Timex continued to make mechanical watches up until 1996 (to be verified) however, the number of mechanical watches in the range was significantly reduced throughout the 1980s as the more accurate quartz watches became increasingly more affordable. Timex re-entered the mechanical watch market in 2018 with the launch of the Timex Marlin reissue.
Mechanical Timex watches are often labelled by collectors of other brands as being unserviceable and disposable. However collectors of Timex know this to be untrue as Timex puiblished several service manuals.
Manual Wind Mechanical Movements
Initially Timex’s mechanical watches were hand wind only, and used anti-magnetic stamped brass movements with zero jewels. These were fit with springs behind the dial and movement holders within the case to make them shockproof. Timex quickly improved upon this design adding gaskets and rubber seals to make watches waterproof. These became the Marlin, Sportster and Sprite ranges. In the 1960s the old brass movements were replaced with a metallic plated brass movements, and ther mechanism updated and refined. This made the movements arguably easier to repair and replace parts.
Self-Wind and Automatic Mechanical Movements
In the late 1950s Timex introduced self-wind movements. These mechanical movements were powered by a rotor that took your bodys natural movement and use it to wind the mainspring. The design was refined in the late 60s and again in the late 1970s adding longer power reserve.
Chronostop
In 1958/9 Timex customised the M22 movement and added mechanical chronograph functionality in the Southampton.
Electric, Electronic and Dynabeat
Earlly into what would become the quartz crisis, Timex produced a range of battery powered mechanical watches called Electric. These watches replaced the mainspring with a battery but had the mechanism resembling a fully mechanical watch. The electronic added transistors but largely maintained the mechanical functionality. Dynabeat was an enhanced Electric watch with a higher beat rate.