A retro watch has been all the rage for over a decade. However, reviewing these releases is mostly analog and inspired by highly collectable vintage watches with long stories. But what about the watches of everyone we took for granted as children and teenagers? Often, they’re back, and if I’m honest they’re just as enjoyable as a more fancy reissued. Timex Ironman’s 8-wrap grey shade gives a slight spin on the original, but is a faithful throwback to the ’80s.
It turns out that the revival of the DW-5000R-1A Origin, a recent purchase from G-Shock, was sent to a rabbit hole to see a vintage-inspired digital watch. It’s easy to stop with G-Shock or its mother Casio, but it’s a pain to history. Depending on the year of birth, it is possible to not realize that Timex is a large player of digital watches, at least in the United States. Unlike the G-Shocks, the Ironman was designed for sports. In particular, the Ironman Triathlon with Running, Cycling and Swirming Stages. The original Iron Man 8-lap was standard fitness buff, but it also became a cultural icon.
Some contexts
In 1986, Timex introduced the original Ironman 8-lap. The brand shares that former General Motors designers work with marathon champions and Olympic athletes to create the perfect sports watch. Apparently TimeX sold 400,000 examples in its first year alone. Before GPS and smartwatches became standard, I vividly remember my friends wearing the Ironman Watch. They were everywhere and were commonplace to see in a typical American office setting. I never owned it, but ran with a friend who started jogging with a familiar press on the buttons and a “beep” from Iron Man.
Of course, another claim to the fame of Iron Man 8-Rap was the recruitment of presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992. Iron Man was a non-elitist classless watch that Clinton made him look like a regular Joe. Of course, in other photos he was wearing an expensive luxury watch. But hey, why do facts get in the way of good stories? So after years of seeing everyone from the president to his colleagues wear one of these watches, I finally decided to get one.
Iron Man 8 wrap arrived free of charge
I remember when Timex re-released the Ironman 8-lap in 2022. It was interesting, but I wasn’t seriously considering buying it. However, recently the G-Shock DW-5000R-1A got me into action and started looking for a Timex Classic. My search took me to Timex Japan. This is a curious site that works independently of the Western Timex site (more on this later). Then I mentioned my interest in our podcast watches. Shortly afterwards, one of the longtime UK listeners reached out and offered to send him a model in the grey shade he had barely worn. I asked about the price and he told me that I would have some pints. Guys, I’ve tried it over and over, but here’s a big “thank you” to him, as our listeners simply don’t take any money! A few days later, the watch arrived in its original packaging.
Availability and Variations
Before we begin our review, let’s discuss availability. JDM (Japanese domestic market) clocks can make scary and mysterious sounds. Unexpectedly, Timex Japan makes ordering easier. This site offers a flat rate delivery of 2,400 yen (approximately 15 euros). Next is the model. Currently, Timex Japan offers the Ironman 8-lap edition via four resins, including gray shades, OG, Bimmer, and purple/blue/green variants. Four metal options are also available, including one on a metal bracelet, costing about three times the price. Resin-mediated models are often sold out, but are restocked every few weeks. For example, a British friend waited before purchasing. It arrived safely within a week.
Practice with Iron Man 8 rap
It was Serendipity that the Iron Man 8 Wrap arrived at the grey shade colorway. When I was looking, this model was the most appealing to me due to its cool shades. I saw it firsthand and confirmed that if I ordered it was the right choice. Let’s move on. The Timex package is basic and consists of a gray paperboard box and a small pillow. Interestingly, the inside of the boxtop asks the owner to show off his new #Timex Watch on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and X. The small guarantee card is completely in Japanese, and the expanded instructions are in multiple languages.
First impression
After buckling the Iron Man 8 Wrap, it is impossible not to notice how light your watch is. It feels like a toy compared to the G-Shock. Again, the weight, or lack of it, is important, as the watch was made for fitness activities. Additionally, the rubber straps are thin and incredibly flexible, and do not need to consider the duration of entry. You can also see that this watch is too small for some wrists. Again, it’s a completely different animal from G-Shock.
So how small is the clock? We measured a diameter of 39mm, lug-to-lug 46.5mm, and thickness of 10.5mm. This is small for digital watches aimed at rugged activities, but it reminds me that in town, options like big cuffs aren’t the only game. Visually, the 19mm lug spacing makes the watch look more petite.
On the wrist
The advantage of the smaller, more analog-like footprint is that the Iron Man 8 Wrap is worn like a regular watch. I never choose to wear it in a business/office environment, but I can understand that people did it regularly several decades ago. Unlike my latest G-Shock, the Timex is clean and is included on the wrist. The straps have small lips at the end of the tail, so that they do not come out from under a single slide keeper. Such a cool touch and the vent segment near the case makes me feel like I’m wearing nothing (…on my wrist).
Daily use
I don’t recommend running the Iron Man on a car or military vehicle at 8 laps, but it has a reputation for being a tough watch. This quality seems counterintuitive due to its lightness, but Timex designed its watch to survive shaking, shock and water. The water resistant rating is 100 meters, which is not a diving watch, but is intended to get wet repeatedly. Its dark gray D-shaped bezel should be able to beat, but it is worth noting that it is the same height as mineral glass. So, we expect Iron Man to pick up a substantial discount if used for the intended purpose.
The gray resin case is interesting as it has a slightly different shade from the strap. If you look closely, you will see small white spots or resin granules. Timex does not mention the type of resin used, but I think the abs are caused by the material’s outstanding impact resistant properties. All five buttons are made of dark gray resin.
A simple case of returning to Iron Man 8 lap
The case back is made of stainless steel and comes with four screws. There’s a lot of writing. As you can see, I left the original sticker as is. Despite being shipped from Japan, the watch was a Chinese movement and was assembled in the Philippines. Additionally, the model number, water resistance, lug spacing and patent information are displayed along with the battery type. Timex doesn’t mention the expected battery life, but owners report a period of 3-5 years that requires changes.
function
Iron Man 8 Wrap Grey Shade is my type of digital watch. In other words, you don’t need to call an engineering degree to use that feature. The instruction manual covers all the features of one page and the process is highly iterative. The Set button adjusts the time, day and date of the black-on-gray LCD. It also works with timer and alarm functions. Press the mode button to access various functions. The Chrono function uses the Stop/Start and Wrap/Reset buttons to start and stop timing, saving up to 8 times and reset. Finally, the light button on the top left activates the bluish indiglo. The glow will stop as soon as you release the button, unless it is pressed until it beeps. The light then stays for a few seconds. In particular, the wearer should not use buttons with the watch submerged.
When it comes to readability, it’s difficult to resist the Iron Man 8 rap. The display is very basic so everything is clear. Perhaps the only request I make is a few seconds of seconds to create a better separation from time and minutes. Again, changing this part of the display can affect other features.
Conclusion
I’m sure the Iron Man 8 Rap is much more popular with hipsters and trendsetters than athletes. Still, it’s a great watch that looks just as fresh today as it was in 1986. Furthermore, the features are easy to access and convenient. Also, I like my G-Shock, but I’m happy to know there are small alternatives with equally interesting history. Above all, the resin version is a list of 88.95 euros and shipping on TimeX Japan, making it extremely affordable. Hopefully you enjoyed this look with modern classics.
