Timex is bringing back the SSQ, the brand’s first LCD digital watch from 1975, as a Digital Reissue that mirrors the original’s stripped-down, early-quartz-era look. The piece is built around a stainless steel case with brushed and polished surfaces, a blue acrylic dial mask carrying SSQ and Timex branding, an always-on LCD, a date readout, a 60-second counter, and two pusher buttons on the bezel flank instead of a traditional crown. For how Timex positions heritage versus everyday digital today, see our Timex field guide.
Why the SSQ mattered in 1975
The 1970s were the decade when quartz and digital readouts rewired what a wristwatch could look like: fewer gears in view, more segmented numerals and button logic. The original SSQ arrived in that window as Timex’s first LCD digital — a statement about mass-market futurism rather than Swiss salon craft. Reissues like this one trade on the same nostalgia engine that powers the Q line and compact digital bricks, but the SSQ skews earlier and more minimal: less gadget sprawl, more steel-and-glass slab.
Expect the usual reissue caveats: module behavior, backlight (if any), and water resistance should be verified on the official spec PDF for your territory once Timex publishes it- regional sheets sometimes diverge.
Design, display, and controls
The hardware tracks the 1975 silhouette: a blue acrylic mask frames the LCD, with SSQ and Timex signatures visible on the mask rather than hidden in software chrome. The display is always on (no full black mirror idle state like some modern OLED wearables), with a date function and a 60-second counter in the vintage digital vocabulary.
Instead of a winding crown, the reissue uses two pushers mounted on the bezel area for time and mode adjustments a layout that reads authentically mid-seventies and keeps the case flanks clean. Until Timex publishes a full manual, assume short press / long press conventions typical of LCD digitals and read the shipped leaflet before forcing stems or seals.
Case, bracelet, and fit
Figures published for the reissue run to about 38 mm diameter with 13 mm thickness and 19 mm lugs — a compact footprint by modern sports-watch standards, closer to retro dress-digital proportions. The bracelet is stainless steel to match the case, with mixed brushed and polished finishing.
19 mm is an unusual lug width; if you plan on third-party straps, budget time to hunt the right taper or accept that the factory bracelet is the path of least resistance.
Japan launch, price, and global rollout
For Japan, Timex lined up the SSQ Digital Reissue on its domestic storefront for 17 October 2025 at ¥28,600 JPY, with wider regional availability expected to follow — still without a single fixed worldwide street date in the first announcement wave.
Currency: converting JPY to USD moves daily; use a live rate on the day you budget. Taxes, duties, and shipping can separate Japanese list from what you pay elsewhere.
Where to watch next: official Timex Japan and Timex US / global product indexes, and your local Timex site if the brand stages a staggered rollout.
Who it is for
Collectors who chase first-generation LCD history without hunting fragile vintage examples. People who already wear a T80 or Q but want something quieter on the wrist and more 1970s office-machine than 1980s arcade. Anyone who treats 38 mm as the upper edge of small-watch taste.
Skip it if you need smartwatch notifications, GPS, or sapphire-heavy spec flex — this SKU is positioned as a heritage digital, not a sensor platform.
FAQ
What is the Timex SSQ Digital Reissue?
A modern reissue of the SSQ, Timex’s first LCD digital watch from 1975, with updated manufacturing and a look aimed at matching the original’s minimal LCD layout.
What are the reported case dimensions?
Timex’s published figures for the reissue cite about 38 mm diameter, 13 mm thickness, and 19 mm lug width, with a matching stainless steel bracelet.
Does it have a crown?
A traditional crown is not used; two pusher buttons on the side of the bezel handle adjustments, in line with the original’s control scheme.
When and where did it launch first?
The first wave was Japan, dated 17 October 2025 on Timex Japan at ¥28,600, with other regions expected afterward — confirm live status on timex.jp and your local Timex site before you buy.
Is the yen price the same as US retail?
No guarantee. Japanese list is a regional data point; US or EU pricing may differ once SKUs go live. Use official regional listings rather than a straight currency conversion when budgeting.
