If there’s one trick The White Lotus pulls off with particular flair—besides skewering the sometimes-kinky tics of the moneyed elite—it’s linking distinct stylistic flourishes to individual pathologies. Exhibit A: In the third season of the smash-hit HBO show, Walton Goggins’ Rick Hatchett sports a Timex, an inexpensive, travel-friendly watch that speaks volumes about his character.
The Timex in question is the Q GMT, a ’70s-indebted model wrapped in a 38mm steel case and equipped with a nifty bidirectional bezel. The no-frills black dial boasts luminescent markers and a handy date window, while the quartz movement ensures maximum precision with minimal fuss.
Crucially, the Q Timex GMT is also water resistant to 50 meters: ideal for short swims, though not necessary longer dives (an activity we sincerely hope Rick refrains from, lest he wind up like Jennifer Coolidge). It’s not quite a Rolex, sure, but it is an an all-time classic ticker with a strong legacy of its own, which makes it all the more interesting.
The fact that Rick, with his controversial past and shifty persona, wears a Timex is no accident. In the context of The White Lotus, the Q GMT isn’t just a throwaway accessory—it’s a reflection of his personality. Like his Timex, Rick is perched between the past and the present; between the yearning to present a certain sophisticated charm and the need to appear more authentic than his high-maintenance counterparts. Strapping on an affordable knockabout ticker is an easy to communicate all of that without uttering a single word.
When a show like The White Lotus puts an accessory in the spotlight it tends to become a big deal. Timex has been a stalwart in the affordable watch space for more than 150 years, and it’s already enjoying a resurgence, thanks, in no small part, to the enduring appeal of its archives. On Rick’s wrist, the Q GMT might just solidify itself as a timeless icon for a new generation of eagle-eyed enthusiasts.
This story originally appeared on GQ Italia.
