Stranger Than Fiction Movie Watch – Timex 56371

As an authorized Timex watch dealer I try to add new models to my selection every month.  In the Fall of 2006 I chose the Timex Ironman Dual-Tech model 56371.  It has a nice stainless steel case and band, and the face is a combination of Analog hands and LCD Digital digits with the ability to turn off the Digital display when you don’t need it.

Once I started selling the watch here on eBay it was doing well, but suddenly in early November I sold out my inventory over a single weekend.  I did a little research to see if I could figure out why and discovered this watch was a "character" in the Will Ferrell film "Stranger Than Fiction."  So I ordered a bunch more and hoped the movie would continue to draw interest.  It did and I sold out again in a few weeks.

Unfortunately Timex created some movie-specific retail packaging and only sold those units to traditional brick-and-mortar retailer stores, so it was nearly six months before I could obtain that model again.  The drought is over, so I'm doing what I can to keep them in stock.  It's still a fun, handsome watch even if the movie isn't necessarily bringing interested buyers to eBay.

I had not seen the movie while it was in theaters, so I decided it was time to rent the DVD and see exactly how much screen time my little Timex friend really has.  WOW!  That watch truly is a key component to the plot (one of the opening lines is "This is a story about a man named Harold Crick and his wristwatch.").  But of course like most things in Hollywood, the real Timex watch does not really do all the things they showed in the film (they obviously used a Stunt Watch for some of the scenes).  So this Guide is meant to provide a little perspective on how the Movie watch and the Real watch compare to each other.

Similarities between Movie and Real Timex 56371:

• Will Farrell is left-handed, so he wears his watch on his right wrist.  It will work fine there, but the crown for setting the analog hands is on the right side of the case.  So left-handed users will most likely need to remove the watch before setting the analog portion (digital setting can probably be done on-wrist by all wearers).
• The case and band for the watch were not modified for the movie.
• The analog hands are always visible; however, the user has the option of quickly turning off the digital display.

Fiction of Movie version of Timex 56371:

• The LCD display was significantly enhanced through the use of computer generated graphics. The watch was aware of things that would affect Harold Crick’s life.
• The watch's behavior (and Harold's life) was changed by the watch being set for the incorrect time.
• The watch's alarm does not have the same graphics as shown in the film.
• Changing the analog hands also changes the digital time displayed.

Other facts about Real Timex 56371:

• In some sources the watch model number is also referred to as T56371.
• The watch has two Alarms and each can be set for Daily or Date-specific use.
• The watch has the Timex INDIGLO display which helps you read the digital information (or acts as a backlight against the analog hands).
• There are setting instructions built-in to the watch and you can move digits either forward or backwards while setting it.
• It uses separate batteries for the analog and digital operations; estimated battery life is 2 years.

Other similar Timex models:

• Timex 56381 – Has the same case, but has a (lighter) resin band.  AND the LCD portion of this model is "reversed" from the original.  This means you have a black LCD background with light colored LCD digits.
• Timex 5E351 – This is a sportier Ironman model with a resin case, more lap memory, and the reverse LCD display.

I always appreciate it when you take an extra moment and say YES, this Guide was HELPFUL.  Please take a look in my Sun-Bits eBay Store to see if I have a watch in stock that meets your special needs.

PS - I think the film's creative team also picked some great actors and actresses to play the Human Characters in this movie.

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