In a notable convergence of heritage watchmaking, contemporary cultural commentary, and vintage curation, a new and compelling timepiece has emerged. The Timex Intrepid x Dimepiece Edition represents a thoughtfully constructed partnership, bringing together the accessible manufacturing prowess of Timex, the modern perspective of Dimepiece founder Brynn Wallner, and the archival expertise of vintage specialist Alan Bedwell of Foundwell. This collaboration delves into the aesthetic sensibilities of the 1990s, specifically channeling a preppy, confident style, and reinterprets it for a new generation of watch enthusiasts. The result is a watch that draws from a specific point in history but is filtered through a modern, inclusive lens.
The foundation of this special edition is the Timex Intrepid, a model that first appeared in 1995. By choosing this specific reference, the collaborators anchor the project in an era known for its distinct blend of casual sportiness and clean design. The 90s were a period of transition, and its fashion reflected a move towards more relaxed silhouettes and bold, yet uncomplicated, graphics. This collaboration aims to capture that spirit, not by simply recreating a vintage piece, but by thoughtfully updating it with new details, materials, and a revised philosophy on who the watch is for.
Courtesy of Timex
A significant force behind this project is Timex, a brand with an extensive and deeply American history. Founded in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company, Timex revolutionized the watch industry by making reliable timepieces affordable for the masses. Their famous slogan, "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking," became a cultural touchstone, cementing the brand's reputation for durability and practicality. This legacy of creating dependable, no-nonsense watches provides the perfect canvas for a collaboration that values both function and approachable style.
Adding a critical modern voice to the mix is Brynn Wallner, the founder of Dimepiece. Launched as an online platform and social media presence, Dimepiece carved out a unique and necessary space in the often traditional and male-dominated world of horology. Wallner’s approach focuses on making watches less intimidating and more accessible, particularly for women, by discussing them through the lens of style, pop culture, and personal expression. Her involvement ensures the new Intrepid is not just a throwback, but a piece that speaks to current conversations about inclusivity and personal style in the watch community.
The third pillar of this creative triumvirate is Alan Bedwell of Foundwell, a vintage curator. The role of a curator in a project like this is crucial. Bedwell’s expertise in sourcing and understanding vintage pieces provides the historical context and authenticity needed to properly execute a 90s-inspired design. His input helps ensure that the final product respects its roots while still feeling fresh, guiding the selection of key design elements that authentically evoke the intended era without becoming a caricature of it.
The most immediate and impactful design decision made for the Timex Intrepid x Dimepiece Edition is its case size. The collaborators chose a 36mm diameter, a significant reduction from many contemporary sports watches. This sizing is a deliberate move towards a more gender-neutral profile. As noted by Wallner, the goal was to create a watch that could be shared and worn comfortably by anyone, regardless of wrist size or gender. This reflects a broader trend in the industry away from rigidly defined "men's" and "women's" sizes and towards a more fluid, personal-preference-based approach.
Courtesy of Timex
The case itself is crafted from stainless steel, selected for its well-known properties of strength and resistance to corrosion and tarnish. This choice ensures the watch is built for everyday life, maintaining its appearance through regular wear. The finish on the case is a fine brushing, which gives the metal a soft, matte look that minimizes reflections and hides minor scratches more effectively than a polished surface. This subdued finish complements the watch's tool-watch-inspired features and contributes to its overall utilitarian-chic aesthetic. With a case height of just 10mm, it maintains a slim profile that allows it to slide easily under a cuff, enhancing its daily wearability.
A closer inspection of the case reveals several unique details. The crown, used for setting the time, is unconventionally positioned at the 4 o’clock mark. This is a subtle but distinct design choice that offers an ergonomic benefit, preventing the crown from digging into the back of the wearer's hand during wrist flexion. It also gives the watch a slightly asymmetric and more dynamic visual appeal. This thoughtful placement is a nod to certain classic dive watches and reinforces the technical, purpose-driven feel of the design.
The dial of the watch is where the "crisp, confident take on ‘90s prep" truly comes to life. A rich cream-colored base provides a warm, vintage-inspired backdrop. This is contrasted sharply by the black minute track and the black rotating bezel, creating a look of clean, high legibility. The hour markers are a key point of interest; instead of simple printed indices, they are applied circular markers filled with a vibrant purple hue. This pop of color is a signature touch from Brynn Wallner, injecting a playful and modern personality into the otherwise classic color scheme.
The hands continue this theme of function-forward design with a twist. The hour and minute hands are skeletonized, featuring a design that is open in the middle and outlined in black. This style enhances readability by allowing the dial color to show through, preventing the hands from obscuring the dial markers or other hands. The seconds hand is a simple, slender needle, rendered entirely in the same punchy purple as the hour markers. This consistent use of color creates a cohesive and deliberate design language that ties the entire dial together.
Courtesy of Timex
One of the most defining features of this timepiece is the inclusion of Timex’s proprietary INDIGLO® backlight technology. Developed and introduced by Timex in the early 1990s, INDIGLO® revolutionized low-light visibility for watches by illuminating the entire dial with a cool, blue-green light at the press of a button. For this edition, the feature is activated by a dedicated pusher located on the case side at the 9 o’clock position. In a brilliant design move, this pusher is made in Wallner's signature purple, making it both a functional component and a primary design accent.
Surrounding the dial is a unidirectional rotating top ring, or bezel. This feature is a hallmark of dive-inspired watches, originally used to track elapsed time underwater. On the Intrepid x Dimepiece, it serves as a practical tool for timing everyday events, from a coffee break to a parking meter. The bezel insert is black with silver-tone markings, featuring numerals at the 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50-minute positions, with a prominent triangle at the 60-minute mark. Its functionality adds a layer of technical capability that grounds the watch in the world of practical tool watches.
Powering the Timex Intrepid x Dimepiece is a quartz analog movement. This type of movement is battery-powered, utilizing a quartz crystal that oscillates at a precise frequency to ensure remarkable accuracy, often to within a few seconds per month. For a watch designed to be a reliable and easy-to-use daily companion, a quartz movement is an ideal choice. It eliminates the need for daily winding associated with manual movements and the periodic servicing required by automatics. The specific battery used is a CR1216, which is readily available and easy to replace when the time comes.
Protecting the dial is a crystal made from hardened mineral glass. Mineral glass, created from silica, is heat-treated to increase its hardness and resistance to scratches and impacts. While not as scratch-proof as sapphire, mineral crystal offers excellent durability for everyday wear and tear and provides a high degree of clarity for an unobstructed view of the dial. It represents a practical balance of performance and cost, perfectly in line with the Timex philosophy.
Courtesy of Timex
The watch is secured to the wrist by a bold, black synthetic rubber strap. This material choice enhances the sporty, functional character of the timepiece. The strap is lightweight, flexible, and comfortable for all-day wear, and it is completely waterproof, making it a perfect match for the watch's water resistance rating. What truly sets this strap apart is the prominent branding. "TIMEX" is printed in large, white block letters on the lower half of the strap, while "INDIGLO" appears on the upper half. This unapologetically bold branding is a direct callback to the logomania trend of the 1990s, perfectly capturing the era's spirit. The strap has a lug width of 18mm and is fastened with a traditional stainless steel buckle.
Further bolstering its practical credentials is a water resistance rating of 100 meters making the watch suitable for a wide range of water-based activities, including swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. It provides peace of mind for the wearer, ensuring the watch can handle unexpected downpours or a spontaneous dip in the pool. It is important to note, however, that to maintain this water resistance, the crown and INDIGLO® pusher should not be operated while the watch is submerged.
The sum of these parts is a watch that successfully navigates the line between homage and modernity. The 36mm case, the 4 o’clock crown, and the rotating bezel speak to a history of functional watch design. The cream dial, bold strap branding, and the specific choice of the Intrepid model firmly root its inspiration in the 1990s. The pops of purple, the inclusive sizing, and the very nature of the collaboration with a modern voice like Dimepiece make it feel perfectly suited for today.
It's a piece designed for a wide audience. For someone buying their first serious watch, it offers a rich story, reliable technology from a trusted brand, and a versatile design that can be dressed up or down. For the seasoned collector, it represents a fun, well-executed collaboration that captures a specific cultural moment without taking itself too seriously. It’s a watch that invites conversation, not because of a high price tag or mechanical complexity, but because of its clever design and the story it tells.
Courtesy of Timex
The collaboration between Timex, Dimepiece, and Foundwell is a testament to the idea that great design can come from the intersection of different perspectives. It blends the industrial-scale reliability of a legacy brand with the sharp, culturally-aware eye of a modern tastemaker and the historical knowledge of a vintage expert. The resulting timepiece feels both familiar and new, a calculated blend of nostalgia and forward-thinking inclusivity.
The Timex Intrepid x Dimepiece Edition, with product ID TW2Y48000, is positioned as an accessible entry into the world of collaboration watches. The watch is available for a regular price of $239.00. This price point aligns with Timex's mission of providing value and makes the thoughtfully designed piece available to a broad spectrum of consumers, from those just beginning their watch journey to established enthusiasts looking for a unique and stylish addition to their collection.
Case: Stainless Steel, 36mm diameter, 10mm height, brushed finish. Mineral crystal, water resistant to 100 meters. Features a rotating top ring, crown at 4 o'clock, and INDIGLO® pusher at 9 o'clock.
Movement: Quartz Analog movement powered by a CR1216 battery.
Dial: Cream color with full markers. Features purple hour markers, a purple seconds hand, and Timex INDIGLO® backlight technology for night visibility.
Strap: Black synthetic rubber strap with a buckle. 18mm lug width. Features bold white "TIMEX INDIGLO" branding.
Price: $239.00
Reference Number: TW2Y48000
Notes: A collaboration between Timex, Dimepiece founder Brynn Wallner, and vintage curator Alan Bedwell of Foundwell. The design reimagines the 1995 Timex Intrepid and features Brynn Wallner's signature pop of purple on the dial accents and pusher.