Timex Pushes Boundaries with Giorgio Galli S2

Timex takes their relationship with Giorgio Galli a step further with a new iteration of the series called, naturally, the GGS2. The new watch retains much of the drama of the S1 (which our Ed Jelley reviewed here), but ramps up the minimal nature of the design language with a near sterile black dial set within one of the most unique cases you’re likely to find under $1,000. As with all of the Timex Giorgio Galli watches, there’s plenty to appreciate in the small details, and with even fewer components brought to the table here, those details matter all the more. The S2 is chic on the exterior, and this time, gains a bit of Swiss cache on the inside. 

The S2 sets the stage for a new generation of Giorgio Galli watches from Timex, revealed in its most elemental form here that is easy to imagine spawning additional variations. The all black dial set under a sapphire crystal is framed by a single applied ring that hosts a notch for each hour of the day. It’s a stark scene but everything that’s there makes a big impact. The structure of that ring is subtle, but it’s mirrored in the hand-set in both design and tone. Only the word Timex appears at the top of the dial, while the Giorgio Galli and S2 Automatic labels are relegated to the bottom of that ring ring structure.

While the dial has certainly evolved, the case retains its signature injection-molded skeleton execution with titanium inserts for the movement and caseback. It’s a bit exotic feeling and sets this watch further into its own realm. The details take a little work to fully appreciate, requiring the viewer to take in the watch from a variety of angles to get a full sense of. From the top down, the watch looks to have a rather classic, simple case, but that changes quickly when it’s in motion. 

On the wrist, the S2 gets the smaller dimensions of the later S1 examples, measuring in at a pleasant 38mm in diameter. What is new for this collection is the Sellita based SW-200 movement, which is visible through an exhibition caseback. The move to a Swiss movement from the old Miyota movement is one clearly aimed at moving this name and platform upmarket, and as a result the price has risen to $975. A very different consideration from the $450 original. It’s a barrier that slightly changes how we think about the watch and the project as a whole. The unique design goals were certainly met with the Miyota movement, and the goal is now a bit wider, presumably hoping to net a new pool of buyers. 

The S2 is available now, and is hopefully the first step of many in this new generation of the design. If you’re enamored with the small details of the design, you can read an interview we did with Giorgio Galli himself right here. More from Timex.