A lot of the USA has plunged right into a veritable Polar Vortex, with 1000’s finishing up their doubtlessly hazardous commutes to work and turning their heaters on excessive. Having simply returned from shoveling 6 inches of snow off my driveway, I’ve turn into envious of some who’ve skilled increased than common snowfall, and are capable of take pleasure in winter actions like sledding down the native hill or having snowball fights or hitting the slopes to ski or snowboard. With this, I felt there’s no higher time to look again on the Timex Skiathlom (sure, not Skiathlon), one of many model’s most formidable fashions to this point. A watch designed for skiers with all the brilliant and daring aesthetics of late 80s and early 90s design, it’s turn into a cult traditional amongst collectors’ circles and a chunk worthy of extra consideration. Right here, I’ll present some background on the Skiathlom’s historical past, element what makes the watch such a singular piece of horology, and provide some ideas for buying one if including this bodacious retro oddity to your assortment appears proper up your alley.
Launch, Design, and Specs
The Skiathlom trademark was registered by Timex on March 5th, 1986––and finally cancelled on March 29th, 1993––whereas the earliest commercial for the watch was printed in 1987. The Skiathlom was typically featured alongside different sporting-focused watches the corporate produced throughout this period such because the Victory, Hooks/Blazer, Tri-Prix, and Wave Rider fashions. These items had been offered in sporting items shops somewhat than the standard jewellery and shops, usually packaged inside massive plastic or cardboard packing containers containing manuals and extra bands. Whereas the opposite fashions on this collection are additionally fairly fascinating amongst collectors, the Skiathlom is by far essentially the most wanted.
Whereas its rarity undoubtedly contributes to its worth in the marketplace, I really feel its design is what takes middle stage. Although its colours aren’t fluorescent just like the neon featured prominently on skiwear of the period, the mix of brilliant white, pink, and blue is sort of equally as hanging. The case measures 45mm throughout and 36mm lug-to-lug, barring the fastened metallic shackles that bump its vertical dimensions to a staggering 57mm when totally prolonged. It ought to be famous that these measurements are exhausting to rationalize when studying them on paper and are much more conservative when really worn, particularly the shackles that are hinged and relaxation on the wrist when totally secured. It’s surprisingly solely 9mm thick and virtually weightless when placed on a normal strap. Its rectangular hexagonal form provides the watch a singular profile but additionally permits customers to simply press the massive round buttons on its face with cumbersome winter gloves. The 2-tier LCD show exhibits the time, date, and day of week when in its essential timekeeping mode. Different capabilities on provide are a timer, chronograph, alarm, thermometer, and––albeit faint by right now’s requirements like most older digitals––backlight.
The elastic strap is such a deal with. Its extremely lengthy size permits the proprietor to put on the watch atop their puffy snowboarding jacket to make sure quick access for timing functions. I’m unable to make it sufficiently small to put on with out a jacket beneath sadly, however this can be a person error judging by pictures posted on-line of different homeowners carrying theirs on this strap. Included within the unique bundle for these was a rubber two-piece band and both this NATO-esque strap or a buckle strap, the latter being the rarest variant.
Market Availability and Shopping for Suggestions
The Skiathlom may be fairly a tough piece to nail down, however not as elusive as among the different fashions inside the sporting assortment talked about beforehand. Just lately offered examples have gone for wherever between $175-$300 relying on situation, the inclusion of an unique band, and any packaging or manuals included. Should you stay in a hotter local weather, snowboarding isn’t your factor, otherwise you desire water sports activities over winter sports activities, I recommend trying into the Wave Rider and Ok-28 Chill Issue fashions. Each marketed in direction of surfers, the watches sport an nearly an identical case form however with completely different colorways and no thermometer. These are much more uncommon based on the analysis I performed, however examples exist in case you look exhausting or wait lengthy sufficient.
If the bigger elastic band is of curiosity, pay shut consideration to its situation to make sure there aren’t any stains or unremovable put on on the fabric. Apart from the patriotic colorway seen right here, there exists one other variant of the Skiathlom with gentle blue and purple options that seemingly pops up extra typically. The excellent news is that the interior shackle width on each fashions is 24mm and can settle for primary NATO straps in a pinch, although I ought to warn you that the shackles might shift extra regularly with out the additional, thicker materials of the unique strap.
Due to the Skiathlom’s rarity, components are additionally exhausting to come back by. Only a few examples are listed for components or restore, so plainly these actions have fortunately withstood years of wear and tear and tear somewhat properly. As with all classic digital watches, I at all times advocate paying shut consideration to the LCD display screen to verify there isn’t any vital harm or liquid that has begun seeping into the show. These fashions settle for a standard CR2016 battery and solely require a small screwdriver to alter, so taking a threat on an “untested” instance may lead to a superb deal.
Conclusion
This watch will definitely not be for everybody. The colourful shade scheme will in all probability not work with an Armani swimsuit or pair properly with a candlelit dinner, and the comparatively lofty price ticket because of its rarity might deter some from searching down an instance of their very own. If yow will discover one for the fitting value although––no matter what kind of watch collector you’re or the gathering you’ve cultivated––I can’t advocate getting a Skiathlom sufficient. There are occasions I really feel slowed down within the conservative, elegant styling of my gown watches and the utilitarian nature of my divers. Proudly owning a number of watches that exist solely as enjoyable weekend items that sometimes see wrist time is completely justifiable and, in my view, important in having a well-rounded assortment. Although you received’t be catching me hitting the slopes anytime quickly, I assure the gnarly Skiathlom might be on my wrist as I shovel the following completely radical six inches of snow arriving later right now.
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