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If you’ve read any of my work, you’ll know I’ve always had a fascination for 1980s and 90s watch design. It’s a period often overlooked within the collecting community, and through my writing and research, I hope to bring some much-needed attention to it. A few months ago, I wrote an article about the Timex Skiathlom that seemed to interest many of our readers. Another fun piece Timex produced during this same era was the Triprix. Though not as flashy as the Skiathlom, several notable aspects of its design set it apart from your typical digital watch. It’s fun, it’s mighty functional, and it’s as close to owning a Seiko Giugiaro for under $100 as you can get––what’s there not to love?
The Triprix’s History and Design
According to information gathered through various forums, advertisements, and websites, the Triprix was released in the late 1980s and continued production throughout the early 1990s. The model came out during a period where Timex set their eyes on producing timepieces aimed at sporting and leisure activities like skiing, surfing, fishing, sailing, and running. The central idea was for these timepieces to feature an array of functions that would assist the owner in their leisurely endeavors. According to a 1990 catalog, all variants of the Triprix sold for $40, the equivalent of roughly $100 by today’s standards.
Moving to its design overall, the most noticeable aspect is its slanted digital display. Reminiscent of Seiko’s A828 Digital Speedmaster designed by acclaimed automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, this tilted screen layout is both visually interesting and practical. Implemented to make quick glances at the watch hypothetically easier and more convenient while driving, holding a baton, steering a jet ski, or simply running, utilizing the slanted display allows the wearer to rotate their wrist less than typically needed. The Triprix’s split-segment LCD screen itself is impressive and seems to be high quality with sharp characters and rich contrast. Besides the screen, the rest of the dial/bezel contains the Triprix and Timex logos, button function labels, and water resistance symbol with matching 50m depth rating.
The tilted display not only offers easy reading, but it gives plenty of room to include the sizable front-facing buttons. Both the pink and black buttons work to start, stop, split, and reset the module’s chronograph functionality. Their placement allows for easier use of the chronograph when engaged in physical activities, especially when any sort of gloves are involved. Other features include an alarm, countdown timer, 8-lap memory/recall, and a rather dim backlight. With a case diameter of 36.5mm, thickness of 8.5mm, and 19mm lug width, its sizing will suit practically any wrist. It’s a rather simple watch operationally speaking, but between its unique screen layout and slew of color options, the Triprix offers its functionality in style.
Variants and Buying Guide
As I’ve mentioned a couple times already, the Triprix came in a variety of variants sporting an assortment of colors and bands. The model highlighted here features a purple, pink, and blue color scheme with a matching polypropylene fabric strap. Other Triprix variants came in combinations incorporating these colors, red, green, and yellow, though the main difference came by way of the strap’s color, not the watch itself. Besides the quirky tilted display, another marketable aspect of the Triprix was its Shooter Buckle, a trademarked closure system created by Timex. The buckle offered quick resizing capabilities and enhanced durability when put through harsher endeavors. The Triprix was also offered with a resin two-piece band on only a few variants, and Timex even produced a women’s/midsize model with the same design cues but in a much smaller package (seen below courtesy of Brennan Paul). If you haven’t heard of Brennan and his incredible collection, I highly recommend checking out his Instagram and other social media pages dedicated to researching and preserving this period of Timex and Casio history. He’s truly an unsung hero when it comes to this sphere of the watch collecting community.
If you’re interested in picking up a Triprix of your own, they can be rather difficult to nail down. They’re occasionally listed on online auction websites but only rarely under the Triprix name. There’s a grey area in which many watches (usually digitals) live and die online, and while there’s no specific name for this phenomenon, I like to call it the “The Land of Oversimplified Titles and Item Descriptions,” or TLOTID for short. Sites like eBay, Mercari, and Etsy’s search functions typically employ your exact wording when searching for items and will have a hard time locating listings if they contain general, non-specific titles and information. If a Triprix is listed as “Timex Watch,” it may be practically hidden from view without inputting a basic, more simplified search. My main suggestion would be to save both the “Timex Watch” and “Triprix” searches to widen your view and allow for the occasional TLOTID piece to surface. Normally listed for under $100, the hunt is definitely worth it in the end. Make sure to look for examples with fully functioning modules, as parts can be relatively hard to come by. Also ensure the original polypropylene fabric strap is included to complete the look––these models just look so much better on these heavy-duty bands.
Final Thoughts
I simply will never get enough of the 80s and 90s catalog of brands like Timex, Casio, and Seiko. What was accomplished during this era helped pioneer future watchmaking techniques and features that many take for granted nowadays. While the Triprix doesn’t offer any novel technological advancements, it exists as a fun and unique time capsule timepiece that easily matches with the retro trends of today. Its subtly slanted display is both useful and aesthetically pleasing, and its use of bright colors helps to separate itself from other conservatively styled digital pieces.
The Triprix is a fun and functional watch for much less than the cost of a Seiko Giugiaro but possesses just the right amount of flair to separate itself from other pieces in the Timex catalog. While I don’t recommend putting on that pair of spandex tights and leg warmers you may have in your closet or reenacting your best David Hasselhoff beach run accompanied by a Sony Walkman, I highly recommend giving the Tripix and all its retro glory a chance in your collection.
