Timex Archive Acadia

The Plastic Case Alternative

Time to get writing again as well as back on the topic of Timex. Its been a busy summer, particularly August, so I have not been starting enough new posts! I have been thinking a lot about Timex watches recently as you might have noticed in my last post, but also looking a newer watches on the Timex site. Timex continues to release more reissues of 1970s styles. They do get me looking, but I have not really added any to my collection at this point. I have been trying to cut back for a while on all brands and categories. Additionally, I just have not been that excited about most recent Timex releases. Celebrating 170 years, Timex is cranking out many new vintage-inspired/reissues, and some other new styles, I do like several, but can’t think of any that I just need to have just now?

Oh yeah, Acadia

I also continue to loosely search for more additions to my various Archive era subgroups. One range of watches I have been meaning to cover is the Archive Acadia issues. Remember those? They were an alternative to the classic plastic Campers and the steel or aluminum Mk1s. Coming in a a lower price point, they sort of represent a more modern version of the Camper and are more casual than the Mk1s and Allied. They were first in the Expedition line, then pulled into the Archive and Metropolis ranges during the years around 2016-2019. “Regular” Acadias are still available on the Timex site in the Expedition line, but I think the days are numbered for this style. There is also now what I guess is a new generation Rugged Acadia that is slightly beefier at 42mm and has a rotating bezel and WR upgraded to 100m. There may have been earlier Expedition line watches called Acadia with different shape resin or metal cases, and even rotating bezels and 100m WR that inspired the new, current Rugged 42mm version. There was even an Expedition Acadia Solar.

The three Expedition Acadias above show the variety and evolution over recent years. Though not Archive Acadias, the cases are all the same. Left to Right: White dial TW4808200 with fabric/leather strap, Green dial TW4B00100 with velcro, and a later updated dial layout TW4B293009 also with velcro, and black crown.

Ocean/Reclaim

To further muddy the waters I suppose I must mention the Acadia Ocean of 2023. I also know it as part of the Reclaim series. Timex is great at using existing cases/styles for collaborations of all kinds. Some, like Raised By Wolves, used the Archive Era Acadia case. The Ocean/Reclaim used a recycled plastic material for the case and strap, too, I believe? You can tell these by the speckled look of the case. So, using the same case shape, dial layout, hands, but changing-up the colors and materials.

Field or Fashion?

I feel the need to discuss the ever-present sentiment that Timex watches are not considered field watches by some. This particularly pertains to the Acadia because of its plastic case and light weight. It does not feel like a robust watch that you can knock around. Maybe that is why the “newer Rugged Acadia is reborn? I understand this sentiment.

Timex make all sorts of watches and it is easy to lump them all together as cheap watches. I would say that the Expedition line as a whole is intended for limited outdoor activities, and quite capable of getting wet and muddy and knocked about to a certain degree. Timex marketing materials consider this Acadia as “lightweight, highly visible, and durable”. You get what you pay for. So, they are field watches. Many people buy them for the very reason that they don’t mind them getting roughed-up. If you want a stainless steel or titanium case, 100+m WR, and a sapphire crystal, you will have to pay for it. Timex does offer such watches, but the Acadia is not that.

The Archive Acadia is essentially the Expedition Acadia, so by that comparison it is a field watch, too. But, I personally consider it more of a fashion watch because of the limited runs and irreplaceable straps. I won’t be thrashing my Archive models out in the woods like I would a “regular” Expedition simply because they cost more and are harder to find. I also don’t think this type of Timex is as durable as, say, a Victorinox, Bertucci or Marathon, but again, you get what you pay for. I guess I consider them like I do a Mk1 or an Allied but even more casual and utilitarian.

Archive Years 2017-2019

The Archive/Pioneers Acadias, I think, were first released in 2017 but did not really come to my attention until around 2020? First, I liked the more military theme I saw in the ones that were like the MK1 plastic Campers style. Then I started to notice other more colorful styles and even Metropolis versions with tinted crystals. As with all the Archive lines it has been hard to tell whether some were intended for the Euro market or the North American market. I have purchased some from England and France because that’s were they were available. It is also hard to determine how many styles of Archive Acadia have been released since I know of no comprehensive listing. I was more focused on the Archive Allied, Navi and Mk1 lines, so did not pursue the Acadias as much. They were also difficult to find. I have several examples in my collection but am considering others. Trying to categorize Timex watches is like trying to grab a smoke ring. The styles come and go so fast and morph and mutate, sharing components and crossing lines.

What is an Acadia?

The Acadia is a plastic case Timex with a dial similar to a MK1 or Allied with a small date window at 3 o’clock. Timex prefers to use the term resin to describe case material, rather than plastic. I wonder if polymer would be a better term? They have their own style hand set; the minute and hour hand have a slightly rounded end. The second sweep has an arrow head, but is different on the Expedition version and the Archive version. The case is 40mm and has crown guards. They have a quartz M905(probably) movement. I think all are rated at 50m WR and have flat mineral glass crystals. They have Indiglo back-lighting. They came on fabric straps and later some rubber or velcro. While in Expedition line they were normally two-piece straps, in Archive mostly single-pass NATO-style or velcro. The stainless case back is held on with four screws.

So, you end up with a lightweight, medium-sized, casual, sporty watch with a practical quartz movement and common 20mm lug width. It has been a best-selling Timex design. Many people don’t like the weight of a steel watch on their wrist.

Archive Characteristics

Like the Archive Allied line was a modified Expedition Scout, the Archive Acadia was a more fashionable Expedition Acadia. The same basic watch, just re-styled for a new theme. The dials, hands, colors and strap materials were tweaked to separate them from the normal Expedition look.

The three above Archive Acadias are from 2019. Notice the different dial design and second hands from the Expedition Acadias. Left to Right: Olive Drab/Brown case, orange trim TW2T15100LG, Yellow-Tinted glass, Metropolis TW2T16200 , and Black case, red trim TW2T14600LG.

The Archive Acadias featured a field watch-style dial with Arabic numerals and the normal inner 24-hr track. The differences are the hour markers; Triangles at 3,6,9 and 12 and only with bar marks at the other hours. These triangles contained lume on some models. This instead of a smaller triangle at every hour like the Expedition Acadia at that time. The second hand on the Archives had a Dot or Lollipop back end while the Expeditions had the regular “arrow” fletching shape back end. The arrow head on the Archive second hand is also longer than the Expedition version. On some of the Archive styles the second sweep color matched the color of the 24-hr track and 12 hour triangle printing. The Archive Acadia dials also lacked the “Expedition” logotype that the Expedition watches sport either below the 12 or above the 6. The Archive Acadias just have “Timex” below the 12 and also have “Indiglo” on one line above “WR 50M”. located above the 6. Unlike the Archive Mk1s or Allied lines, there is no “Archive” printed on the dial.

The stainless steel back is also changed for the Archive versions. Gone is the E-arrow logo; replaced with a simple “Timex”. Nothing on the watch actually says “Archive”, but it is on some straps. The crowns are always polished silver—no case matching, even with black.

Metropolis, again

Like the Mk1 and Allied lines of the Archive/Mix era, the Acadia, too, was touched by the Metropolis effect. Some for the Archive Acadia style had the tinted glass, either lightly or heavily. As mentioned in earlier posts, I have never been able to determine if all watches with tinted glass was considered to fall under the Metropolis label or just some with darker tints? They are high style and do I think, make it harder to read time in certain lighting conditions.

Even so, there is something interesting about them. When first seeing any Metropolis tinted crystal in online images I rejected them outright. They were just a strange thing for a watch to have when the purpose of the watch was to see the dial to tell time? Over time they are winning me over. There is something stealth about them and they do add a pop of color, especially in sunlight. If the lighting is low, all you have to do is push in the crown for backlighting, and the dial is easy to read. It also changes color. Its also a sort of rebellious poke at the traditional concept of a watch? Lastly, as I tried to describe this in my post on the MK1 Metropolis, its a new visual experience looking through the colored lens to see the dial, like sunglasses or a visor.

Two Metropolis Archive Acadia above: TW2T4200, Red, TW2T4700 Blue, both on reversible single-pass straps. I tend to not like the darker versions like the blue and red. However, there is something cool about the lighter amber, yellow or grey ones.

More Metropolis looks (above). The orange tinted TW2U75000LG with olive case on left and the purple tinted TW2U74500LG with black case on right, shown in decent light. They both feature a tint over a white dial with black numbers and hands. Below you see the TW2U75000LG when backlighting is activated; the orange seems to disappear and the dial turns green.

I wonder how the general watch-buying public responded to the Metropolis concept? I don’t think Timex as done this again since the Archive era? Anyway, I’m becoming a fan.

Left to Right: TW2T21900WSB, black case, white dial, slight tint to glass. TW2T15000LG, navy case, navy dial, yellow trim, TW2T15100LG, OD case, brown dial, orange trim.

I struggle with trying to determine some Timex colors because they are so close. In the above image the navy/yellow watch uses a quite dark navy, so the dial and even case can appear black in certain lighting. The olive drab or brown case of the watch with orange trim really looks brown as does the dial. I keep seeing it listed as green, but it closer to brown. It could appear as a black dial at first glance. The TW4B0880WSB in the lead photo appears to have the same case color but a slightly darker/greyer dial? So none of the dials I have yet are really black.

Archive Straps

A big part of the Archive watches, from whichever line, is the strap. To go with the Mix concept, of being able to pick your strap at boutiques, the Archive straps came in lots of styles and colors and materials in 18mm and 20mm. Most of the Italian woven straps from these projects are just great and I wish Timex would keep producing them. There were leather ones, too, and lots of Metropolis watches came on reversible straps. I have purchased two watch-only Archive Acadias online from a shop in England, that came with no strap, or the Archive box. They were intended for a Mix purchase or the strap and box were used elsewhere. Over the years I guess the straps moved and the watches didn’t? So far I’ve worn them on inexpensive single-pass NATO-style stripes. I have seen the Timex images of the Brown/Orange Acadia on orange, striped or olive labeled grossgrain straps, too. So it may have been sold also as a single watch strap combo with a specific model number, for each? Sometimes they came with two straps. Another example of the difficulty in sorting out Timex releases!

Having said all that about the woven straps, some Acadias came with unique labeled or printed straps. These graphic devices try to evoke the feel of government issue or military nomenclature markings on equipment or crates. They were also used with some Archive Camper/MK1 styles. Maybe they also give more substance to lightweight watches and straps? I think they are great. As I have said in earlier posts, Timex watches can seem almost like 2-dimensional graphics or 2-D pulled into 3-D like a Swatch. The strap is part of the whole feel and visually, sometimes the watch doesn’t work as well on a replacement strap.

These two above Archive Acadia Metropolis (that’s a mouthful) woven straps, one black, one olive, are a refreshing break from the standard nylon strap and sport the sewn-on tags. 18-54 as nomenclature is a fun way of injecting the date 1854, when Timex was founded.

Besides the printing underneath, the yellow strap of the TW2R83800WSB has navy blue coated hardware. Together with that there is an interesting weave in the two-layer NATO style strap. This yellow/navy combination reminds me of the yellow/navy colors of the Nigel Cabourn xTimex Survival watch collaboration. The olive green grossgrain single-pass strap of the TW4B0880WSB has the one wide grossgrain keeper a la RAF/military style and a slider tang buckle, which you don’t see often on Archive straps.

I’m not a velcro strap lover myself, but from a collector perspective, its interesting. This TW2T15300 watch is the same as the TW2T15000LG but with a different strap.

An unusual second strap came with my 2018 Euro TW2U47700LG; its a war grey single-pass with single fabric keeper. It has no F3 printing. I love the color. Its an interesting cotton/poly, I think, and simpler if you are tired of the NATO style. Its rather thin, but streamlines the wearing experience and is more low-key. I have never seen a strap like this an any Archive Timex?

Variety

Over the last few years or more I have been trying to catalog these Archive Acadias to determine how many different styles were released. Certainly there are several looks available to match various tastes. At this point I have about fifteen or so model numbers among the Archive/Metropolis Acadias. As usual, the problem is I seem to find multiple model numbers for the same watch? I don’t know if the differences are strap indications or regional market indications?

Because I don’t have a handle on all the styles, I have loosely divided them into three groups that make sense to me: Military, Neutral, and High Viz. There are some Acadias with green, brown, khaki and black with the grossgrain and nomenclature type straps that have a definite military feel. Then there are the styles with more colors popping out like yellow, orange, blue and red that come on bright straps. Or the black/white ones. These become a more versatile look and can be more fashion casual especially if you introduce your own straps. Last here are the High Viz Metropolis styles with various tints to the glass and striped straps. These are more edgy or daring and farthest away from the military look.

Even though I have divided them into three groups, they all have the same basic field watch looking dial, so they can’t shake the field/tool/pilot look completely. This means the Neutral ones can go more towards military with a khaki or black strap. Even the Metropolis styles retain a dark military or tool vibe. So, overall the look is casual,not dressy or serious.

I’ll wrap up with some stock Timex images in marketing materials from the Archive era.

This yellow lens over the white type on dark dial is intriguing. I need to find one of those…