September 30, 2026

A New Entry Point for Timex Atelier
Timex debuted Atelier in 2025 as a premium, Swiss-made sub-brand that carries forward the design language Chief Creative Director Giorgio Galli developed in his namesake collection. Every Atelier model so far has used an automatic movement and cost more than $1,000. That changes with the 2026 Timex Atelier Chronograph Quartz M1q, which sits between Timex’s everyday catalog and its luxury-focused range. It may look like a cheaper version of the Chronograph Automatic M1a Ti, but the two differ in several important ways.

Case Construction and Dimensions
The M1q uses stainless steel instead of titanium. It measures 40mm wide and 12.7mm thick, including its strongly domed, bubble-style sapphire crystal. The lugs are 20mm apart, and the lug-to-lug length is 48.11mm. A solid screw-down caseback replaces the display window found on the automatic. The skeletonized case, with a black-finished core, openwork lugs and rectangular pushers, comes from the Marine M1a and the earlier Giorgio Galli S2. The crown now screws down, which doubles water resistance to 100 meters. A black IP-coated steel tachymeter insert sits within a steel bezel ring. For wrists of about 6.5 to 6.75 inches, the smaller size is a clear improvement.

Movement and Dial Design
Power comes from the Swiss-made Ronda Caliber 5021.D, which uses one SR927SW (395) battery rated for about 54 months. Timex chose the premium “Swiss Made” version, with 10 jewels and gold-plated parts, over the 5-jewel “Swiss Parts” variant that is assembled abroad. The chronograph is basic: a central seconds hand and a single 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock. The two-register guilloché dial adds a date window at 6 o’clock. Because of the movement’s layout, the registers sit higher on the dial and look slightly small. There is no lume, so the polished hands stand out against the monochrome design.

Strap Options and Pricing
The watch comes on a steel three-link bracelet or on the featured rubber strap (ref. TW6A07000). The strap is made of oil-resistant NBR rubber and uses quick-release spring bars and a brushed-steel deployant clasp. The rubber version costs $700 USD, and the bracelet version costs $100 more. That is one-third the price of the automatic flagship and less than $100 above the Expedition Pioneer Titanium Automatic GMT. The M1q is by far the most affordable Atelier model yet and an easy first step into the brand’s premium Swiss range.

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