Timex's Extremely Affordable Vintage Chronograph Just Got an Iconic Reissue: A Playful Twist on Horological History
Timex has been making waves with its vintage-inspired watch releases, and the latest addition to its lineup is a real head-turner. The Peanuts x Timex Marlin Chronograph Joe Cool is a modern take on a classic design, blending horological history with a playful twist. This watch is a modern-contemporary line that has seen a bevy of handsome, affordable models added to its ranks recently.
The history of Snoopy watches dates back to the 1950s, but the concept — called character watches — goes back even further. In the 1930s, a brand by the name of Ingersoll first licensed Mickey Mouse for one of its watches. Thus, the concept of character watches was born. A couple of decades later, Armitron created the first Snoopy watch. However, this style wasn’t legitimized as anything other than a novelty until the 1980s, when watchmaking icon Gerald Genta started making them (and even then, there was a lot of resistance in the horological world).
Then, in 2003, Omega launched its first Snoopy watch, a Speedmaster Moonwatch. This release commemorated the brand’s “Silver Snoopy Award,” which it received from NASA for helping the Apollo 13 astronauts return to Earth safely. It’s this watch that the Timex Marlin you see here (heavily) draws its inspiration from.
In fact, the Joe Cool (the beagle’s laid-back alter ego) icon appears in the same exact spot as on the Speedmaster: tucked into the 9 o’clock subdial. But here’s the bit that’ll really twist your noodle: Despite the stylistic reference, Timex has been making Snoopy watches for far longer than Omega, dating back to the ’60s. For those keeping score, that’s the same decade from which the Marlin Chronograph owes its styling...
The Marling Chronograph draws virtually all of its inspiration from the Omega Speedmaster — Snoopy or no Snoopy. It also draws its functionality from that same watch, albeit for a fraction of the price. Don’t get it twisted: this is no Speedmaster. It lacks the horological history and craftsmanship and doesn’t quite nail the styling, but it’s also under $300 — that’s a nearly 89-percent price decrease.
It has a quartz movement, which is affordable, yet also reliable and accurate. And it retains chronograph functionality — it even has a tachymeter scale wrapped around the dial — and has a date window (a feature not typically found on Speedmasters). It also gets a stainless steel case, a simple leather strap, a Peanuts-engraved caseback and a quick-release buckle. Sure, it’s not a Speedmaster, but it’s a pretty solid bargain-bin alternative for those who don’t want to spring for an Omega.
The Peanuts x Timex Marlin Chronograph Joe Cool is now available on the brand’s site for $269 apiece. It has a 40mm case size and a quartz movement, with water resistance up to 50m.
About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear. Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
