News · Timex

Timex puts a 36 mm cushion case around the Marlin Chatham Automatic

Two shaped-case automatics pair Breguet numerals and visible Miyota movements with Australian list prices from A$525.

Hen & Mills Editorial · 4 min read · 7 October 2026

• Timex has introduced two 36 mm Marlin Chatham Automatics, giving the mid-century-inspired line a compact cushion-case option.
• Applied Breguet numerals, an exhibition back and a Miyota 8215 movement define the white-and-steel and black-and-gold-tone versions.
• The Australian regular prices are A$525 for TW2Y84300 and A$545 for TW2Y84500; both are listed on Timex’s storefront.

Small automatic watches are easy to romanticise until the case profile, dial and price all arrive together. Timex has used the Marlin name for plenty of retro-minded pieces, but the Chatham takes a particular route: a 36 mm cushion case, applied Breguet numerals and an exhibition back in two distinct colour combinations. The company announced the pair on 6 October, and its Australian storefront already lists both references. They are the Timex Marlin Chatham Automatic TW2Y84300 and TW2Y84500.

A cushion case without the bulk

The polished steel case measures 36 mm across, 12 mm thick and 44.5 mm from lug to lug. That last figure is especially helpful on a shaped watch: a square or cushion outline can look small by diameter yet spread further across the wrist than expected. Here the published length gives a more practical sense of the footprint than the 36 mm headline alone. Timex tops it with mineral crystal and rates it to 50 metres of water resistance, a useful everyday margin rather than an invitation to treat it as a dive watch.

The two cases are related but not identical in mood. TW2Y84300 uses silver-tone steel, a white dial and black leather. TW2Y84500 has a gold-tone steel case, black dial and brown leather. The applied Arabic numerals have the curled Breguet form on both. I tend to find gold-tone cases can overwhelm a small dial, but the dark face here gives the brighter metal a boundary, while the white-and-steel reference keeps the numerals at the centre of attention. Which one works is less about gender or dress codes than about how much contrast you want from a compact case.

The movement gets a window

Turn the Chatham over and the automatic movement is visible through an exhibition back. Timex identifies it as the Japanese Miyota 8215, with 21 jewels, hacking seconds and an approximate 42-hour power reserve. It is a familiar movement rather than a hidden technical surprise, but stating the calibre is useful at this price because buyers can see precisely what the mechanical part of the offer is. The quoted accuracy is minus 20 to plus 40 seconds per day, a specification that sets expectations more honestly than calling any automatic watch simply precise.

The straps are natural leather with quick-release spring bars and a conventional buckle. Timex says the leather comes through the Leather Working Group, and the 20 mm lug width gives the owner a straightforward route to a replacement. On a small, shaped case, a strap swap can alter the balance dramatically: the black strap makes the white dial look crisp, while brown softens the gold-tone version. That flexibility makes more practical sense than adding an unusual proprietary attachment just to reinforce the vintage styling.

Where the Chatham sits in Marlin

Timex describes the Marlin as a line with roots in its mid-century catalogue, and the Chatham takes that reference through the numerals and cushion outline rather than through an exact reissue claim. I like that restraint. An archive-inspired watch does not need to pretend every old detail has survived unchanged, especially when modern conveniences such as quick-release bars and a display back are right in front of you. The shape will be the dividing point: readers who want the usual round Marlin may prefer to stay there, while this one offers a softer outline without leaving the collection's price range.

There are small practical compromises. Mineral crystal does not have the scratch resistance of sapphire, and the 12 mm height is not wafer-thin for a 36 mm watch. Neither detail sinks the proposition, but they matter more than a generic claim of elegance. What does stand out is the complete specification at an Australian price that Timex has actually published, including the case length and movement reference. The Chatham gives a buyer enough detail to make a choice without having to guess what sits under the back.

Timex Marlin Chatham Automatic pricing and availability

Timex announced the Marlin Chatham Automatic on 6 October 2026. Its Australian storefront lists TW2Y84300, the silver-tone case with white dial and black leather strap, at A$525. TW2Y84500, the gold-tone case with black dial and brown leather strap, is A$545. The maker's US storefront lists the same references at US$289 and US$299 respectively. These are the listed regular prices, not promotional reductions.

The real appeal is that Timex has made the shaped case and mechanical movement the main event, without asking the buyer to decode a limited-edition story or an invented heritage claim. I would take the white dial for the clearer view of those numerals, although the gold-tone version makes a fair argument for itself once the brown strap is in the picture. Either way, this is a Marlin that looks distinct from across a table rather than only under a loupe.