Everything from the 1970s is having a serious moment right now. Wide-leg trousers are back. Earthy tones are everywhere. And the kind of understated, refined menswear that defined that era has made a full-blown comeback on runways and street corners alike. It was only a matter of time before watchmakers started paying attention. Timex, one of America’s most storied watch brands, has done exactly that. The result is the Todd Snyder x Timex 1976 Lexington watch, a collaboration that proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to wear something genuinely great on your wrist.
The Todd Snyder x Timex 1976 Lexington watch is the latest chapter in what has become one of the most compelling ongoing partnerships in accessible horology. This isn’t a brand-new design conjured up to chase a trend. It’s a genuine archive pull, a rectangular dress watch last seen during the disco era, now reissued with fresh colorways and thoughtful detailing that makes it feel both nostalgic and completely current.
A Runway Debut That Almost Went Unnoticed
The reissued Lexington made its first public appearance at Todd Snyder Spring/Summer 2026 runway show last September, subtly styled onto the wrists of models walking a collection inspired by 1950s Havana and 1980s Miami.
And here’s the thing: it worked almost too well. Sitting in the audience, more than a few people didn’t notice the watches at all. They simply read as part of the look, which is exactly the point of a great dress watch. It should feel inevitable, not conspicuous.
The runway showcased salmon, Tiffany-esque blue, and pale yellow dials, while the retail release arrives in three equally compelling colorways: khaki, butter yellow, and black. Each feels pulled directly from the warm, sun-soaked aesthetic of the collection. The tan reads as effortlessly sophisticated. The all-black is sharp and versatile. But the standout is the black strap paired with the yellow dial. It captures something specific: the swagger of Miami’s heyday without tipping into flashiness.
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The Case for Rectangular Watches
For anyone paying attention to men’s watches over the past few years, the rectangular dress watch has quietly become one of the most interesting categories on the market.
There’s a reason for that. Round watches, especially oversized ones, have turned into a kind of status-signaling exercise: who owns the rarest reference, the biggest complication, the most talked-about limited edition. The rectangular dress watch rejects all of that. It’s about refinement over noise.
Historically, though, the category has been dominated by designs that echo the Cartier Tank formula: white dial, Roman numerals, leather strap. It’s undeniably beautiful but also overfamiliar.
What makes the Todd Snyder x Timex 1976 Lexington watch different is that it doesn’t try to be that watch. Deco-inspired Arabic numerals give it a distinct personality, while the color-forward dials feel confident rather than imitative. This is a watch with its own point of view.
Inspired by Two Golden Eras
Todd Snyder has been clear about the references behind this release. He points to both 1950s Havana and 1980s Miami as key touchstones, describing the watch as having a “sartorial ease” that bridges the Art Deco period with today’s Ivy style resurgence. It’s a wide range of influences, but they come together convincingly on the wrist.
These aren’t the flashy, gold-heavy watches associated with excess. They’re the kind worn by well-dressed men who occupied the more sophisticated corners of those eras, the ones who looked polished without trying too hard. The Lexington captures that spirit with genuine conviction.
Specs Worth Knowing
The watch features a stainless steel case paired with a genuine leather strap—black for the yellow and black variants, and brown for the khaki. Arabic indices, a clean quartz movement, and water resistance up to 30 meters round out the package. Nothing superfluous. Everything you actually need.
Affordable, But Not Basic
It’s worth noting that Cartier doesn’t have a monopoly on the rectangular case shape, even if it sometimes feels that way. Seiko has offered accessible rectangular options for years, and now Timex has entered the conversation in a more deliberate way.
The Todd Snyder x Timex 1976 Lexington watch isn’t trying to approximate a luxury watch. Instead, it makes a clear argument: good design, thoughtful color, and a genuine archival pedigree are more than enough.
For anyone looking for a dress watch that earns its place on the wrist without demanding attention it hasn’t earned, this is one of the strongest options available right now.
Featured image: Todd Snyder
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