The New 38mm Black & Gold Editions Of The Timex Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic

Among the many brands in the field of accessible watches, some stand out more than others. Japanese makers such as Citizen and Seiko hold the crown, but flying across the Pacific brings you another significant contender, Timex. With a solid reputation in the USA, the brand has recently returned to mechanical watches without compromising its characteristic value proposition strategy. Following the Marlin, Timex launched a surprisingly handsome, modern and detailed model, the Giorgio Galli – named after the brand’s designer. Now, this watch is back in smaller cases and with two editions in luxury and stealth mode. 

American watchmaking is going through a pleasant renaissance, with names such as Josh Shapiro, Weiss Watch Company or Roland G. Murphy acting in the high-end category. Much lower in terms of price, this renewal is led by an important name, Timex. An American watch brand located in Middlebury, Connecticut, Timex started activities in 1854 and has been the number one watch producer in America, with nearly half of the mechanical watches sold in the U.S. manufactured by the brand. Yet, with the quartz crisis, the American watch industry was devastated, and for 35 years, mechanical watches were a thing of the past at Timex. Until the release of the 2017 Marlin, a vintage-inspired and ultra-accessible watch. The only thing is that American watchmaking these days no longer means American-made movements; it’s accessible Miyota movements that have made a comeback possible.

More recently, Timex introduced a watch with a very interesting design. Sleek and minimalist at first sight, it is actually far more detailed and thought-out when examined closely, revealing a well-equipped, well-built and well-priced model. The name of the watch is the Timex Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic, named after the man who has long worked for the brand as a designer and who now has the privilege of having his eponymous model.

We already covered the Timex Giorgio Galli in its previous blue edition, following the inaugural silver model – both were 41mm in diameter. For the end of the year, we can now report the introduction of two new handsome editions in black and gold-coated cases. And the other good piece of news is that the case has been reduced.

From the current 41mm edition, we now have a downsized model of 38mm. We’ve said it often and will say it again: 38-39mm is the sweet spot for such elegant, sleek time-only watches. What doesn’t change is the overall design, which retains its interesting and stylish look. The case feels simple at first, but a look at the side reveals complex flanks. The shape of the watch is contemporary thanks to an injection moulding technique, allowing for recessed casebands without the need for costly machining. It is all very appealing. The case, made of stainless steel in all editions, has brushed and polished surfaces, a sapphire crystal on top, a see-through caseback and a decent 50m water-resistance.

What’s new this year? The Timex Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic 38mm returns in two new editions. The first is all about monochromatic tones, with a black-coated case, a black dial, a black strap and even dark grey hands and markers. Even the rotor on the back is black. The other version, this time a limited edition of 500 pieces, is far more luxurious, with a gold-coloured case, a brushed black dial and hands/markers to match the case colour. And the rotor, as you’ve guessed, shares the same luxurious feel.

Both new versions of the Timex Giorgio Galli are powered by a reliable automatic Miyota 9039, a 4Hz movement with a 42h power reserve. These two watches are worn on supple black silicon straps, closed by a pin buckle and equipped with a sleek-looking riveted strap keeper, eliminating the need for traditional loops. Also, quick-release bars will make it easy to change the strap.

Neat and smart-looking, these new editions of the Timex Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic 38mm are now available from the brand’s websites – either www.timex.com for the American market or www.timex.eu for the European market – and are priced competitively at EUR/USD 475 in black and EUR/USD 495 in gold.