Timex Pays Tribute to the Golden Age of Aviation with a Pair of Watches Bearing the Pan Am Logo

Watch enthusiasts with an overlapping interest in the glory days of aviation should take interest in a pair of new watches from Timex that feature the iconic logo of one of the most recognizable airlines in the world: Pan Am. During the middle part of the 20th century, no airline was more associated with the perceived glamor of commercial air travel than Pan Am, and the company can claim many industry innovations, including the use of computerized reservation systems and the adoption of large jumbo jet aircraft. Pan Am was also the first airline to fly worldwide, and was the largest airline period for much of its history. The airline dissolved in 1991 after a bankruptcy filing in January of that year, but that has somewhat ironically served to bolster the reputation of the brand as a new generation discovers its history and realizes that air travel today is so far removed from what passengers might have experienced in Pan Am’s heyday. 

The new watches seen here are part of the Timex Waterbury collection, and feature 42mm stainless steel cases and dark navy blue dials. Both watches take style cues from classic flieger watches, which is a little strange considering the military connotation associated with that specific type of aviation watch and Pan Am being the quintessential commercial airline, but that’s ok – the watches are handsome regardless. A day-date version features large Arabic numerals, sword style hands, and a distinctive blue triangle at 12:00, and a chronograph variant uses the same design language but adds a three register chronograph to the mix. The Pan Am logo can be found at 6:00 in both cases (within the running seconds register on the chronograph) and both watches feature flight inspired leather straps with another application of the logo hidden in what we assume to be a faux rivet. Another nice detail: both watches use an oversized onion style crown.

Both watches use quartz movements to keep time and are water resistant to 50 meters. The hands on each are lumed and the watches are packaged in an attractive gift set using the classic Pan Am logo logo and blue colorway. A small collector’s pin is also included in the set. It’s a nice little package that should put a smile on the face of anyone who remembers flying Pan Am, or wishes they could remember. 

The Timex x Pan Am Waterbury watches take off this month (sorry, couldn’t resist). The day-date version will sell for $179 and the chrono has a retail price of $219. Timex