Watches that can survive in the field

e_utopia

e_utopia

Joined
Feb 7, 2000
Messages
3,221
Need a watch that can survive a lot of abuse.

I'm not really a watch person (I've had the same Casio for so many years I don't remember when I got it), so I don't know what's out there.

I was thinking something like a pocketwatch, but more rugged and with a clip to attach it to a belt loop (or pack, etc.), if they make such a thing. That is, something that has its own case which closes over the face.

Any ideas?

--JB
 
I agree with Ferret, Casio G SHOCK all the way!. Ived owned a G 100 & a gaussman for years, lots of abuse no problems period! G 100 i ware the most for outside,the Gaussman is a little more dressy i ware it for Sunday go to meeten etc. between $75.00 & 125.00 for G100.And $150.00 & $200.00 for Gaussman .You can shop around and prob find them a little cheaper than that. As far as a pocket watch thats rugged , thats a tuff one you might try the SWISS ARMEY BRAND.They are well built & high quality . good luck!
 
Wenger and Swiss Army make what your looking for.

I don't have any of their pocket watches but do have a Wenger Chrono Commander and a Swiss Army Officer that are sweet !
 
Timex Humvee on a webing strap off my belt so it hangs
right inside the top of my right pocket. You could do this
with most watches, but it's super easy with the Humvee because
of how it's designed to go on a band. :D
P.S. (Added) Because it's on webing when I have my pack on I can
put it on the shoulder strap of my pack, So it's even easyier to
see and read.
 
Can't be a converted wristwatch - it needs to have a cover that closes over the crystal.

Do any of the Victorinox pocketwatches have that? None of the ones I've seen did.

--JB
 
Not that im aware of. they do have a leather case that has a belt loop ,the face of the watch is exposed though. Again happy hunting.
 
Acrylic (aka Plexiglass, Lucite) of reasonable thickness is damn near impossible to break -- try it sometime. There are hunter cased pocket watches still being made, but it's for nostalgia or style or something -- the metal cover isn't as strong as the crystal it's supposedly protecting.

Of course acrylic does scratch, and though it's easy to polish if you're in an environment that scratches it up so much you can't see through it unless you polish it every week, and sapphire or mineral glass could break under the conditions you're using it in, then a hunter case might still make sense. Either that or cover the crystal with document laminating plastic and peel off and replace as needed.

I don't know of any really strong hunters being made now; they're just for style. I guess you could make one yourself pretty easily, mount a G-Shock or Timex in some kind of box ... maybe gut a lensatic compass and epoxy a watch inside. Better yet, line it with rubber first and glue the watch to the rubber.
 
I've got a Timex Expedition and I hardly ever take it off. I needed a work watch and I bought this one about 3 years ago and I do alot of cement work in the summer time and my hands are always in a pail with cement tools and water and this watch just won't quit! Its all scratched up and I'm on my third band for it but the watch is tough as hell. I just ordered a Luminox Stealth watch, but my Timex will still be my work watch. It is unbelievable! And with the velcro wrist strap that is on it you can attach it to your belt or belt loops, sometimes when its really hot I take it off and attach it to my coveralls and it works really well that way too. :)
 
I've yet to see something that will kill a Timex Ironman... I've had mine for around 5 years I think.
 
I liked my G-Shock veeery much.... But it got lost when I moved! :( Guess I'll have to buy a new one!
 
Buy a good quality dive watch with a stainless case and synthetic quartz crystal.I've worn this type of watch for the past 24 years and have knocked them around in inumerable ways from diving to banging around machinery in the shop at work and "they keep on ticking."Dive watches are designed to be as tough as you can make a watch.Give 'em a try!
 
Not the style you seek,but I also say Timex Ironman.I seldom wear a watch outside of work,yet at work it gets,wet from sweat and water,exposed to heat,smoke and soot,covered in dirt etc.

Its alarm wakes me in the morning,and the indeglo light lets me read it in the dark.In the 8 or 10 years I've had this watch I don't ever remember having to reset the time!

Takes a beating on the fireground,never gets cleaned and has never "lost"a minute,all for a grand sum of $30.
 
Thanks for all the replies, but it really does need to have two features that wristwatches lack: it needs to not be on the wrist, and it needs to have a cover that closes over the crystal.

I figured someone would already make such a thing, but I guess not. Maybe I will end up putting a watch into a compass case.

--JB
 
Hello, I don't know about all of those newer digitals...... The one that is the toughest in the field and the one I wear 24/7 (well almost), is the Seiko Automatic Divers. This watch is currently18 years old and still going very strong. I have put one new bezel and about five new crystals on it over the years......It sure is a reliable and very very strong watch. It is the older divers case for the automatic style which is a little larger than the current style.

I have taken it on 300 mile backpacking trips. Two week hunting trips to Alaska....long range offshore fishing trips. Upland game hunting in Canada and desert exploring thru the southwest and Mexico......Believe me this watch is very tough!!!

I have many, many other higher grade watches i.e. Breitling, Omega, IWC, Rolex and Paneri but time after time I find myself relying on the old automatic Seiko;)

later, JC
 
You can find plenty of hunter cased pocket watches in the discount stores -- they aren't tougher than the wristwatches mentioned, but they're pretty tough ... it's pretty hard to kill any quartz movement and the cheap ones are the toughest (no jewels to break, and nylon gears can take more shock than metal).
 
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