October 2014: Indie band The Sam Willows playing at Timex Group’s anniversary party in Singapore. From left-to-right: Benjamin Kheng (rhythm guitar and vocals), his sister Narelle Kheng (bass guitar and vocals), Sandra Riley Tang (percussionist and vocals) and Jonathan Chua (lead guitar and vocals). Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy

Where did Timex Group USA, Inc hold its 160th anniversary celebrations in Singapore? Well, it was held at the trendy Mohamed Sultan Road area in October 2014.

Guests who attended this celebratory event were given a special treat as they were entertained by indie band The Sam Willows (comprising Benjamin Kheng, his sister Narelle Kheng, Sandra Riley Tang and Jonathan Chua).

It was also announced that Arista Singapore Pte Ltd is now the exclusive distributor for Timex watches in Singapore. Arista, a company founded by Herman Osman in 2005, is not new to Timex as its partnership with Timex had begun in 2012 in Malaysia.

Question is, who is celebrating the 160th anniversary? The company, Timex Group USA, Inc., or the “Timex” brand?

Well, the brand actually came into existence in 1950 through the introduction of a new timepiece housing an inexpensive mechanical watch movement and it was known as the “Timex”.

The roots of Timex Group USA, Inc. (which is a subsidiary of Timex Group B.V., a Dutch business entity) date back to the 1850s with the establishment of Waterbury Clock Company.

 

 

The Timex Waterbury quartz watch. Priced at SGD168. Photo: © Timex

Waterbury Clock Company came to be in 1854 and was located in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA as a manufacturer of clocks. The 160th anniversary (1854 to 2014) therefore relates to the company, Timex Group USA, Inc. as it is what the original Waterbury Clock Company has evolved into.

This also explains why, in addition to the popular Timex Ironman sports watches, there is also the “Waterbury” Collection of timepieces.