Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser 38mm Gold Dial Watch Review - TW2W70700

Paris-based brand seconde/seconde/, founded by Romaric André has quickly grown beyond a brand that sells cheeky pop culture seconds hands and modified vintage Rolex and Patek Philippe watches. The brand has participated in collaborations with major watch brands such as Bamford, Nivada, and even H. Moser & Cie.

Another of its recent projects was with Timex. in 2023, the "IYYK" Q Timex and M79 models were released. In 2024, just in time for Valentine's Day, a follow-up Timex project was released: the Q Timex "Loser" available in silver or gold.

I had been following seconde/seconde/ for a while and had wanted to try one of its projects. The Loser was one of the more affordable collabs, and I thought it would look great on a TQ18 Q Timex strap, so I picked up one.

Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser First Impressions:

Press photos give the watch a lighter gold look, but in person, it's the typical yellow-gold tone that you see on other PVD watches. The design has all of the things that I love about the Q Timex but with some extra fun twists. I especially like the black treatment on the bezel with gold text over it.

Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser Details:

This is the first watch I've owned where the second hand is literally that...a hand! Unlike on the Manga Casioak, it's front and center too.

Timex says that the watch is designed to "call out your ex." The Timex text logo (typically at the top of the dial), has been broken up to show the letter L, and the words "MY-EX." The aforementioned second hand depicts a thumb and finger in the loser L formation.

The actual Timex branding is then subtly displayed at the bottom of the dial.

Being that it is a reissue of a vintage watch, the Q Timex has a distinctly retro aesthetic. This is aided by the 38mm case size and domed plexiglass crystal.

Changes beyond that are less noticeable. The dial itself is a pleasing light gold tone, and the day and date displays are omitted.

Unlike the M79, which has applied indices, Q Timex models like this one have the hour markers printed on the dial.

Wearing the Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser:

The legibility of Q Timex watches is generally quite good. The gold hands of this model blend in slightly to the dial. More importantly, the large second hand covers much of the hour hand. It's one of the less legible watches I've owned, but that's the price of looking cool.

Otherwise, it wears as the other Q Timex models do. The case is thin and comfortable, with a compact lug-to-lug distance.

The 12-hour rotating bezel retains a "cheap GMT" feature, allowing wearers to track a second time zone.

The lume is decent as well, just not as bright as something like a Seiko Prospex.

Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser Original and Replacement Straps:

The seconde/seconde/ Loser comes with a similar stainless steel bracelet to other Q Timex models, but this time in gold (color). It gives it a retro look and is also quite thin.

The flip clasp feels a bit flimsy but is very compact, and like the others, it does pull arm hair.

Of course, I've tried a few different StrapHabit TQ18 Q Timex straps on it! Black rubber with a gold buckle is my go-to, although I'm looking forward to installing a soon-to-be-released gold TQ18 Beads of Rice bracelet on it!

You know that I'm highly biased, but better straps make the Q feel like a more high-end watch, making it more enjoyable to wear. We currently have the versions listed below. Scroll down to the end of the article to see more photos. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap.

FKM Rubber
Beads of Rice
Hybrid Leather
Hybrid Sailcloth

Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser Movement:

My other 38mm Q Timex watches have second hands that jump at one-second intervals. When I opened the seconde/ seconde/ edition and pushed the crown in, I discovered it ticking at a higher rate.

The Timex website simply says the movement is "quartz." I reached out to seconde/seconde/ and it was quickly confirmed that the Loser is powered by a 2Hz Seiko VH31 mechaquartz movement. This explains why the retail price of the Loser is significantly higher than a standard model. Because the hand is short, the individual beats are harder to detect than on a traditional stick hand.

When researching this movement, I found that a shorter battery life is one reason that we don't see it in watches as often. It's still a two-year life, however. Since the battery on the q has a quick access port, I'm fine with the tradeoff.

Q Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser Conclusion:

Standard Q Timex watches with the bracelet are priced at $189. The seconde/ seconde/ variants represent a large price increase at $249 in silver and $259 in gold. It seemed excessive when I thought that there were no spec upgrades, but the upgrade to a Mechquartz movement, plus the fun touches add up to justify the increase.

It has a similar amount of character as a $270 Moonswatch. It can also be bought online (and I even got this one at a discount). seconde/ seconde/ is having a moment right now, and it's one of the most affordable ways to be a part of it.

For more info, visit the Timex website. If you'd like to learn about some other great watches under $500, you can read the StrapHabit Top 10 list, or view other reviews of under $500 watches.

Specifications: 

Name: Timex x seconde/seconde/ Loser 38mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
Reference Number: TW2W70700
MSRP: $259
Diameter: 38mm
Height: 43.4mm
Thickness: 11.5mm
Lug Width: 18mm
Weight: 94g
Movement: Seiko VH31 (mechaquartz)
Battery life: 2 years
Water Resistance: 50m
Crystal: Acrylic
Crown:  Push-pull
Bezel: Friction
Strap: Gold Tone Stainless Steel

 

See different looks and purchase StrapHabit Q Timex Repleacement Watch Straps:

 

TQ18 FKM Rubber:

TQ18 Sailcloth and Leather Hybrid: