Wearable technology is a captivating field. Today, smart rings are competing closely with smartwatches, which have pushed digital watches into the realm of ‘retro-tech’. Digital watches, in their prime, had a similar fate for mechanical watches. Nevertheless, each of these gadgets has its loyal base of supporters. When it comes to wearable items, aesthetics do not always align with practicality, and emotional attachment can outweigh both.
Timex's Innovative Approach
Timex is aware of this dynamic. Ignoring the usual patterns and timelines of technology and style, the renowned watchmaker has launched a distinctive product: a ring watch inspired by its classic T80 digital watch. Created in collaboration with the French fashion house Maison Margiela, the T80 ring watch is a nearly exact miniature of the original digital watch that debuted in 1974, just much smaller.
The polished stainless steel casing measures only 20 mm in width (compared to the original T80's 34 mm), has a thickness of 7 mm, and features a 12 mm strap width at the lugs. Notably, the ring watch simplifies sizing compared to modern smart rings like the Oura Ring 4, which offers multiple sizes and complex sizing kits. Similar to the T80 watch, this model comes with an expansion band crafted from brushed stainless steel links. It is available in two sizes—S/M and M/L—which can accommodate a variety of finger sizes while being convenient to wear or take off.
Features and Design
Interestingly, smart rings are also experimenting with their own (more complex) version of an expansion band, as a recent patent application from Xiaomi shows. However, fans of Timex watches might be disappointed to find that the brand's beloved Indiglo backlight is absent in this model. Furthermore, there are no additional features such as a stopwatch, countdown timer, or alarm; it simply shows the time (in hours and minutes) and the date, with two buttons to adjust settings or switch between the two.
In terms of appearance, the ring watch is truly eye-catching. The shiny case contrasts beautifully with the brushed band, and the numeral-rich design on the dial pays homage to the MM6 fashion label. The face is protected by basic mineral glass, and it offers water resistance up to 30 meters, which is sufficient for handwashing but not suitable for swimming.
Pricing Concerns
Sadly, whether due to its downsized design or the collaboration with a high-end fashion brand, the T80 ring watch comes with a hefty price tag for what it brings to the table. Retailing at $180, it is several times more expensive than a full-sized T80 watch (currently priced at $46 on Amazon). For that amount, you could also purchase a rugged, stylish, and feature-rich G-Shock (a brand with an equally rich history), such as the sporty GBX-100TT-8JF, the field-watch-inspired GM-2100CB-3AJF, or the much-loved, made-in-Japan GW-5000U-1JF, which features a DLC-coated steel case.
