Timex M79(s)

When a 38mm Q Reissue is not enough

I couldn’t resist. Writing my last post got me thinking more about the 2019 Q reissue and its follow-on releases. Wow, what a lot to talk about! Starting in 2019, with pre-Covid fanfare, Timex began on a long journey of 38mm Q quartz releases in God-knows-how many colors an finishes as well as the 2020 40mm auto M79s and follow-ons, many collaborations and even a 36mm quartz women’s line. I don’t have the courage right now to tackle the quartz releases, but, I just need to talk about the Timex, eBay, and the M79. This is not another basic review of the M79.

Being the passionate Timex collector that I am, I have purposely stayed away from collecting the “38mm Q quartz reissue” style(diver dial) as heavily as I could. I do have several, but do not want to expand into the endless variants available at this time. I like the watches very much but just don’t feel the need to try another version. The original TW2T80700 with navy dial and Pepsi bezel insert may be one of the best-looking versions if not the best-looking version? It is now a classic. You can still get it on the Timex site. I went for the white dial TW2U61200 myself.

What to call it

From when the 2019 Q reissue happened all the way up to this day, the so called 38mm “Q” has had a misleading name. Timex claimed it it was a reissue of a 1979 model. There was never a watch like it from the Timex archives. It was a mashup of several watches with a new dial. The “Q” was used on Timex quartz watch dials starting in 1972 until 1988. They just picked 1979 to get a 40 year anniversary in 2019. To confuse things more, Timex has reissued all sorts of “Q”s that have nothing to do with the 2019 “Q”. The other Qs have an additional descriptor in their name, such as Falcon Eye or a year like 1972. I guess watch people know what is meant by Timex Q – the 2019 reissue watch style.

Many people categorize it as a “diver” because of the look of the dial and the bezel, even though it was a 12-hr bezel insert, not a count-down or count-up diver bezel. Timex was careful not to call it a diver at release. Funny, too, I never thought of it as a diver at the time? It is a 50m WR watch. The best thing about it is the battery hatch! Anyway, Timex felt the huge interest and decided to do a 40mm automatic version in 2020 and the M79 was born.

Automatic M79

I had to lead in with the Q for this post to set up the M79. Q is for quartz and that won’t make sense for an auto. There was no automatic in the Timex 1979 lineup that looked like the M79. There were auto Viscounts with bezel, but not this case. Like the Q reissue, the M79 is a compilation of several watches of the period. It is just a beefier Q reissue. I recently picked up my second M79 after thinking and writing about the Q. Here we go again with the choice of name. Being an Army veteran and a military history reader, I naturally thought of the Vietnam era M79 grenade launcher. I think Timex decided to call it a M for mechanical, and keep 79 to go with the first Q reissue theme. It makes sense, and I automatically (no pun intended) know what people are referring to when they use M79.

I think the first M79s were available at the end of 2020? I was not interested at that time to spend the extra money when I was perfectly happy pursuing a quartz Q. I got a preowned M79 in 2022, I think? They are fun watches even though I prefer the 38mm size and thinner profile of the Q. Going from 38mm and 12.5mm thick to 40mm and 14.5mm thick with added weight does change the feel of the watch. The quartz Q has a friction-fit bidirectional bezel a while the M79 has a unidirectional ratchet action bezel. Therein lies one of the fundamental concepts for watch enthusiasts: a quartz watch and a mechanical watch have very different physical and operational effects on the wearer. It is a different relationship.

I thought about this idea earlier in the year when Timex released an automatic 40mm Mk1 several years after having produced a long-running 40mm quartz Mk1 series. It was a completely different watch. The difference here is the M79 was concurrent with the quartz Q, and had very similar looks and bracelet originally. To me the 38mm or 36mm quartz is more a casual fashion watch experience while the 40mm auto is a more involved relationship.

The M79 remains popular with collectors even though the buzz has worn off. There were several color schemes available between 2020 and 2023; The most common is the black dial, white lume markers with black/blue bezel insert known as the Batman. This came out in 2020 along with the all-black bezel, black dial. Next in 2021 there was the Coke re/black, a blue/red Pepsi, of course, a brown/gilt, a green/black and a blue/orange version. This doesn’t cover all the options out there, but you get the drift.

Collaborations have been a part of the M79 story too. Teaming with popular Timex styles has long been a vehicle for brands to create some buzz. Copenhagen-based menswear line NN07 did a toned-down Blue one in 2021. The Hypebeast Fuchsia M79 collab of 2022 is another that stands out.

Old and New M79s

There have been changes to the M79 over the four or five year period. Major components like case, bezel, movement and bracelet have evolved. I have two versions. One is dated 2020, the other 2022. There are significant differences. At this writing in 2025, on the Timex site, there is a current Snoopy/Peanuts version as well as a discounted TW2W47600 champagne-dialed version on black tropical rubber strap. I’m not sure when it was released. Maybe 2023?

2020 Original M79

I wanted to focus on two different models of M79 that show the changes that have been made since 2020. As I mentioned, I first had a 2020 Batman that I got in 2022. Recently I took a risk on an a discounted 2022 Chinese market version M79 I saw on eBay. Some things have changed.

The first M79s, and most thereafter, used the same bracelet as the Q, so the case end 22mm width over the hooded 18mm lugs was the same size as the Q even though the case was wider and longer. Its a cool looking thin bracelet that brings back the early 80s feel. It has a small sliding clasp that is good for adjusting the fit. This bracelet is known as a hair puller and therefore has been replaced by many owners with leather or rubber after market designs by companies like StrapHabit and Vario. Timex even has a rubber M79 strap. The bigger, heavier M79 also makes the original thin bracelet feel even thinner!

I have not yet tried an after market strap on my M79. For as much as I wear mine, the original bracelet is fine. I like the look of it. I would try a replacement as long as it matches the 22mm width of the case.

The original M79s used the Timex expected Miyota 8205. Versions of this movement have been used on many Timex models. Timex does not help by leaving off the movement number on its rotors. Those sold in the US usually have the English/French day wheel. I am not an expert on the 8200 family of movements, but the newer one seems to be a slightly different movement besides having a English/Chinese day wheel.

Mystery Chinese M79

The story goes that I saw the above new M79 at a big discount on eBay Canada. I wasn’t looking for an M79, but the price seemed good? I was not familiar with this model or the latest developments in the M79. I had not seen this particular version of the Coke M79 before. I could see the new bracelet style. I was familiar with the earlier TW2U83400 of 2021 with cream lume and the old style bracelet. This eBay listing had no model number?

This new version has the model number TW2V25100 on the case back. I know that model number as being used on a blue version seen everywhere on the web? The blue version is the only one I have seen for sale. I don’t see the red/black version sold by any of the normal sources one would expect? So, what is this red/black version? Was it a Chinese market version only?

The Case of the Blue Bezel

Ok, the elephant in the room is the blue bezel with a black/red bezel insert. It is off-putting at first glance. It is a discordant, unusual combination since there is no other blue on the watch. One would expect a black treatment here? However, if you consider the model number being the same and the Blue TW2V25100 that also has this blue-coated bezel, a sunburst dial and the same new bracelet, it makes sense. You don’t really notice it on the blue version. Was it intentional? Was it a cost saving measure; using the blue bezel for both versions? Was it a production mistake? Is that why this watch is being sold at a big discount? The only place I have seen these for sale was from a China vendor. They are listed by eBay Trendy Watches out of Shenzhen China. Maybe they were available earlier from other sources? I think they have been around for almost three years.

Mine ended up in Canada and then was resold to me. Did the previous owner not like the blue bezel? Who knows, could be a hundred reasons. It was never worn. I have not see this new Coke version with a black bezel, so I think it was intended? I was prompted to check for a Timex China site to see if this style had a different model number. Being China, no such site exists but I found the time distributor; Timex (Shanghai) Trading Co., LTD., 12F Platinum 233 Tai Cang Road, Huang Pu, Shanghai 200020. But, no web site with models.

So here I am with this red/black and blue 60-click bezel. I’m starting to be ok with the blue bezel. It grows on you. It can be a Coke, a Batman and a Pepsi. Its a nice watch. May favorite thing about it is the grey sunburst dial. The new style bracelet is still a hair puller! It was also used on the Q GMT version, TW2V38000. It is thicker and more like a bracelet most are accustomed to while still keeping some vintage flavor. I had to take out six or seven links to fit, and they did not come out easily. My wrist is about 6.75 in., but the weight of this watch requires a pretty snug fit. I don’t like my bracelets or straps too snug. I usually like a looser fit, but when a watch is bigger it needs to be tighter. Some of the links tend to stick at times instead of smoothly swinging on their pins. I suppose this will loosen up with wear.

The case shape is changed, too, interestingly. The bevel line on the side of the case has been smoothed out. All the corners have been rounded a bit. Overall, the watch is at least 1mm thicker than my older Batman? Its over 15mm thick. I’m not sure why. At first glance the mid case looks deeper than on the older M79. The case back looks deeper too. It is noticeable on the arm; it sits higher. And, if I’m not mistaken, the crystal seems more domed?

As I mentioned earlier, the movement is slightly different looking, but I’m not sure what version of 8200 it is? I find the crown action to be finicky. It does not feel precise or sure pulling out the crown through its positions. My older Batman M79/8205 has a more precise crown action.

Final Thoughts

The M79 can be a fun watch if you are looking for an inexpensive automatic with unique vintage flair. There are enough of them in lots of flavors circulating for you to be able to find a preowned model in good condition for a lower price. Timex seems to have moved on from the M79, so I don’t expect any new versions. It feels like the idea had it’s time and things are starting to get strained.

As for the later TW2V25100, I can’t say it is an improvement over the earlier models. It is a more modern take. The sunburst dial is a nice touch, but I think I still prefer the older, lower-profile style versions with sharper case lines. The new bracelet is a little crude and clunky even though it provides a fresh look. Both are hair pullers, but I’ll stick with the older version with its adjustable catch.

There is always the smaller quartz Q to celebrate! The thinner, light quartz case works better. It is what the M79 was born from. The Q was a more complete concept. There are other vintage inspired Timex autos, too. The M79 got bigger and thicker and was not quite the thing. I still like them for what they are, but they are more of a niche product. I think if the line is to continue, Timex needs a slimmer movement and get it back to 38-39mm.