Kelton (French Timex) Camper Japan Limited
Kelton is a joint venture company founded by Timex and french company named VIXA in 1955. Kelton Camper was sold only in France, during late 70’s to 80’s. It looks identical as Timex hand winding Camper, which was in production from 80’s to 90’s. Timex later issued “Original Camper” as a quartz model. (second picture, borrowed from Timex Japan) Timex also released MK1 mechanical camper a few years ago, but it was not a faithful reiisue of the original Camper.
In 2022, Kelton began to sell watches ouside of France, and this hand winding Camper was reiisued as Japan limited model. Case size:35mm, lug to lug:42.5mm, and lug width:18mm. I think this model is the most faithful reiisue of the Timex Camper.
As I recently spent many hours searching for information on the web, I found out that there is lot of ads and watch blogs in Japan that mentions “Timex provided military watch to US forces during Vietnam War and later made a civilian model named Camper in 80’s.”
Timex supplied mil spec MIL-W-46374B watch to US forces in 1982, which was after the Vietnam War. The specification of the watch used in Vietnam ended at MIL-W-46374A. MIL-W-46374B was adopted from July, 1975, three month after the war ended. For your reference, https://www.monomagazine.com/56/ shows mil spec watches used during Vietnam War. It is written in Japanese, but list of mil spec is in English, so I think you will be able to read it.
Timex advertised Camper as “The Marines wrist watch” in the past (last picture, borrowed from Timex Japan), so this could be the reason for the above misunderstanding.
I have found youtube video where former US soldier showing his Timex Camper watches. https://youtu.be/t_M2mCEOeiY?si=Y0RN_mVXjea7vlUb He mentions that he bought it at the PX store, and wore it during his duty. I learned that Camper was sold in PX store in the 90’s and was actually used by US soldiers. In that sense, I think I can say that Timex Camper is a military watch.
I wonder what kind of watch US soldiers are buying at PX store nowadays. I imagine gshock DW5600 or DW6900 is a popular choice, but if there is anyone who has knowledge about this, please let me know!
Japanese. Most of the time, I wear G-Shocks. I prefer watches without date window.
My memory is dim on the matter - I wasn't into watches at the time, but in the late 80s as a young GI pretty sure I wore a Timex Camper. But I mostly wore G-Shocks, Citizen and Bulova while in uniform.
The Exchange (ie the PX for Army, BX for Air Force, NEX for Navy) carry several (>100) watch brands - although not the entire brand catalog - both in store and online. In store selection will not include everything sold online and vary based on the store location and size, but generally include Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, Timex, Casio and fashion watch brands, mostly quartz. The most common automatics in store tend to be Seikos.
Online, and of interest to watch enthusiasts in the ranks or veterans/retirees with Exchange privileges, the Exchange sell Swatch Group brands like Omega, Tissot, Hamilton, Longines, plus Oris. Added bonus, they are an Authorized dealer...and sell tax free. I've purchased Omega, Hamilton, and Tissot online from the Exchange. All shipped from the same place - direct from the Swatch Group distribution center in New Jersey - full box and papers, full warranty. Pricing is maybe 5-15% below retail, and when on sale as much as 30% below retail.
Recently the Exchange began selling preowned luxury watches online (Rolex, Grand Seiko, Cartier, Baume and Mercier, etc). I've seen them advertised but haven't made a purchase - and don't know if any are good deals. The Exchange is the middle-man, with the seller being other retailers (akin to the way Amazon is a storefront for independent sellers). Once upon a time the Exchange did sell Rolex in stores, but I never saw it in person and believe it may only have been overseas.
As for what GI's are wearing these days, you name it, somebody is probably wearing it. G-Shocks are common...luxury watches not so much. I've worked with GI's rocking IWCs, Omegas, & Rolexes among others, but it's not the norm! There are plenty of Crunchers either in uniform or former/retired military.
My memory is dim on the matter - I wasn't into watches at the time, but in the late 80s as a young GI pretty sure I wore a Timex Camper. But I mostly wore G-Shocks, Citizen and Bulova while in uniform.
The Exchange (ie the PX for Army, BX for Air Force, NEX for Navy) carry several (>100) watch brands - although not the entire brand catalog - both in store and online. In store selection will not include everything sold online and vary based on the store location and size, but generally include Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, Timex, Casio and fashion watch brands, mostly quartz. The most common automatics in store tend to be Seikos.
Online, and of interest to watch enthusiasts in the ranks or veterans/retirees with Exchange privileges, the Exchange sell Swatch Group brands like Omega, Tissot, Hamilton, Longines, plus Oris. Added bonus, they are an Authorized dealer...and sell tax free. I've purchased Omega, Hamilton, and Tissot online from the Exchange. All shipped from the same place - direct from the Swatch Group distribution center in New Jersey - full box and papers, full warranty. Pricing is maybe 5-15% below retail, and when on sale as much as 30% below retail.
Recently the Exchange began selling preowned luxury watches online (Rolex, Grand Seiko, Cartier, Baume and Mercier, etc). I've seen them advertised but haven't made a purchase - and don't know if any are good deals. The Exchange is the middle-man, with the seller being other retailers (akin to the way Amazon is a storefront for independent sellers). Once upon a time the Exchange did sell Rolex in stores, but I never saw it in person and believe it may only have been overseas.
As for what GI's are wearing these days, you name it, somebody is probably wearing it. G-Shocks are common...luxury watches not so much. I've worked with GI's rocking IWCs, Omegas, & Rolexes among others, but it's not the norm! There are plenty of Crunchers either in uniform or former/retired military.
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge about Exchange!
Wish they issue us these when I went in the service back in 2000. Lucky I just had a simple Casio. If they would issue one of these I would of still have it or be in my shadow box display.