Hypebeast and Timex jointly present M79 “Fuchsia” automatic watch limited-edition of 500 pieces and exclusive to HBX

Hypebeast announced its first watch release with Timex, launching a vintage-inspired version of the watchmaker’s workhorse M79 watch on 12 January, 9AM EST. Available exclusively on HBX and individually numbered out of 500 pieces, this timepiece is intended to be used as a tool watch for everyday wear, with many of its signature features kept intact and minor tweaks added to display Hypebeast’s signature aesthetics.

The Timex M79, the mechanical successor of the Timex Q (“M” represents “Mechanical” and “79” the year of the Q’s release), greets watch collectors with a new look presented by Hypebeast. The Hypebeast’s M79 color combination tells a story, with the navy maintaining the ongoing theme of incorporating a signature navy into its collaborative releases, and the fuchsia being a play on one of the more interesting variations of the reference 1675; this color pays respect to the obscurities found in the world of vintage watches — things like tropical dials and faded “ghost” bezel inserts are a rare sight. These “happy accidents” from the ‘50s – ‘70s occurred when certain — now considered defective — paints were used which resulted in a number of imperfections when exposed to UV light from the sun over a long period of time. The pink hue in this watch mimics a bold red that has been subjected to years of sunlight.

The hour and minute hands have luminescent in-fill for ease of noting their positions in the dark. At the three o’clock position lays the day/date indicator with a Chinese/English date wheel, replacing the English/French version, paying homage to vintage watch collecting and the feeling of landing on a rare region-specific date wheel timepiece that occasionally pop up at auctions.

Other careful details of the special edition M79 include a sporty, versatile stainless steel H-link bracelet, in place of the original woven mesh bracelet — offering more of a sporty aesthetic to the overall watch and more breathability on the wrist due to its link spacing. This timepiece is powered by a 21-jewel Miyota automatic movement, a unidirectional bezel, a domed acrylic glass, and is water resistant for up to 50 meters. The co-branded bracelets are polished to blend with the case, with each watch individually numbered at the back.