Dating Timex Watches

Timex did not use serial numbers on their vintage watches but there are ways to date a Timex watch. From 1963 onwards a string of numbers may be found at the bottom of the dial on mechanical watches, the last two digits refer directly to the last 2 digits of the date, and no decoding is required. This string may be separated into 2 groups by the 6 marker, it is the last 2 of all digits that will tell you the year. This code is often very small and easy to miss.

From 1985 onwards Timex put a date code on their watches, it is 2 characters long and made up of letters or numbers and can be found on the case back. That is the code this tool decodes. As the code was repeated over the years you may be returned to two possible dates, visual indications and the production run dates can then be used to narrow it down more.

Most, and possibly all mechanical Timex watches from 1963 until the end of mechanical production in 1993 have a reference number, usually at the bottom of the dial. The last two numbers correspond to the year the watch was produced. The two and occasionally 3 numbers before that are the movement number, the remaining numbers are the catalogue number. For example, 2495210592 would indicate catalogue number 24952, movement 105, the year 1992. In some cases, this number is hidden under the bezel and cannot be viewed without removing the movement from the case.

Some earlier Timex watches have an ink-stamped date code on the inside case-back consisting of one letter and one number. The numeral denotes the year of manufacture as follows: 1959-8, 1960-7, 1961-6, 1962-5 1963-4 1964-3 1965-2 1966-1 1967-9.

Watches from 1985 and later generally have a 2-digit code on the case back indicating the year and month of manufacture:

Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Below is a general breakdown of Men's model names per model number. The model number can be found below and to the left of six o'clock (in small print)

(1XXX = Mercury/Sprite)

(2XXX = Marlin)

(25XX = Sportster)

(3XXX = Fun Timer)

(4XXX = Viscount)

(5XXX = Super Thin)

(6XXX = 17 Jewel)

(9XXX = Electric)