Watches... again... looking for a light one...

CD Fleischer

CD Fleischer

Joined
Oct 12, 1998
Messages
2,036
Well, I had just bought a nice Luminox Friday. My wrists have been hurting for a few weeks so I went to the health nurse today and she thinks it is the beginnings of carpal tunnel. She gave me a sheet that had guidelines for computer usage, etc., and said "Avoid wearing heavy watches or bracelets" I took my watch off and left it off for the rest of the day, and, honestly, it has been hurting less.

My problem is that I like big heavy divers watches with metal bands. HELP! Now I need a lighter watch. I have a Timex Reef Gear with a nylon band I can wear but it doesn't look terribly professional. Any suggestions? Would a titanium watch be significantly lighter?

Thanks, knowledgeable forumites!


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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847

[This message has been edited by CD Fleischer (edited 05-30-2001).]
 
Titanium *would* be significantly lighter. I have a Citizen Eco Drive in Ti, and it is very light, almost as light as a watch cast in plastic taking the same volume. I just wished that Citizen would make a ti model that used traser elements. Perhaps the Luminox in Ti might be what you're looking for. Patrick Ma @ Triple Aught has them for significantly less $ than Sharper Image.

Speaking as a RN, perhaps you should forgo the wristwatch thing altogether and go with a pocket watch? Perhaps the ortho brace you will inevitably wear might get a free pint of guinness. A big patient stepped on my foot and I was limping for a day or two and it got me a free pint of stout
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"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child.", King Lear, Act I, Scene 4.
 
Clay,
That's awful. I know a couple of people that have carpal tunnel and it's no fun. Before you sell your watch though, you might try going to a M.D. for a second opinion. Was this a university health R.N.? When I was in school I was misdiagnosed by the health department there that it wasn't even funny. I had pneumonia once, and they told me I had the flu. I went back two more times and they treated me like I was faking (it was during finals). I had to go to an outside doc who totally freaked out when he checked me out.

If it is carpal tunnel I tend to agree with Paranoid9999. Look into pocket watches. Pocket watch for formal, professional type days, and maybe one of those that hangs off your belt for casual days.

Paul
 
My last watch was a big thick steel job. My new one is about the same size but made of titanium. The weight difference is amazing!

By all means look for one you like in titanium. (Mine is a St. Moritz Format 2 Ti analog/digital diving watch.)

--Bob Q
 
You wil not believe the difference that a titanium watch makes. I have almost two identical Citizens, the ti one must weigh less then half.
Nick
 
Thanks for the helpful hints.

My pockets are already so full, I have trying to stuff anything else in there. I know they have pocket watches with belt pouches, but my belt is already crammed full with leatherman, pager, and cell phone (2 when I am on call!)

Since I have a cellphone and a pager, I don't really need a watch, but I like the convenience of having it easy to glance at.

I am wearing my Seiko today and it is pretty light, so it doesn't hurt like the Luminox, but I can tell it is there.

Will have to look for a nice Titanium watch I can afford. I don't like the looks of the Luminox titanium, so maybe a different one. Wish there were better low-light options out there...

Thanks again, folks, and keep the suggestions coming!

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
Clay,
You must have one of the Luminox watches with the steel case. If you like the other features of the Luminox brand, but want something lighter, take a look at one of the original Luminox Navy Seal models. These are still waterproof to a respectable depth, but the cases are made with some type of nylon/plastic case, and are extremely lightweight. These can be had for about $125 now if you know where to look.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
I've sure been there. I first got it in 1990 with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (now pretty well under control with medication).

Is the carpal tunnel syndrome in one wrist or both? You don't mention switching wrists as an option. One could at least alternate.

You can get "finger watches" in some places--although your wrist is still supporting the weight.

Also make sure that your wristband isn't too TIGHT -- that *can* be as important as the weight itself.

I have to admit, the whole time this was going on I was wearing highly accurate, cheap, rubber Casios, about an inch above the "carpal tunnel spot" BTW. They never bothered me.
 
Thats an interesting looking watch E_Wok, but usually I don't buy watches that are worth more than my car
smile.gif
 
Paul -- the nurse was the employee health nurse here at the hospital where I work. The sheet she gave me said the same thing. It was published by the Ergonomics REsearch Council or something.

johnniet -- Actually I tried to wear it on the other hand and had the same problem. And I loosened the band till it was hanging off and it still hurt.
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Thanks for all the info, fellas.


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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
Sorry that didn't help CD.
Oh yeah -- check here for advice on pens too.
It makes a big difference. I tend to like the roller balls but I suspect that the pressurized ballpoints (Fisher, Sensa) are also good.
There are also a couple of different types of ergonomic keyboard out there. One is convex, another is concave (harder to find, but I think probably more natural). And WRIST PADS. (You won't believe the difference.)
Wrist splints every night when you sleep -- I still wear them, or it comes back.
Yes, I know you've heard all this crap.
If it comes to it, the cortisone injections (in the wrist) don't really hurt that much. Certainly not like those #$%! nodules under the finger that I hope you never get.
 
Another thing to scrap is any semblance of a mouse- I gave up mine a couple of years ago after some twinges- and have found that a solid trackball saves a lot of problems. This is the one I came up with that does a lot - and it saves your wrist a lot of movement. On the downside it can't be used for games (but that's what started the mess, right?) ;-) www.itacsystems.com -it's the Evolution mouse. They had a hacker break into the website a day or two back so the site is down until next week. I had them send you a brochure, Clay. Anyone else interested, their phone # is 972-494-3073 located in TX. Good company and a great product. Smoother than other trackballs I've tried and built for bear. Keep in mind tha tif you do go to a trackball, give it at least three weeks before you're really used to it. I find it difficult to use a mouse after using this for almost two years.

Hope this might help.


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Regards,
Tim
Nor'east Knives
noreastknives@bigfoot.com

There are two rules for ultimate success in life.
Never tell everything you know.

[The other one is to please read the groundrules for the Auto forum at: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001211.html ]
 
I've had my Luminox 3602 titanium dive watch for three weeks now and I love it. It is very light for a watch of its size. I compared the weight of the ti Luminox with two of my all steel watches with a certified balance at work.

Ti Luminox weighs 2.98 oz
Seiko Sports 150 weighs 3.98 oz
Citizen Navitach weighs 5.07 oz

So you can see there is quite a difference. I wear my Luminox almost all the time now. I even wear it in bed so that I can take advantage of the tritium tubes.

To bad you don't like the looks. I think it looks great. I even showed it to a salesman at a jewelry store that sells Rolex, Omega, etc., and he commented that it was a nice looking watch. I understand that some people prefer the bright shine of stainless steel to the gray of titanium. I used to be that way until I bought my Luminox.

If you do decide to buy the ti Luminox, BFC moderator Dennis Bible aka shootist16 has them for $299 plus shipping. That's $20 less than what it cost me from Triple Aught Design. Here is a link to the thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum57/HTML/000195-2.html

Since were on the topic of ergonomic mice, I have been using the 3M Renaissance mouse (formerly the Anir vertical mouse) for almost two years now and it has completely eliminated the wrist pain I had with a regular mouse. It does take some getting use to, but the neutral position it affords the hand is great. Heck, my wife even adapted to it. The secretary at work thinks its too phallic looking which may not be a bad thing.
wink.gif


Here's a link to the mouse:

http://www.3m.com/cws/renmouse.html

Axel
 
Axel, upon looking at it agin I like the looks better on this model than at first. While I still like the bezel on the Marine series (which, IMHO is the best looking of the Luminox watches), I like the spartan face on the titanium models. Won't be getting one too soon, I fear, for I have a wedding for which to pay (and pay and pay and pay
wink.gif
), but someday. I really shouldn't have bought this one but it was too good a deal to pass up. It was but it didn't work out for me!

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
You guys don't know what a LIGHT watch is. I carry the Swatch SKIN when I am going lightweight. I believe it is the thinnest watch being sold now and is thinner than the thinnest Patek Phillipe.

http://www.swatch.com/fs_index.php?haupt=collections&unter=skin

The thinnest ever was the Swiss made Delirium Tremens, a gold watch that was never sold to the public. this one is less than 4 mm thick. And at 12 grams, you may be hard pressed to remember you are wearing it!

rolleyes.gif


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Dances with lemmings
Accept M/C, VISA free, 5$ bonus to sign on.
 
Hooray for the Swatch Skin!! I was just going to suggest it but was beaten to the punch! I love to wear this watch when I don't want to feel like I'm wearing a watch. You literally don't know it's there till you look at it. Also it fits so well under a long sleeved shirt (unlike some of my Casio monsters!) Also it's a bargain @ $70.00. Btw, I bought one called the "jelly gold skin", it's a clear band, and watch but with all of the inner workings exposed and done in gold. I think it looks rather classy.
Laters.
 
Yes, they are waterproof (probably wouldn't want to dive though) I go swimming in the pool, no problemo. As for durabilty, every Swatch I've ever owned has taken a beating and, well you know the rest.
 
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