The Patek Philippe Nautilus is unquestionably one of the most iconic watch designs on the planet. Beloved by celebrities and horological enthusiasts alike, the model is a grail piece for many of us.
If you’re in that camp, but need something at a much more manageable price point, Timex may be your saviour. The brand has unveiled the new Timex Automatic E Line watch, which takes more than a smattering of inspiration from the iconic Genta design.
It’s perhaps best showcased with the blue and steel model, which looks like the most popular of all the Nautilus configurations. In its new revision, the model sports a blue dial with horizontal lines, almost identical to that of its inspiration. Elsewhere, we find slim indices and hands, with a date window at the three o’clock position.
That’s set within a 38mm stainless steel case, complete with an integrated bracelet and a smooth, flat bezel. The move to an integrated bracelet design definitely makes this one feel more deliberate, and fits in neatly with recent trends.
Inside, the watch is powered by a Miyota 8215 movement, which offers around 40 hours of power reserve from a 3Hz beat rate. Personally, I’m a little disappointed by that one. It’s not a bad movement per se, but given the amount of micro-brands offering the nicer 9-series movements at a similar price point, I’d have expected as much here.
That price point starts at $379 for the steel models with either a blue or a silver dial, and jumps slightly to $399 for the two-tone model. For a watch which looks this good, that’s seriously impressive value, and should see this one quickly become a favourite among affordable watch enthusiasts.
Sure, there will be some who dislike the homage design, but I actually think this one doesn’t get too close. It wears its heart on its sleeve, and that’s fine by me.