Introducing the Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic, a Design-Forward Standout from Timex

We tend to think of Timex as a brand that is uniquely American, and indeed they have a long history here, and have released an impressive series of watches over the last few years that make explicit references to American popular culture and this country’s history with watchmaking. Watch design at Timex, however, is headquartered in Italy, and run by Giorgio Galli, a designer who has worked with a number of brands over the years, but whose Giorgio Galli Design Lab was bought by Timex 10 years ago, creating a tight relationship with the ubiquitous American brand. Now, for the first time, Galli has put his name on a watch for Timex, and it’s quite unlike anything the brand has released recently, and underscores the versatility and skill Galli possesses as a designer.

Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic 

• Case Material: Stainless steel 
• Dial: Silver  
• Dimensions: 41mm
• Crystal: K1 Mineral Glass
• Water Resistance: 50 meters   
• Crown: Push/pull   
• Movement: Miyota 9039
• Strap/bracelet: Rubber 
• Price: $450
• Reference Number: n/a
• Expected Release: Available now 

The Giorgio Galli S1 Automatic is a simple three hander with some really rewarding details, if you go looking for them. At first glance, the watch has a classic look that doesn’t seem at all out of place in the Timex catalog — this could easily be a companion piece to the vintage inspired Marlin. Looking at the case from the profile view, however, reveals something altogether different, and much more modern in tone. The midcase has been skeletonized and injection molded, creating geometry on the case band that is far outside the norm for watches in this price point. The curve of the case when viewed from the side is quite dramatic — it should comfortably wrap around almost any wrist. The whole package is also exceedingly well finished, with a mix of polished and brushed treatments, with transitions that again make you do a double take at the $450 asking price.

The S1 uses a Miyota 9039 automatic movement, visible through a display case back, with a custom rotor design. The dial, as can be seen in photos, has a subtle silver sunburst effect, with thin applied hour markers around the perimeter. You’ll also notice a single synthetic ruby near the center of the dial, which is Galli’s way of alluding to the mechanical work directly underneath. It’s a minimal and spare look, but there’s lots of cohesion here between dial and case that I think is interesting, and it’s not at all boring visually in spite of what, on paper, is a relatively simple arrangement.

For Timex fans, and enthusiasts on a budget who are looking for something that’s design forward and quite unique, the S1 has a lot to offer. Galli’s goal here was to thread the needle between the classical style of watch design that Timex is known for and a more avant-garde style that has seen plenty of growth in higher end horology, and that is obviously appealing to a designer like Galli. According to Timex, the S1 represents the first in a series of watches that Galli will lend his name to, so it will be interesting to see what comes out of this collection in the future. Timex