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The 1970s gave us disco, bell-bottoms, and some seriously cool watches. Now Timex is bringing one of those vintage designs back with the new Timex 1978 Day Date Fumé Reissue, a $219 timepiece that looks like it belongs in a much more expensive vintage-watch collection. With its gold-tone cushion case, smoky brown gradient dial, and retro proportions, this affordable throwback makes a convincing case that the ’70s never really went out of style.
Timex’s 1978 Day Date Fumé Reissue Is Pure ’70s Style
The 37mm cushion case’s curvy angles and 13.5 mm profile allow it to slide easily under the tightest leisure suit cuff. The stainless steel is finished in polished gold tone to create a classically paired frame for the brown gradient, fumé dial. The word “fumé” refers to the smoky gradient effect, with the chocolate-brown color growing darker toward the edges of the dial—a simple trick that gives the watch considerably more depth than a flat-colored face.
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The smokey chocolate face is accented with case-matching, gold-tone hands, applied indexes, and the Timex Q logo. The window at 3 o’clock displays both day and date in high contrast white with black numerals and is outlined in gold, continuing the motif. It’s a watch that leans into its disco-era roots without demanding a luxury-watch budget.
The throwback goes deeper than the looks—the 1970s marked a turning point for watchmaking as battery-powered quartz movements began reshaping the industry. Timex embraced the technology, and the new reissue’s quartz movement is a nod to that era. It also makes this a low-maintenance everyday watch, with no winding required.
Protecting the dial is an acrylic crystal, another period-correct choice that reinforces the vintage feel. Unlike modern sapphire, acrylic is relatively soft and can pick up scratches more easily. The upside is that it’s highly resistant to shattering, and minor scuffs can often be polished away. It’s a practical bit of old-school watchmaking that suits the 1978 aesthetic.
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And while the 37mm case diameter is authentically old-school, the watch’s dimensions also make it an appealing alternative to today’s oversized timepieces. It measures 42mm from lug to lug and weighs just under 52 grams, giving it relatively compact proportions. There’s also 50 meters of water resistance, enough for everyday splashes and occasional light swimming, although this is hardly a watch designed for diving.
The watch comes on a brown, crocodile-grain, pin-buckle-secured, natural leather strap, responsibly sourced from the Leather Working Group and fitted with quick-release spring bars. The skin is oiled, waxed, and coated to add water resistance and to soften with wear.
Timex 1978 Day Date Fumé Reissue Price and Availability
The Timex 1978 Day Date Fumé Reissue is available for pre-order now at timex.com for $219.
