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There seems to be a clear correlation between watch enthusiasts and cinephiles. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Seiko H558-5009 (mentioned in one of my previous articles) to Marlon Brando’s bezel-less Rolex GMT Master 1675, watches and their film counterparts have been the focus of discussion in the watch collector space for years. While an Arnie will cost you around $500 and 1675s over $10k, pieces of film history can be obtained by hobbyists of all tax brackets. However, even the several hundred-dollar price for a girthy Seiko diver may still be out of the price range for many collectors who find the allure of Hollywood memorabilia sitting in their watch case to be intriguing.
Enter the Timex Camper. In the opening sequence of Ethan and Joel Coen’s 2007 masterpiece film No Country for Old Men, protagonist Llewelyn Moss (played by Josh Brolin) tracks game animals across the West Texas plains. He bends down on one knee, takes his watch out, and holds it to the sun––attempting to use the shadows of the handset on the dial to track his direction. The audience fortunately gets a few frames of the watch on screen. What’s shown is a Timex Camper, dark green, with a matching fabric strap. It’s rather small in the shot, but us collectors will take whatever wristwatch screen time we can get. The Camper’s aesthetics obviously differentiate it from the aforementioned Arnie and 1675, but its most important trait for us is its price. For well under $100––commonly listed for under $50––it’s the perfect, affordable piece for any film and wristwatch buff’s collection.
Design and Variants
These Timex Camper models from an aesthetics point of view are virtually timeless. The 34mm case may be considered relatively small for some, but with the current trend in popularity for smaller watches, the Camper’s conservative dimensions are certainly in vogue. The colors and finishes on the dial, case, and accompanying band work well together––blending semi-polished, gloss, and matte textures all into one, tri-green package. The dial features Arabic numerals with twelve- and twenty-four-hour tracks alongside a “Timex Quartz” wordmark and the blue wave logo denoting the watch’s water resistance. The stick handset features a high-polished steel finish with light green lume and sports a lollipop central seconds hand, providing great legibility from any distance. The olive-colored strap is similar to perlon material but feels less rigid and sharp. The band’s base metal buckle is stamped “Hong Kong” on the rear side of the middle tong. Overall, the watch has a simplistic, utilitarian aesthetic that fits practically any sort of sporting or casual setting.
Regarding any official documentation or advertisements for this Camper, there exists little to no accessible information besides an assortment of blog posts, auction results, owner pictures, and social media posts. It can be assumed the watch was released in the mid-1980’s because of the slanted Timex font and blue wave logo––characteristics which found their way onto Timex pieces beginning in this era. Its predecessor features most of the design characteristics featured on the quartz variant but sports a mechanical, manually wound movement. It seems the mechanical model was made from the 1960s to the 1980s, but once again, very little official documentation exists. The earlier variant was made famous by Richard Dean Anderson in the iconic MacGyver television series, so if you want a two-for-one Hollywood opportunity, pick up both variants.
Market Availability and Buying Tips
If the Camper’s aesthetics and silver screen stardom have you at all enticed, the price will surely be the pièce de résistance. While these models are readily available on auction sites for under $100 with a quick “Vintage Military Timex Camper” search, with some patience and alternate search terms, they can be found for $50 or less. Timex’s general lack of quick, punchy model names throughout their 20th century catalogue makes it difficult to find several of their older models easily––the NCFOM Camper certainly falls into this category.
When purchasing one for yourself, consider overall condition and the inclusion of the Camper’s original nylon strap. If you’re looking for a beater or all-purpose watch, cheaper examples can be found in worse cosmetic shape with scratches and general wear. Having the original band was a necessity for me personally but may not be a requirement for you. Thankfully, the model’s 18mm lug width makes the piece incredibly versatile, as does the dark green colorway.
Attempting to find parts for these basic quartz movements may prove difficult to near impossible, so purchasing donor movements from operational examples will most likely be your best bet. Besides battery acid leakage and old, dirtied oil, Timex quartz movements from the 80s to 2000’s tend to be relatively resilient. At some point during this model’s production, Timex swapped the movement from one utilizing a 395 battery to one requiring a CR2016. I’m unsure if the movements have interchangeable parts between them, so keep this in mind when searching for any replacement examples. Regarding any sort of period in which these models were produced, it appears they were made into at least the 1990s, as some case backs have “www.timex.com” engraved on them. This may also have a connection to the 395 to CR2016 movement change, but I know little of button cell battery history.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a rugged, simplistic, military-styled beater watch or a piece of Hollywood memorabilia in the form of a wearable accessory, these Timex Campers should definitely be on your radar and in your saved searches. Though it may not have any flashy features or vibrant colors, its versatility and Hollywood history are what make it a perfect, affordable addition to any collection. The next time you find yourself in the purgatory known as “small talk,” this Timex Camper––with the aid of a screenshot or clip found on YouTube––could easily buy you a couple minutes of conversation no matter the other person’s interest in wristwatches. Though it may not make you a soldier of fortune that fights a savage extraterrestrial creature, or an AWOL Special Forces Agent residing in the jungles of Vietnam, this Timex Camper could certainly be a fitting companion the next time you find yourself evading a psychotic killer with a captive bolt gun, a lucky 1958 quarter, and a pretty terrible bowl cut.
