Timex Factory - 54830 Cuautitlán Izcalli

At the heart of everyday carry is a trifecta of utilitarian essentials: the knife, pen, and watch. When The James Brand partnered with Timex® to design the latter back in 2021, the result was a pared-down and practical timepiece that helped close the circle of this function-first assortment. Together, we moved everyday carry from the pocket to the wrist, and after a sold-out run, The James Brand has returned to the horological world for a second collaboration.

An adventurous, modern maker of knives and other useful tools, The James Brand is deeply entrenched in a culture that—much like the watch scene—values dependability, ergonomics, and emotional connection. Naturally, we were a great fit from the start. With the Timex Expedition North® collection providing the perfect playing field, we teamed up to design the collection’s pinnacle product: The James Brand x Timex Expedition North 41mm Automatic, an embodiment of our shared devotion to quality design, premium materials, and unmatched performance.

“Beyond the product itself, I think the idea of everyday carry resonates with watch fans. There is a very direct line between the things that you wear on your wrist and the things that you put in your pockets on a daily basis.”

Like its predecessor, our latest collaborative watch falls right in line with the outdoor-ready capsule. It features an exciting pro-planet improvement: a two-piece, quick-release fabric strap made from #tide® upcycled, ocean-bound plastic. “We wanted to update the strap, and having this material available made this choice easy,” explains Ryan Coulter, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of The James Brand. He continues, “We try to make solid environmental decisions any time that we can, and this one was a no-brainer for us. There are no compromises in functionality or hand feel, and we are happy to be able to use upcycled materials. This is where all manufacturing is headed, and we want to do all that we can, when we can.”

The new watch also boasts an easily legible dial layout with a white color update, showcasing lume-filled markings and watch hands of some pretty bold proportions. “We really wanted to work with a white dial, as we had gone back and forth with that as an option in the first collaboration, and it was a toss-up,” recalls Ryan. “We went with the black version, but we knew that we had unfinished business with the white dial. It really looks great.”

The familiar case profile is rendered in true 6AL4V titanium—a durable material all but required by those of us who are tough on our gear out in the field. While last year’s release was the first time we used this amazing material in almost two decades, The James Brand is no stranger to titanium, featuring it throughout many of their everyday carry designs. Not only does it vaunt some swoon-worthy finish characteristics, but it also has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than stainless-steel, making this watch comfortable enough on the wrist for all-day wear.

You’ll recall that a tried-and-true 21-jewel Miyota 8215 automatic movement is seated comfortably beneath the screw-down case back, and we’ve kept the anti-glare sapphire crystal so you can catch a glimpse at the machinery working inside. Being a limited-edition collab and all, you can bet that we’ve finished things off with dual branding and the TJB Clovis inlay on the screw-down crown, which provides an impressive water resistance rating of up to 200 meters.

Lightweight, accurate, and built to last, this new release embodies peak outdoor watch design. But beyond the high-performing feature-set and premium materials lies perhaps its greatest strength: an innate ability to bring who you are and what you value, from your pocket, and to the wrist.

To learn more about our partnership with The James Brand, you can check out last year’s interview with Ryanhere.