Timex Galli S1 38mm Review | Timex Ruined Their Best Watch In Years!
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My wife's gonna kill me for this, but I pulled the trigger on what promised to be the best Timex watch in years! The Timex Galli S1 immediately struck me upon its original release back in 2019, with its unique case and classy dial which looked a far cry from the grocery store watches we're all used to seeing. Unfortunately, it was a no-go for my thin wrist, at 41mm. In some ways, I had similar expectations for the Q-Timex Falcon Eye, which was reissued around the same time as the Galli and ended up on my purchase list due to the smaller diameter.
Unfortunately, despite being very cool, that watch ended up having a couple of QC issues and wore much larger than the 38mm case size suggested. Making it a non-keeper for me.
Timex released a string of uninteresting watches following these disappointments, including several cringe low-quality pieces with giant corporate logos stamped on them. Personally, I've never desired the whole walking billboard look.
However, within the last month or two, they seem to have turned a corner and have pumped out a few models that piqued my interest. First up was the new Expedition North range, which offers improved, rugged versions of the beloved Timex Expedition and Weekender.
Timex Galli S1 Review
I also received an email about an even more exciting announcement. The Galli S1 was being rereleased in 38mm. Hallelujah!
One of the sticking points of the two Marlin reissues in 2017 and 2018 was the large size disparity. The retro hand-wound version came in at a mere 34mm, making it only preferable for those after a minuscule mid-century look. The modern automatic revision waded in with a much larger 40mm diameter and 13mm thickness that felt a touch ungainly for a dress watch.
There's surprisingly little competition in this medium-sized dress sector outside of quartz watches or those costing upwards of £1000; the Orient FAG and Sternglas Naos are two little-known exceptions.
Therefore, the downsized Galli has the potential to gobble up this void, so long as it justifies the steep $450 price tag. Indeed, as one of the most expensive Timex watches ever built, it still has much to live up to.
Dimensions
We're off to a good start as the proportions are borderline perfect, with a diameter as advertised, a 45.8mm lug to lug, and a 12mm thickness that becomes 10mm when the domed crystal is discounted. The nicely curving lugs help complete this compact package, resulting in increased wearability for a wider variety of wrist sizes than its predecessor.
Watch Design
I know there's probably one thing that's drawn you to this post: the distinctive design language exuding from every orifice of the Galli S1. The brainchild of acclaimed designer and Timex creative chief Giorgio Galli, the injection-molded 316L steel case is truly a masterfully crafted work of art. Its sweeping skeletonized flanks spread to form a chamfered window, further revealing a precisely cut inner ribbing that travels the circumference of the housing.
The phrase 'every frame a painting' is often used to describe beautifully shot movies. The Galli S1 initially felt like the wristwatch equivalent, looking complex yet majestically formed from almost any perspective.
Quality Control
I say almost for a couple of hugely disappointing reasons. The first is what can only be described as a crevice present at the top of the case. At the time of writing, I can't confirm whether the Galli S1 is supposed to have a gap here, as no other watch reviewers seem to have mentioned such a hole or shown this section of the watch on-camera. I'm forced to conclude that this is a significant quality control error from the botched rough edges and the far cleaner opposite side that exhibits no visible fissures. It almost looks like someone has attempted to prise this open with a flat head screwdriver. Awful considering that this is one of Timex's most expensive watches.
I emailed Timex customer services to inquire about exchanges and to check whether this was indeed a fault or simply a poorly executed design choice.
Here's where the second disappointment comes in.
After an initial response where they asked me to reattach my images of the fault, I received no further responses. I chased them up a couple of weeks later but still heard nothing back. I quickly mentioned that I was a wristwatch YouTuber in an attempt to abuse my very niche 'influencer' status to speed up the process; after all, these reviews run on a very tight schedule. Unfortunately, Timex customer services don't even respond to reviewers, so what chance do regular customers have? I finally got some contact via Twitter, with them asking me to message them, but they again failed to respond?
I can forgive brands for obvious blunders if they deal with them promptly, but this non-existent customer service after paying such a high price tag is a disgrace.
Combined, these issues absolutely stain what is otherwise an incredibly impressive offering.
Update: Timex Head Office has since responded via email. They have apologized, refunded my purchase, sent a replacement unit, and promised to use this as a case study when training customer service staff moving forward. Please watch the short video below for more information.
Case
Alternating brushed and polished sections adorn the case from top to bottom, with easily the best level of finishing on any Timex watch that I've encountered (aside from the hole mentioned earlier). The satin brushing used across the majority of the surfaces looks impressive in both natural and artificial light, and aside from the crevice, Timex has done a convincing job of replicating the luxury watch feeling when in the hands.
Dial Design
This is partly down to the glorious green dial that presents itself with vigor and boasts a skeletonized minute track that reveals a reflective surface beneath at specific angles, transforming the appearance in different lighting conditions. A similar effect is created by the high-polish rehaut, which provides an infinity mirror illusion at the circumference, as it reflects the indices and curved dial with great clarity.
Georgio opted for a minimalist approach with both versions of the Galli S1, with slim, faceted markers, minuscule text, and a simple yet attractive handset. The only extras come in the form of the single embedded ruby above the 6 o'clock position and a new black cabochon fixed in the crown.
While it leans more down the dress route, I think it's definitely more versatile than the likes of the Orient Bambino due to the matte finish and bezel, meaning that certain colors could be pulled off in a more casual setting if required.
Watch Bracelet
The rubber strap contributes to these sporty hints with a custom design that echoes the skeletonized case style. This has optimally-shaped quick-release tabs that don't dig into your wrist or fingernails and is even kitted out with a unique rivet keeper design, whereby a specially shaped groove secures the end of the strap in place without the need for loose, unsightly keepers.
Before receiving the watch, I expected this part to feel out of place, given the style and cost of the piece; however, in person, it feels like the perfect partner in crime. I reckon this watch would still look great on other straps, but I don't feel like I'm missing out when I already have this extremely comfortable option by default.
Movement
I'm more split on the movement choice. While Timex is rereleasing automatic watches, they're not producing the movements themselves; instead tweaking off-the-shelf components from established manufacturers. Again, they have dipped into the reserves of Miyota, a Citizen subsidiary, opting for the automatic Miyota 9039. This Japanese-made high-beat rate movement with a 42-hour power reserve is one of Miyota's more premium movements. When the handset stack is considered, it boasts a slimmer profile over some of the other 9000 series variants. This results in a slim automatic watch that features a nicely sweeping second hand; two factors that undoubtedly influence the classiness of the piece.
There is some decoration visible through the exhibition window. However, it pales in comparison to the extensive perlage brushing on the comparably-priced pieces such as the Maen Hudson (review of that watch here), which is offered by a much smaller company. Still, it looks nice and performs well, with the only real downside coming by way of sound. Like with other Miyota automatics, the rotor noise is prominent, perhaps not aided by the lightweight nature of this custom cutout Timex piece, which inherently induces a faster spinning speed. Considering this movement retails for around a quarter of the cost of the whole watch, I think it still makes for a viable choice, though I'd certainly prefer something quieter.
Water Resistance
The innards are secured to a 5ATM water resistance level, which is reasonable for this watch style. As you might expect, the crown also lacks any threading, so I'd avoid water where possible with this one. The Galli can likely survive being submerged for short durations, though the titanic-like gash in this unit may quickly result in a fatality.
Watch Crystal
The crystal should fare much better, with a double-domed sapphire across the top that will be impervious to scratches. This is a nice improvement over the basic domed acrylic used in the 40mm Marlin range and is the standard choice at this price point, so it won't earn any bonus points from me. The anti-reflective is alright and doesn't invoke any noticeable blue tint, as with some other watches, meaning it doesn't hinder the aesthetic of this green version. The Galli S1 38 is also available in blue and grey colors.
Final Thoughts
As a whole, the Timex Galli invokes emotion in a way that few other non-luxury watches do. First comes frustration if your watch has a slice through it, but secondly, a wave of awe at what Timex has otherwise created. This truly is a bold, special watch that makes no attempt to fit in, proudly positioning itself as a one-of-a-kind exclusive piece to add to your collection. You just may have to send one or two units back in the process.
This radical approach reminds me of that taken by Avi-8, whose review you can read here. Those watches were the bomb…no, literally, they're based on military planes.
