Ironman Triathlon Watch Facts – They’re Collectible, Inexpensive, and They Have a Fascinating History
Tea Timex Ironman Triathlon The watch comes to mind for many when considering the purchase of a sports watch. It is understandable, as the triathlon model has been associated with the sport since its inception in 1984.
The connection was cemented in 1986 when Timex became involved with the famous Ironman Triathlon sporting event. Timex very cleverly aligned itself with the Ironman Triathlon race which was in its early days in a stroke of what, in hindsight, turned out to be a marketing genius.
The original Timex Triathlon watch name was replaced by the Timex Ironman Triathlon name, the diving capacity was increased to 100 meters, some cosmetic changes were made in conjunction with the trademark name, and a new watch icon was born.
Urban legend has it that when the original watches were brought to the first Ironman race to test the market, the watches literally ran off (excuse the pun). The incoming triathlon everyone wanted one of the originals that created a shortage, which in turn fueled the demand and hype. It was in those early days that the Timex Ironman Watch slogan “licks it but keeps ticking” was coined and the famous partnership between the Ironman Triathlon and Timex as title sponsor was born.
Since then, Timex has developed a series of Ironman Triathlon watches ranging from fairly entry-level models with limited sporting features to high-end high-tech GPS and Data Link watches to meet the increasing demands of the triathlon world. The basic Ironman triathlon watch still includes time, stopwatch (chrono), timer, occasion alarm, and three other alarms. The more sophisticated models have GPS, lap timing, iPod interface, and the ability to upload and download data to and from your computer (data link) /
The first of the Ironman watches was worn by military and law enforcement personnel, as the watch was considered bulletproof and had a rugged look. That’s something Timex Ironman and Rolex have in common (perhaps the only thing other than that they both tell time), as Rolex watches were initially distributed during WWI to enlisted men in the trenches.
In the early years, the “Ironman Triathlon watch” was a men’s watch. Due to popular demand, a women’s version that was smaller and also suitable for teenagers became available later in 1984. These early Ironman watches have become collectible and a quick search on eBay or collector’s sites gives a good indication of those. prices that reach.
The Ironman Triathlon watch didn’t change until the early 90’s when Indiglo was launched. This again proved to be a highly successful marketing move that was quickly emulated by competitors. Indiglo electroluminescence was recorded by Timex.
Indiglo illuminated the entire watch face with brilliant brilliance and dramatic colors, a vast improvement over glow-in-the-dark watch technology, where only the tips of the watch’s hands and numbers could be seen on the face. darkness. INDIGLO technology also used less battery power than other backlit watches and was an immediate hit with consumers.
Later, when fashions changed, Timex made Indiglo more subtle with less flourous colors. Indiglo continues to be a popular feature of Timex watches, particularly in the Ironman Triathlon range and Timex Heart Rate Monitor models. The brightness of the watch face is a great advantage for athletes who train or play sports after dark.
The next major change in the Ironman Triathlon range of watches was the introduction of data link and body link, which took the series to a new level of innovation.
The name Timex has often been associated with famous people and historical occasions. Timex watches appear classless and are not subject to the status symbol positioning of more expensive watch brands. Timex is often seen by the rich and famous and an often-cited example of that is President Clinton, who wore a favorite Timex. Ironman triathlon watch during its opening (which he later donated to the Smithsonian museum). However, it is also true that President Clinton owned and wore a very elite and expensive range of watches during his tenure as president. Like Panerai.
The Timex Ironman Triathlon Datalink model 78401 adorned the arm of astronaut Daniel T. Barry on the space shuttle STS-72 Endeavor. George W. was even known to wear the durable, PR-friendly Timex during his time in office when the occasion suited. In another incident that made headlines, his Timex was mysteriously stolen from his wrist while he was in Albania.
A Timex Ironman Triathlon watch or any of the Data Link or 1440 watch series is a tough and durable watch with the respected Timex name behind them.
In recent years, other watch companies have given Timex stiff competition, however, Timex is a household name and is synonymous with good old-fashioned service and quality. Timex originally partnered with Walt Disney to produce the Mickey Mouse watch in 1933 and with their continued innovation and marketing wizardry, it’s hard to foresee that they will lose their reputation as the most reliable, reliable and affordable watch any time soon.