Watches

**Digitalfreefall** · 9th March 2006, 18:31

"Traser H3 watches are the choice of the World's leading Special Forces including the SAS and Foreign Legion."

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What watches are considered best for military use, just wondering.

**Coinnach** · 9th March 2006, 18:58

Quality advertising on their site! I didn't know that you get a free watch when you sign up with the Legion.

**6min** · 9th March 2006, 19:11

Now listen to me. There are 3 main types of mil watches. A pilot, a large, highly legible piece, good if it is with chronograph. Classic ones made by Tutima, a German brand currently supplying its Military Chronograph line sa the Official watch of the Bundeswehr and NATO pilots. A really good watch. This is MY choice, for reasons I will explain later.
Second come a basic field watch.
Third comes the divers. A good one, actually a GREAT one is made by Marathon. But it has no chronograph. Comes both as a quartz or an auto version. Quartz--pros, VERY accurate, cons, dies on you in the field. Auto, less acurate, pros does not need a battery.
I use my Tutyima even when diving--it has 200 mets water resistance. hope that helps.

To continue, the watches can be split into 3 general categories : watches that are currently issued, watches that have links with militaries in the past and are trying to capitalize on their past and the watches that have no connection with any military, but copy the style.
* 1st group, watches currently issued. British "CWC"-- nice but overpriced. "Marathon SAR"--a creat watch, both quartz and auto models, currently used by NASA (uses the quartz version), Canadian SAR teams, Israelis, US Army SARs. In my opinon the best mil spec diver. Period.
"Tutima", current official NATO and German Armed forces supplier. The best OVERALL watch in my opinion.
* The second group--Rolex, IWC, Hanhart, Oficine Panerai have all been produced for the military in the past, and now sell "mil" watches in the 2000-5000 USD range. Do not even look at those....
* 3rd group. Some are ridiculous , like luminox and traser that have no connection with the mil, but there are others that do not pretend to be "mil" watches, but are favorites of soldiers around the world. Example--ANY Seiko diver (6309 model is a classic from the Vietnam war and a collector's item today. The prospex line is heavily used by commercial divers today). G-shock line by Casio is GREAT and a favorite among soldiers (one of those survived on my wrist in my 2 yrs in my home country army). Suunto is another one with all the tech things (altimeters compass, barometer...)
To summarize it--depending on the money and the dial and movement you want to get you have tons of options.
- If you want to spend less than $150 and can live with quartz and toggling screens GET A G-Shock!!! Good one I quarantee it (the thing I did not like is that if you want to use the chrono you have to switch screens, annoying).
- $300-400. Get a Marathon SAR. A great watch, built like a tank, with the same tritium illumination like the traser. Better quartz movement (thermocompensated, do not ask me what this means, I can write a whole chapter on this

). Actual watch issued to Canada and US military. In fact I think it comes with the mil issue numbers on back (I still think that GI is not a measure of high quality, but with this one I think Marathon got it right). Even more, the bezel can be used to time simple things like a chrono.
- More than that amount of money---do not spend more, but if you really want it, get a Tutima, it is GREAT.
Other alternatives--ANY SEIKO, my favorite

Google "seiko tuna can" see for yourself.
End thoughts--a watch needs not to be pronounced "military" to be tough and loved by soldiers, there are tons of those around. The real "issue" ones --there are like 5-6 companies like those and I mentioned them.
Hope that helps.

P.S. If you want to go French there is one "Bell & Ross" a great one and their model "Type Démineur" was actually created in close cooperation with GIGN and I am pretty sure issued to them in the late 80's and on.

**Chas** · 9th March 2006, 19:16

Small watch given to all at sea who undertake seaman's duties.
Known as Dog Watch and always worn on port wrist.

Beautiful timepiece.

**wannabee** · 9th March 2006, 21:12

Nice watches. Too bad all good watched are so damn expensive

I have no idea what the pound stands at now, but £199.99 sounds like a lot too

**another_wanabe** · 9th March 2006, 21:51

Breitling watches are nice

**6min** · 9th March 2006, 23:00

Originally Posted by another_wanabe

Breitling watches are nice

TOOOOO much bling to be a military watch... With some legit past though, especially their Navitimer line.

**Mise** · 9th March 2006, 23:22

The best watch? One that tells the time and doesn't explode when you fire an 84.

**Martin Scott** · 10th March 2006, 10:33

Silvermans G10. Had mine for over 20 YEARS forgot to give it back .

**6min** · 10th March 2006, 16:44

Nice one Martin, actually it is made by CWC, the ones I mentioned as a true "issue watch". The thing is that they are so damn popular amongst the collectors and wannabees (being the "real deal") that CWC has raised the price for civilians through the roof

. In your case it is a different story. You managed to "liberate" this fine piece of equipment, so enjoy it now (by the way a 20 yrs old watch like yours with history will command quite a price if auctioned). Just mentioning it though, I doubt you will sell it--I will never think about selling my old Seiko "tuna can" that I did my first dive with.
Take care

**another_wanabe** · 10th March 2006, 16:51

Originally Posted by 6min

TOOOOO much bling to be a military watch... With some legit past though, especially their Navitimer line.

yes the Navitimer series, my friend has a pair, he let me wear them, one of the lightest watches i've ever wore, u don't even feel them on your wrist

**serge** · 10th March 2006, 20:43

G10 or Casio G shock or Rolex Oyster perp. depending on the sorroundings.

**Martin Scott** · 11th March 2006, 10:29

Originally Posted by 6min

Nice one Martin, actually it is made by CWC, the ones I mentioned as a true "issue watch". The thing is that they are so damn popular amongst the collectors and wannabees (being the "real deal") that CWC has raised the price for civilians through the roof

. In your case it is a different story. You managed to "liberate" this fine piece of equipment, so enjoy it now (by the way a 20 yrs old watch like yours with history will command quite a price if auctioned). Just mentioning it though, I doubt you will sell it--I will never think about selling my old Seiko "tuna can" that I did my first dive with.
Take care

Doesn't explode either when you fire off a 84