Tea Timex Ironman Triathlon watch comes to mind for many when considering the purchase of a sports watch. Understandably, the triathlon model has been associated with sports since its inception in 1984.

The connection was cemented in 1986 when Timex became involved in the famous Ironman Triathlon sporting event. Timex very cleverly aligned itself with the nascent Ironman triathlon race in a coup by what turned out in hindsight to be a marketing genius.

The original Timex Triathlon watch name was replaced with the Timex Ironman Triathlon watch name, the water resistance was increased to 100 meters, some cosmetic changes were made along with the trademark name, and a new icon in watches was born.

Urban legend has it that when the original watches were brought to the first Ironman race to test the market, the watches literally ran away (excuse the pun). Every incoming triathlon wanted one of the originals, which created a shortage, which in turn fueled demand and hype. It was in those early days that the Timex Ironman Watch slogan “it licks, but it still works” was coined and the famous partnership between the Ironman Triathlon and Timex as title sponsor was born.

Since then, Timex has developed a series of Ironman triathlon watches ranging from fairly basic models with limited sport features to high-end, high-tech GPS and data link watches to meet the ever-increasing demands of the triathlon world. The basic Ironman triathlon watch still includes time, stopwatch (stopwatch), timer, event alarm, and three other alarms. More sophisticated models have GPS, lap timing, iPod interface, and the ability to upload and download data to and from your computer (data link)/

The first of the Ironman watches was worn by military and police personnel, as the watch was considered bulletproof and had a rugged look. That’s something the Timex Ironman and Rolex have in common (perhaps the only thing other than they both keep time), as Rolex watches were first distributed during World War I to enlisted men in the trenches.

In the early years, the “Ironman triathlon watch” was a men’s watch. Due to popular demand, a women’s version that was smaller and also suitable for teenagers became available in late 1984. These early Ironman watches have become collectible and a quick search on eBay or collector sites gives a good indication the prices they get.

The Ironman Triathlon watch didn’t change until the early 1990s when Indiglo was launched. This again proved to be a very successful marketing move that was quickly emulated by competitors. Indiglo’s electroluminescence was recorded by Timex.

Indiglo illuminated the entire watch face with a brilliant glow and dramatic colors, which was a vast improvement over previous glow-in-the-dark watch technology, where you could only see the tips of the watch hands and the numbers in the dark. INDIGLO technology also used less battery power than other backlit watches and was an immediate hit with consumers.

Later, when fashion changed, Timex made Indiglo more subtle with fewer flower colors. Indiglo remains a popular feature of Timex watches, particularly in the Ironman Triathlon range and Timex heart rate monitor models. The brightness of the watch face is a great advantage for athletes who train or play sports after dark.

The next big change in the Ironman triathlon watch range was the introduction of the data link and body link, which took the series to a new level of innovation.

The Timex name has often been associated with famous people and historical occasions. Timex watches look classless and are not subject to the status symbol positioning of more expensive watch brands. Timexes are often seen to be worn by the rich and famous and an often cited example is President Clinton who wore a favorite Timex. ironman triathlon watch during its opening (which he later donated to the Smithsonian museum). However, it is also true that President Clinton owned and wore a range of very expensive and elite watches during his tenure as President. Like Panerai.

The Timex Ironman Triathlon Datalink model 78401 adorned the arm of astronaut Daniel T. Barry on the space shuttle STS-72 Endeavour. Even George W. was known for wearing the durable, PR-friendly Timex during his time in office when occasion permitted. In another incident that made headlines, his Timex was mysteriously stolen from his wrist while he was in Albania.

A Timex Ironman Triathlon watch or any of the Data Link or 1440 series of watches are tough, durable watches with the respected Timex name behind them.

In recent years, other watch companies have given Timex stiff competition, however, Timex is a household name and is synonymous with good old-fashioned service and quality. Timex originally partnered with Walt Disney to produce the Mickey Mouse watch in 1933 and with their continued innovation and marketing wizardry, it’s hard to foresee that they’ll lose their reputation as the most trusted, reliable and affordable timepiece any time soon.