at least, this makes the brand one that is positioned great for the future and for expansion into even more areas of the globe.
What They Are Known For
Perhaps the biggest thing that these products are known for (especially the earlier men’s watches that they created) is the iconic layout of their digital timepiece products. Their wristwatch products excel at allowing users to easily switch between watch functions with the simple push of a button. Moreover, though, the ability to cram a large number of different functions into a relatively simple digital wristwatch was something that this company pioneered, and even to this day, they get a large amount of credit for that particular bit of history.
Another thing that Timex is known for is being one of the first watches out there that attempted to correct the problem of not being able to see the watch face in the dark. Companies had tried and failed, but when this brand introduced its famous “Indi-glow” light system in the 1990s, it eventually became the industry standard as all of the other companies rushed to develop similar systems for their own wristwatch products. Most individuals living through the nineties in North America can point to that feature and recall the commercials, and few went unaffected by this simple bit of innovation. While most people don’t even consider it now, as even cell phones glow in the dark better than the initial technology did, it’s certainly an essential part, and much of the industry remains grateful to the brand for pushing forth the boundaries of timepiece convenience.
Additionally, the company as a whole is known for its varying styles. While some brands simply specialize in a department like luxury watches or inexpensive models, this brand seems to have mastered the art of switching between watch styles. From some of the best kids timepieces on the market to some of the most advanced products to suit the needs of training athletes everywhere, the company manages to offer great selection while keeping the level of quality the same throughout. With that selection, of course, comes a huge variety in prices, but that also means that consumers can purchase only as much as they need.
One final thing that Timex watches are known for in is their exuberance in the field through good times and bad. There have been many times across the history of the brand when people thought that they were done for and during every single one of those times they have managed to not only come back, but to come back in such a strong way that they were actually better off after than they were before they got into trouble. Few companies have this ability to resurrect and recreate themselves time and again, but Timex does indeed appear to be one of those brands.
