TIMEX "Original Camper"
2015 revival, in quartz, of a mechanical TIMEX classic.
Review, and "origin story" of the Original Camper.
Hi. This is Alan (contact: email). Pics on this page taken by myself, except where specified. Here is a review of the 2015 TIMEX Camper re-issue. I will also give, as best as I know, the "origin stories" of this revival. It is a quartz version of an earlier mechanical watch which sold in the 1980s and 1990s, which itself was a sort of offshoot of a military-specification watch that TIMEX produced in limited numbers in the early 1980s. Which itself derives from a 1964 US government document.
The Camper "resurrection" as a modern quartz watch began as a special project by TIMEX Japan, resulting in the release, initially in Japan only, of the "Original Camper" in November 2015.
Above, from the Instagram of Giorgio Galli Design Lab, dropping news, in November 2015, of the Original Camper release, "Japan market first." Below, from an Instagram from one day earlier, "Per il momento è esclusivo per il mercato Giapponese."
Before discussing the story surrounding the re-issue of this watch as Original Camper, I'd like to describe a little bit of the watch itself. It may help to list the features in bullet point format:
Case: green resin material, with solid lugs
Caseback: yes
Diameter: 36 mm, without the crown
Dial: black, with white markings; 1-12, and 13-24 hour chapters
Luminescent: yes, all three hands, and hour markers
Movement: Japanese-made quartz movement
Crystal: acrylic
Water resistant: yes, 30 meters
Strap: green nylon one piece, length adjustable
Buckle: black metal
Retail price: 8,300 yen
Double click here to add text.
The watch is sometimes referred to as "Original Camper base model." Since 2015, there have been numerous variations using the Original Camper as a basic template, including different case color, different case material (steel,) different dial color, and considerable variations in dial design, often reflecting collaborations between TIMEX and other designers and retailers. For this reason, in addition to its stand-alone status as an iconic watch in TIMEX history, it can also be considered a "base model" from which these other variations were allowed to develop.
I obtained my Original Camper from Japan, in box with tags and warranty papers. However I did not get this watch in 2015, but obtained it in Spring 2018. Model no: TW2P88400JP
I love this ad. It's mostly in Korean, and if you look closely at the dial you'll see at 3 o'clock the 3 has been replaced by the logo thisisneverthat, a Korean streewear brand. This, therefore, is one of the collaborations that came after 2015, not the Original Camper base model that I'm reviewing here, but I love the colors and design of the ad, and it does say ORIGINAL CAMPER. The red and the green have a kind of "Boy Scouts" aesthetic, to me.
Back of watch. The fixed lugs are obvious. A single piece strap is needed. Notice there is a removable caseback; the original mechanical Camper from 1980s-1990s did not have a caseback, but the re-issue, being a quartz watch, needed a way to easily replace the battery.
So, why "Camper?" Wikipedia defines camping as: "Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home in a shelter, such as a tent. Generally participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more natural ones in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment. To be regarded as "camping" a minimum of one night is spent outdoors, distinguishing it from day-tripping, picnicking, and other similarly short-term recreational activities. Camping can be enjoyed through all four seasons."
By extension, someone who engages in camping is a Camper. The name therefore evokes feelings of leaving home, travel, a change of scenery, enjoyment of the outdoors, and immersion in the natural environment. Key to this definition is that camping is leisure, done for enjoyment, not part of a job, or considered a chore. I think of a camper as someone who seeks adventure, is resilient, hardy and not easily discouraged from challenging pursuits of all kinds. It is really a great name, for a watch. In transitioning a serious, purpose-made watch made for the US Army, to a watch marketed to civilians, the choice of "Camper" seems a kind of genius. It also conveys a watch that is rugged, and not "fussy." It's not the kind watch where a few scratches on the crystal and case here or there should bother anyone. After, all, it's a Camper. Also, the fixed lugs means there are no springbars to ever pop off. As long as buckled on properly, you'll never have a strap failure, and loss of the watch.
An angled view of the Original Camper. Notice the sort of "forest green" color to the case. The color of the strap is more of a muted green, shades of brown and green. Below is a picture of the modern Original Camper underneath the earlier mechanical Camper from the late 1980s. Notice the mechanical one has more of an "olive drab" color to the case. Frankly, I like the more rich and deep green of the Original Camper. I've seen some people online complain that the color of the Original Camper is not *exactly the same* as the mechanical Campers. There was the expectation that the color should be the same. I'm not bothered either way. Either color is fine. I actually like the newer color better. More Boy Scout / "campy" to me, less military.
The Original Camper comes in a box made from cardboard, in black and "TIMEX red." I really like that red.
Out of the box, the Original Camper comes with the crown pulled out to conserve battery, held in the out position by a plastic grommet. The time was 7:04:06
end/
Watch had a sticker on the back:
MOVT JAPAN
ASSEMBLED CHINA
This was presumably assembled either in the Shenzhen or the Shanghai factory, according the the below map from TIMEX. Want to see a pic of Japan made movement? Click here.
Original Camper Origin Story:
I'll piece together as best as I know the story behind the creation of the OC, relased in November, 2015. It's best to think of the story as a timeline:
1. The Unites States government issues a wristwatch specification in 1964: "The first MIL-W-46374 specification was published on 30 October 1964. The original intent of this entirely new specification was to define the basic requirements for a simple, inexpensive, field watch to be used by infantry and most other military occupational specialties." Much more on this, here, from where that quote was taken.
2. TIMEX makes a "handful" of watches in 1981 and 1982, designed to fulfill the requirements of this specification, in a bid for a military contract. That contract was never fulfilled. It is unknown how many of these watches were actually made, but estimated at approximately 100-200. From the below 2002 email about this watch, replying to my questions, Carl Rosa of the TIMEX Museum confirms that a process was initiated, but that it did not result in a fulfilled military contract. The existing watches are therefore somewhat of a "magical treasure" among military watch collectors, and TIMEX collectors. (continued below the jump.)
3. TIMEX, as mentioned in Mr Rosa's email from 2002, manufactured and marketed a mechanical consumer watch called "Camper Watch," in the 1980s through the 1990s. This was a mechanical watch that used the same resin case (similarly, with no caseback) as the ones made for the government trial. The dials, however, were different; the government one did not have TIMEX, or WATER RESISTANT like the civilian Camper did. (Instead, it had H3 for tritium, and had the radiation hazard symbol.) - [continue below]
My 2015 Original Camper, above.
4. I'm uncertain for how many years the mechanical Camper Watch was made. The earliest year I've seen evidence for the Camper is 1983, from this ad in a 1983 Italian magazine, called "Topolino." The watch shown is clearly a Camper Watch, although at least to Italians it was marketed as "The Marines Watch." I am estimating the final production date for the mechanical Camper at around ~ 1995. There were, toward the end of mechanical Camper production, also mechanical Camper versions in black case, and even navy blue case.
5. Then, after mechanical Camper production ceased, there were quartz versions. But they did not look the same as the Camper Watch. It appears that they had a 34 mm case, and had springbars instead of fixed lugs. (Remember, the Camper is a 36 mm fixed lug watch). The below pics are from 2008, and I'm pretty sure this is what they looked like. Small crown. Metal caseback held by 4 screws. Springbars! Different shape to the case with a "fat" looking bezel area. QUARTZ on dial. Blue wave symbol.
6. That was the status of what the Camper watch had become, a smaller watch with only partial resemblance to the original. This remained the status throughout the last half of the 1990s, and the first decade of the 21st century. (continued)
My 2015 Original Camper, above.
7. Then, toward the end of the aughts, there began an initiative by TIMEX Japan (link 1, link 2, link 3) to bring back the Camper in its original 1980s form, including with a mechanical movement. The idea was hatched in 2009-2010, with the goal of creating for TIMEX Japan a sort of "iconic" product, revisiting and celebrating an important story in the company's history.
In the same way LEVIS had 501 jeans, and Converse had Chuck Taylors, TIMEX Japan wanted to bring back the Camper, as a focus of "core branding" -- a single product that would elevate the brand, at least for the Japan TIMEX market, above the bread-and-butter multitudes of TIMEX models sold by the millions, across the globe. (continued)
This request, from TIMEX Japan to TIMEX HQ, to create the Original Camper as an exclusive product, was more complex than previous Japan exclusives. Previous exclusive models were basically modifications and iterations of existing models. Reprinting the Camper, however, a watch no longer in production, would require factory retooling, greater cost, and addressing other issues. But in the end, a decision eventually was made to pursue the initiative, and in 2014 TIMEX approved the Camper project.
But it was then became apparent that TIMEX no longer had the "blueprints" to the Camper! No drawings or specifications remained! Undeterred, TIMEX Japan obtained an original mechanical Camper from the 1980s, and sent it in to TIMEX. There, the watch was 3D scanned, and essentially "reverse engineered" such that new blueprints could be recreated from an original. Production could continue. One of the original project goals, however, could not be realized: the new Camper was unable to be equipped with a mechanical movement, and therefore was made using a quartz movement. (continued)
(I wish I could read all of these ads and promos.)
With the new blueprints in hand, the development team at TIMEX then went to work, and in early 2015 produced an early sample prototype. As often the case with a "first draft," this sample needed modifications on several points. After a few revisions of this first prototype, the finalized Original Camper was ready for the TIMEX Japan market, released
After the success in Japan of the Original Camper (along with the runaway success of an early Camper collaboration with Engineered Garments and BEAMS in early 2016,) TIMEX took the Original Camper into global marketing and sales. (continued)
There was some initial hesitation at TIMEX in re-making a 36 mm "men's" watch, thinking that in this era of "bigger watches," people may find it small. Thankfully, these concerns were overcome, and the watch was made. Side-by-side, Original Camper sits next to a 1969 Rolex Explorer, ref. 1016. The Explorer is also a 36 mm watch. Both are great watches. I've stated elsewhere that wearing Rolex brings no greater pleasure, to me, than the TIMEX.
8. Current status and legacy: The Camper in its original form is a watch that for ~ 20 years had not been produced. TIMEX in some ways took their chances on this project, and the fact that they went ahead with the Japan initiative is a testament to their willingness to adapt and to innovate. In an era where wristwatch use may be declining, and where some watch firms have indeed seen a shrinking of their markets, companies need to embrace these new initiatives and collaborations. TIMEX as a company, as well as all of the special teams and divisions involved, should be commended on the development and success of Original Camper.
Well, since November 2015, there have been several variations on Original Camper, many of which were collaborative efforts with other retailers, designers and companies. I own a few of these, and they are all indexed with their own review pages, at this index page of my Campers.
TIMEX has also extended the Original Camper revival to a more broad collection of watches called "MK1," including some 40 mm watches, some watches with aluminum cases, and some very nice Camper-shaped chronographs.
9. What is next for the Original Camper, and its iterations? I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that there will be more variants, and collaborations. But regardless of these future collaborations and iterations, this Original Camper in its "pure" and simple form, simultaneously a "base model" and a stand-alone icon, will almost certainly remain in the TIMEX catalog.
Wrapping up this review and "origin story" of the Original Camper...
Original Camper is an inexpensive, simple and lightweight, water resistant watch, with a durable and washable strap, having a single function: telling time. Just like the government "field watch" that it takes its origins from 1964, Original Camper is a simple, easy to read watch that you can take anywhere. It could make a good travel watch, or a "field watch" for peacetime activities such as gardening, hiking, and of course ACTUAL CAMPING.
I hope you will like it.
Thank for reading this review. Feel free to contact with me with any comments or ideas.
Alan
pic from web sales site
below pic from web sales site
(Above is NOT the re-issue, but an original hand-wound Camper from the 1980s.)
