Were heading back to the 80s with this latest release from Timex the Q LCA

Timex has been on a bit of a roll over the last year or so with their Q division. There seems to be no end in sight to them searching their back catalogue and bringing us pieces that tug on the heartstrings with their nostalgia value. I purchased their Pepsi Q and have reviewed that here on the site, but this latest release is the Q LCA digital, and it's straight from their 80s catalogue. When I started to see pictures of this one, I must confess I made a mental note to pick one up as soon as they were available! Kindly Timex got in touch and offered to send me one so how could I refuse!

I’m a child of the 80s with fond memories of James Bond, the Goonies and Star Trek so watches like this LCA from Timex take me right back to those times where I honestly believed by now I would be a successful secret agent who used my watch to summon my flying car to take me to my apartment on the moon. That clearly didn’t come to pass, and that’s probably for the best, but the excitement and imagination of those times still makes me smile. Watches like the LCA played a big part in that as they were something tangible you could wear and felt almost futuristic to me back then.

The LCA wasn’t alone in the 80s, with Casio and Seiko amongst others all producing watches that are unmistakable now in design. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say many of us who were children in the 80s lusted after one or all of these watches. I think it’s fair to say Timex with its Q range in general, is taking seriously the fact that there is a vast market for retro-styled watches and re-releases, and is only too happy to oblige. But have the decades been kind to the LCA? Or would it have been better left in the past along with mullets and leg warmers?

The first thing I’ll say that struck me when I received the LCA is how nicely overall it’s finished. The case is a nice mix of brushing to the top and bottom sections and the case back and then polishing to the sides. It’s very nicely done. Edges are nicely finished too, and overall it feels like a quality piece considering the price point. Size-wise the LCA remains faithful to the original, and I guess by today’s standards would be regarded as small at 32.5mm and only 9mm thick, but it never felt too small on my 7.25 wrist. The LCD screen is perfectly legible and offers both digital time and analogue as the A in LCA implies. It also shows day and date and has chronograph, countdown timer and alarm functionality too. These are all very basic functions accessed by the four function buttons. If you have used any basic digital watch, you will have no problems getting to grips with these. Printing around the LCD screen and on the lower section of the case is all very crisp and legible against the deep blue border with the Q logo proudly displayed at the 12 o’clock position and Timex Quartz at the 6.

The bracelet is all stainless steel flat links with a brushed finish with some sort of black finish on the interlinking sections. It works well with the dark blue LCD screen border and ties the whole look of the watch together nicely. It’s a thin bracelet, but then that was the style of the time, and this is, after all, a reissue. It also has the same sliding clasp design from other Q models that allows you to get the perfect fit. I do find I like this style of clasp from a fit perspective, but it can be fiddly to adjust. And I dare say due to the thinness it’s not something I would want to have to adjust to regularly as I think I would be easy to bend or break if you're too heavy-handed.

So after a week or so of use what do I think of the Q LCA? Overall I have to say I’m impressed. It does what a watch like this sets out to do, and that’s put a smile on your face when you look at it. It’s not all rainbows and kittens, of course, because these things rarely are. The Light as it’s optimistically titled for the top right hand button is laughable. Ironically just as it was back when it was first released all those decades ago, make no mistake you won’t be reaching for this in the dead of night to see the time, there is no Indiglo in use here. The bracelet design suits me as it's thin and light, but only you can decide if you like that and find it comfortable. People complained the first Q Pepsi bracelet pulled arm hair and was uncomfortable in that respect. I never saw that to be an issue, but if you did, then this bracelet may have the same problem for you.

Aside from those points, it can be argued that as a re-release Timex have just been faithful to the original. I think Timex has done a superb job with the LCA. It will no doubt be a polarising watch in the community with some people happy to have a very genuine re-release of a watch from their youth and some who feel it should have been updated for the current decade. And I’m sure in their way both sets of enthusiasts are right. Ultimately you can’t please everyone, and manufacturers like Seiko with some of their re-released divers know only too well the backlash when these watches deviate from the originals too much. Ultimately if you like the aesthetic of the Q LCA, I doubt you will be disappointed with it in the flesh. It’s a watch to enjoy wearing because it holds some nostalgic value for you or you want the retro vibe it gives. As long as you buy it for those reasons and not as a technically advanced piece, I think it’s hard not to like the Q LCA. Overall I believe Timex did a great job of taking me back to the 80s, so if that appeals to you, then the Q LCA might just be a watch you will enjoy too.

Looking to pick up your own Timex LCA? find them available here.