As a retired Navy Senior Chief who served on several ships for over 20 years, a basic G-Shock was the watch that I wore during my career. It was cheap, so if it was stolen out of my locker onboard ship I could replace it! HA! It also had an alarm, which I used to get me up for many a mid-watch (0000-0400). And also, onboard ship there are many sharp edges as you transit the decks of a carrier, destroyer or battleship. You would never wear something that could get hung up if you had to hustle to your General Quarters station. Now that I'm retired, I wear a Hamilton Field Khaki and really like it. Happy Holidays everyone!
I'm an army veteran myself, my service watch was a Casio G-Shock G2500. It is still working today, 20 years after it was bought and used during mine and my two brothers military services. I would love to have either one of the Marathons you featured, the CWC G10 and the Hamilton Khaki in my collection.
@@joestriker2100 I just bought a Ball watch. It is not military but it has tritium tubes. I do not understand why every manufacturer doesn't use these tubes. They are excellent and I can see my watch at any time without a charge. My brother is an avid outdoorsmen and will be buying a Luminox with the tubes as a gift in the near future.
@@ronurizar8961 I have a Ball watch also. Had two, but I sold the Roadmaster because I just hated the bracelet it came on. My Red Label GMT though I love. I agree with you. More companies need to do this. My Marathon is my 'go to' for camping and out doors activities.
Veteran here. Served 05-13. In my role a watch needed to survive sand, lots of sea water, shocks, extreme temps, low pressure from altitudes up to 13k ft, and generally just being smashed on everything. Used a casio pathfinder (now pro trek). Broke a lot of gear including myself, but the watch stood up to it all. Most the guys used those, suunto, or issued g shocks. Most of us had a preference for something with an altimeter like the pro trek/pathfinder, or suunto, and digital compass. Always had a separate gps with us too though Now lots of garmins on wrists in the field too. I love the idea of the dudes getting issued rolex's and the like in the old days, but when it really counts it's hard to argue against modern indestructible digital watches for actual military use.
I think that solar digitals remove the last quartz problem (from a purely utilitarian no-style or pride of ownership kind of way) - effing battery changes
The watches that I was issued as a frogman in the navy are what started my obsession with watches . I was issued a Tudor submariner, that I still have , as well as a Benerus type 1. Both those watches will be with me forever . I was also fortunate enough to be advised to go to the main PX and purchase a rolex submariner. I bought a 5513 in 1970 and only paid around $200. I'm so grateful to have been mentored by a salty old senior chief who had been into watches for a while . Anyway, all these years later , I've never regretted this sometimes all consuming passion of watch collecting. And as I've gotten older , it's also been good , solid secondary income . Great video .
I was an Abrams tank guy...the Sunnto was my go to. I needed accurate air temp and barometric pressure for the tank's computer to enable it to compute a ballistic solution. The Sunnto did that perfectly. Current best model for tank crewmen is the Suunto 9. If you don't need air/baro, the Casio G-Shock, Casio Pathfinder, and Timex Expedition are great practical, hardened, and affordable military watches too.
@@Catcrumbs not for air and baro. Everything else is sensors. If you can get it from a key station, great, otherwise get it from a watch. It’s more accurate.
@@simmsdn I don't understand. A tank is bigger than a watch. It has all kinds of laser rangefinders, optical sights and other devices. Why doesn't it have the sensors your watch has if the data they provide is essential to accurate shooting? Especially considering that the data from the watch would be affected by the tank's ventilation system.
@@Catcrumbs I'm ok with it; it makes the crew get into the computer and make sure the data is correct. You also have to input ammo data based on the lot you're firing (the computer cannot know that data because every lot of ammo manufactured is different). I always kept my Suunto strapped to a turret machine gun mount so it would get the ambient air and baro. The tank doesn't really have a ventilation system, it has an overpressurization system - which is the opposite of ventilation. The basics of the Abrams fire control system is from the mid-1970s. Sure, there have been updates since, but the core processes are nearly 50 years old. Doesn't need changed - ballistics haven't changed.
Great suggestions, my favorite “military style” brand is Sangin Instruments. Owned and operated by a former U.S. Marine. I own two (one quartz and one auto) and they are amazing!
Special Forces Veteran Perspective: I retired from active duty a couple of years ago, having spent the last 15 years of my military career as a Green Beret. This is what I can add in terms of what I experienced with watches: 1) G-Shock branded watches are absolutely ubiquitous across SOF (Special Operations Forces) personnel. We operate much more jointly (across all services) nowadays, so I saw G-Shocks on our guys. Rangers, SEALs, CCTs, etc. 2) Suunto Vector watches were issued to our unit from 2003 through around 2005. They were liked because of their compass and altimeter functions (very useful in Afghanistan). However, the plastic bezel didn't survive too long with our kind of rough use. Yet, it was nice that we could change the CR2032 battery so easily, and we always had a ton of those. 3) Luminox watches were sold at the PX, but few of the fellas bought them. Still, I actually had one during my early Q-Course training and would use it during tactical training at night with a piece 500 MPH tape over the dial to conceal the light until I needed to see the time. 3) I also wore an Omega Seamaster 300m on a black NATO strap while in Afghanistan. A few of the more senior guys had Rolex Subs; usually a "gift-to-self" after a previous long deployment. In 2011 we had a company called NFW make custom diver watches for us (NFW "Shumate" Diver). That Shumate is among the toughest automatic watches I've owned.
@@TeddyBaldassarre It is the Omega Ref. 2254.50. Caliber 1120. I still have it and use it. I preferred it during those deployments it because of its legibility (white against a black dial) and powerful, long-lasting lume. Also, with a 41mm case size, it is an out-of-the-way tool watch that I knew was reliable. Cool fact: Lume that has faded past the point that it is no longer visible with the naked eye is perfectly legible if using night vision goggles, which we used often.
I spent 21 years in the USAF and pretty much everyone wore G-Shocks, Pathfinder/Pro-Treks, Suunto, or Luminox. I usually wore a Pathfinder/Pro-Trek for the complications they offered, atomic timekeeping, and ruggedness without being chunky. I still have 2 that went around the world with me on multiple deployments and overseas assignments. Cool video, Teddy.
I'm an airline pilot for a major US airline, and here's some observations/thoughts I have on pilot watches: By far and away the most common watch I see on the wrist of older airline pilots is the WalMart Casio special. I once flew with three guys in a row who'd flown fighters in Vietnam and all three were wearing a cheap, basic Casio. The most common watch I see on the wrists of younger pilots is a tie between a G-SHOCKs and the Citizen Skyhawk. Very few pilots seem into horology, and most are cheap; in nearly 15 years of airline flying I've only seen a handful of pilots wearing luxury watches, and usually if they are it's a Rolex. Most of the marketing you see on pilot watches and what we wear is just that, marketing. That being said, here are the features I look for in a watch for flying: - First and foremost I want something that can easily change time zones. Airline pilots jump between them continuously, and our pickup and show times are based on local time. I don't want to think about what time zone I'm in and have to add or subtract the hours from my home time every time I need to know the local time, which is often. - Second would be durability. Cockpits tend to be cramped and full of sharp, hard surfaces. Try as I might to be cautious, most of my steel watches are pretty banged up and I've scratched my share of sapphire glass. Not really something you want to do to an expensive timepiece. - Third on my list is legibility/readability. Pilot watches tend to be busy with E6Bs (slide rules) on the bezel, or lots of chronograph wheels. I own a few watches with E6B's on them and honestly can't say I've ever used them, even though I fly both professionally and recreationally. What they really do is over-complicate the dial and require me to take my eyes off the sky longer to figure out the time. When I'm in the cockpit of the airliner at work, I like a good EL or LED backlight as we tend to keep the lights low at night to help our eyes see traffic. I don't have good luck with the lume on most of my analog watches after an hour or so in a dark cockpit. In the smaller general aviation airplanes I fly (think Cessna), timers and stopwatches can be used to determine speed, time, and distance, and although not as much with newer avionics, are still used rather frequently. A good example of this would be a 30 min repeating timer to help me remember to switch fuel tanks, and a stopwatch to calculate the time between two points to determine groundspeed. The truth is analogue chronographs suck for this, especially in smaller airplanes - engine vibrations and turbulence make it extremely difficult to read the little hacks between minutes on an analogue chronograph, digital is king for timing in aviation. So in summary, pilots need durable, readable watches with multiple time zones, at least that's what I want. What best fits this bill for me is a G-SHOCK. If I had to pick one out of my collection to go flying with, I'd chose my GMW-B5000 which has seen the majority of work wrist time with me since I bought it. Since it's an all polished and brushed metal square, it looks great in uniform, and has just about every feature you could ever imagine in a watch (multiple time zones, bluetooth and atomic time syncing, solar charging, auto-backlight, etc) the only feature I wish it had is a vibrating alarm, since you can't hear the beeps in a cockpit; but as we all know, no watch is completely perfect. I think it's important that I mention I am not a G-SHOCK or Casio fan boy. I have a deep love and appreciation for all watch types, including mechanicals, dress, divers, etc. Sometimes I really wish I could wear some of them in the cockpit more than once in awhile, but due to the above reasons (especially the scratching) it's pretty rare I do. Hopefully this gives you some insight into what a real airline and recreational pilot looks for in a watch. Thanks for the great videos!
I knew a few guys that flew for Singapore Air. They all had a two tone Breitling Navitimer. They would joke about telling their wives they “needed it for work.” In the west, the general population cares much less about watches. I suspect that it’s much different across Asia.
@@lufasumafalu5069 Um… have you ever been on a Tokyo subway? Every other salaryman has a DateJust it seems. Since Rolex don’t depreciate, they view it as an investment.
I had G Shock when I was in the U.S Marines. I have no idea what model it was. All I knew was, it held up like a freaking champ. Years have gone bye since I have been out of the Marine Corp. And I totally forgot about that watch. One day I stumbled on a RU-vid video about G shock watches and I immediately remembered about my old G-Shock watch. I looked for that watch days on end. And I just could not find it. So I ordered a G Shock Mudmaster GGB100-1A9. It will NEVER replace My old G shock that was with Me on My military journey. But dang it. I have another G Shock.
Great Video. As far as I know, the Flieger watches of the 1940s we're not worn by the pilots but by the navigators of bomber crews and used as part of the navigation equipment to plot the course to the target. This goes for both tha A-type as well as the B-type that replaced the A-type Pilots were usually equipped with chronographs such as the Hannhart. And CWC produces watches to M.O.D. specs since 1972. Their SBS is still issued today.
The Casio GWG1000 Mudmaster would be a good edition to the land category. Excellent video, Teddy! Thank you for all your hard work! The quality of videos that you produce takes a lot of time and effort!
I was in the Army for 11 years and the watch I wore for the entire time was a basic Casio G-Shock. Now that I have a easy desk job, I want one of those Marathon dive watches.
i have a breitling colt 41 . It is by far the best fit finish military watch Ive owned around the 2 k mark . Ive had sinns , tudor , damsko , oris , omegas , etc . What i like about the colt is the solid robust construction , the super clear sapphire , the 1/100th scale around the outside , serviceable eta movement , the fully brushed bracelet ,the gmt numbers accented next to the applied indices, the lume , the thinness , the wearability 40.5x47x10 . The list goes . I cant say why this piece is so often overlooked .. Maybe the dial looks a bit too busy to some, but to me its just right .
The one watch you overlooked in the land watches was probably the most suitable. The Mudmaster. In terms of utility, ruggedness and water resistance, it far excedes the two stylish field watches listed. It's not a bad fit in the diver category either.
Civilian Search and Rescue (2015-19) + PH Army Search and Rescue guy here (2017-19), and now contractual Medical Instructor for various units. For training I was using a Casio SGW-300H (2013-Present). I swapped to a Suunto Core in 2019 which I killed after 4 years, and now back to a Casio with the PRG-270.
I hail from L.A. and have taken a liking to Vaer watches. When I go surf fishing, where I'm walking miles on the beach, their slim and lightweight field watch fits the bill perfectly. It has a Khaki face with better lume. I chose the quartz (Ronda) because it's exclusively a weekend watch and I didn't want to always have to set it when I'm heading off early in the morning well before sunrise.
I served 8 years in the US Navy starting in 1990 working in the engine room of steam driven ships. We didn’t need diving watches. For shipboard use I highly recommend Timex watches with Indiglo. Don’t need more than 100 M water resistant. The Indiglo was very good for times the ship lost power during engineering drills. The strap/band breaking off easily is also a benefit. Working around rotating equipment meant jewelry like rings or watches could get caught on machinery. It was recommended wedding bands be mad of a soft metal and have a cut made to allow the ring to be pulled off without removing the entire finger from the rotating machinery. In my time I used the Timex Atlantis 100. Today they have an Ironman and Expedition versions to replace the Atlantis. Most of the Ironman and Expedition watches would work well for shipboard use. Casio has several watches that would also work but lack the Indiglo feature.
Great and very informative video - thank you. Timex Scout is also a very good military/field watch. I have used Timex Scout military watch for years for work in Afghanistan and Africa. Again, thank you for producing such a great video.
Awesome selection of watches! I'm kinda surprised to see two pieces I already own, Seiko SKX007 and Suunto Traverse (I'm really surprised you mentioned this watch). There are so many awesome watches mentioned which I wanna own at some point like the Hamilton Khaki Field, Laco Westerland, Marathon GSAR.
I'm pretty sure the G-shock, Suunto and Garmin are the only watches on this list that you'll ever see people in the army actually using. Stuff like a backlight, timer and stopwatch and an alarm can be pretty important in those situations.
Glad to hear Teddy talk about Luminox, Im quite fond of my 3583 chronograph, but they do have issues. Luminox no longer offers tritium replacement service, which is a real game-breaker considering that's such a big part of their appeal. Also, the second hand doesnt come all the way back to 12 o clock when resetting the chrono, and come types of weather conditions result in some light fogging underneath the crystal. I love the watch, but considering its Swiss made and costly, these are pretty big issues.
The disappointing reality is that ever since the 90s GIs used mostly things like the Timex iron man and Casio G shock. Most of the mechanical watches mentioned are out of the question.
What's disappointing about that? They were able to tell the time precisely and easily at the fraction of the cost of mechanical options, all in a more resilient package. Win win win.
I have the G SHock you mentioned and for almost all of my career i wore either a dw5600 and later the MudMan almost exclusively. I did wear a Luminox for a while though the functions on a g shock were hard to pass up. Now I am in law enforcement and will usually wear my Orient Mako II on a BluShark alpha nato or one of the aforementioned G Shocks. But if I had to label the most common watch I've seen in my current work it would be the Garmin Instinct I have one as well 14 - 17 days of battery all the goodies and functions expected of a smart watch and fitness tracker and tough as nails I was in a sim shoot house and took a 9mm simunition directly to the watch face from about 3 yards not to mention some airsoft from contact distance and not a scratch
Having been into watches for a few years, there is something that draws me towards military watches above all else. There's just something about looking at your wrist and picturing yourself at some point in history with that watch
Nice to see some variety on the channel - you are my go to dress watch guy but military watches are my thing - I have many of the watches you mentioned here - surprised not to see a Burtucci field watch on your list - they’re amazingly well made and unbeatable value - maybe you could put one on a future affordable mixed watch category line up (land, sea, air, dress, casual)
Years of not wearing a watch ended last week when I found the Stocker and Yale 590 I wore when I was a US Army Infantryman. I got a new battery for it and it works great. I'm also having memories of the Seiko Cpt Willard my dad had in the 70s and of course I want one of those now.
My duty watch in the Marines was an all-ceramic Seamaster Planet Ocean. It held up just as well in the desert as the surf, and they fixed it for free (including cosmetic damage!) the one time I managed to break it.
I used to use dive watches upside down and I would rotate the 12 marker on the bezel upward for easy viewing. The time would read something completely wrong unless looked at straight up. In the Marine Corps I needed something waterproof, accurate, and tough as balls. I used plenty of G shocks, the best were my solars like the 5610, an SKX with an olive drab Nato, a Citizen NY0040, and loved using my Citizen Chandler field watch. All great watches that did the job without a battery. When I was in Iraq I couldn't find batteries, problem solved with a mechanical or solar. I was always pushing the regs of what's "excessive" by using natos, bland colors like black and olive drab, etc. All of these watches were tough, water resistant, accurate, and most importantly RELIABLE. Now I demand the toughest from my pieces. All of these watches I still own, scars and all, and they all run perfectly. There is no land and sea distinction, in the military, especially the naval services, a watch has to do it all and go with your civvies, be good with PT, water, shock, dirt, dust, mud, etc. Most importantly legible at a glance.
80% of the U.S military wear G shocks, they’re everywhere. A few SKXs, seen a lot of pilots with Bremont & Brietlings because you can get the squadrons/units logo customized on the dial or case back. 🤙🏼
Twenty one years active and reserve service and a Casio on a Velcro NATO strap was mine for most of it. Any watchband had to easily tear off around tanks and aircraft. Now that I’m a retired civilian I wear a Hamilton Khaki and just added a gorgeous Ball Fireman Racer. I might have to build up a stable with some of the beauties mentioned in your video!
Great choices. I'd add the Citizen Eco-Drive Pro-Master Tough (many variants). Basically: 40mm, mono block titanium, 300m, no dive bezel, super legible. Simple, tough, clear, cheap-ish. I'd say "squaddie proof," but is anything?
Being both in the Army National Guard and worked Clinical and EMS work before, my three main "field watches" are Citizen Eco drive The Chandler fleigerish watch in usually green band (often wear a cheap NATO in ceyote brown, green, or black), a G Shock DW5600 series (recently upgraded to black out style) worn on a black or green NATO strap. Lastly, in slightly more dress circumstances or when not directly in the field I wear a Vaer again either leather or nylon NATO similar coloring. All three stand up to the vigors of being in the field (G Shock the most, but all three very functional in the field) and I would trust any one of them to anything I have done in the army or ems work.
Really thought I would see Seiko SNJ025 in this. Checks out many boxes mentioned here solar powered, dual time, stop watch, amazing lume and really good water resistance.
Pilot here. I have Hamiltons, Seikos, and a Breitling. My favorite? Timex Expedition blackface with white hands, 24hr time inboard of the numbers, and Indiglo. I have at least four of them, two with a white face. $42.95.
Thank you for casting such a wide net to catch so many useful watches, call them military, or Field, oradventure, they are all practical choices! The issue I always had with a battery operated watch is humidity and water leakage caused by faulty battery replacement. After three failures, two sailing and one cross country skiing, I switched to automatics. If I need multi purpose features I would put up with an Apple Watch, but I don’t. My three Hamiltons and one Seko5 cover all adventures, Navy Pioneer, Khaki Field, and for urban adventures and late nights, my Jazzmaster chrono special edition. No batteries. No fogging up, no failures on the windy side of Vancouver Island at 3 a.m. Comments from battery folks most welcome. Mine were Tissots.
Hey Teddy, awesome as ever mate!! Bremont, I know on the expensive side and not the heritage of some of your choices - they do make some beautiful dive and military watches! I'm from England, so enjoying a local watchmaker making some great timepieces!!!
Nice overview, a little surprised you didn’t include the Marathon line of watches. When I went through USAF pilot training in 1983-84, we were all issued Marathon hack watches with a nylon strap and radioactive warning markings on back. I don’t recall whether it was auto or manual wind but I do remember the crystal was plastic and it popped off during my high altitude training in the chamber.
Great vid, thanks! Just picked up a Khaki Mechanical last week and agree with you about it being one of the best for that budget, I’m super impressed. Now checking out some more thanks to you!
I wore a G Shock DW6900 every day through high school and my entire Army career and it endured it all. It’s the one that got me into watches. Also, Teddy you have to review Sangin Instruments. Phenomenal micro-brand started by former Marine Spec Ops.
Hey teddy! Glad and surprised to see that you included a luminox in this list, I’m a g shock person, I tend to hit every corner wall edge with my body, especially my watches, and almost 20 years ago came across with the luminox 3001 and tough maybe this one could survive , and it did! For 20 years! And as you said is light as a feather pretty reliable but not cheap that’s where I think that a sapphire crystal would be awesome for the price, but overall it’s a solid watch. Also pretty surprised to hear from you words like dumb and chessy? I think I had never heard you talking like that Even when you where talking about homages and fakes ! So yes, surprised about that too.
Teddy I just want to say thanks for jumping right in to your content. I am so tired of listening to ten minutes worth of crap before the host speaks. You should be the role model!!
The Timex Expedition Scout looks very similar to quite a few of these watches and it is only $60. I have had mine for years while doing manual labor jobs and it has held up very well. I would say that it is well worth the price.
This US Marine uses a trusty Skx007. Never failed me and has great lume at night when I have to wake up at 0300 in the field. Put it on a OD green nato and it gets compliments left and right. Would love to wear my speedmaster but I’m not trying to bang it into a hmvve
I was in the Navy during the late 80s/ early 90s and I was rocking a Casio Illuminator. I think it was $12.99 at the Pearl Harbor BX. I liked it because it made me seem like I took PT seriously.
Watch I wore everyday as an Army Aviator on active duty 1985-1995 was a 1967 Speedmaster Professional. In the Reserves I then wore an issued Hamilton Field Watch with hacking feature I got from my Supply Sergeant. Then a Breitling Jupiter Pilot.
While flying missions either in combat or not, Casio G-Shocks were my squadrons standard issue watches. GMT, basically water proof, alarm, stop watch, and a light bright enough to see inside the dark cockpit or by CSAR crews on NVGs if you have a "bad day." Everything aircrew needed at a price reasonable to the government.
I recently watched a documentary about the invasion of Grenada, a Marine officer who jumped from a plane was telling the story about how his hard landing caused his watch to break and the hands to stay fixed at the exact same time he landed. I guess back then G-Shocks were not yet as available/popular as they are now.
I would have chosen the Garmin Instinct Tactical instead of the Suunto as there is no security concern on it as there is no bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection. As a military member myself it is great having the jump feature on there as well, for Airborne and Special Operations Units
As a retired Navy veteran the Seiko SKX was my first watch but after a couple of years didn’t want to keep scratching it. Switched to the G-Shock Mud Man Tough Solar and stayed on my wrist for 10 years until the solar panels got to damaged from chemicals. Both tough as nails and a bargain at the time
I bought a Zodiac LE Olympos a couple years ago and it’s one of my faves on a Zuludiver leather strap with stainless keeper hardware. Feels like something a trench warrior would’ve borne with lovely sword hands and bright Arabic numerals that last all night. Accurate, slim and lightweight it’s one of my go to 3-hand weekend warrior watches.
Could u do a video on how date mechanisms work? I find it impressive how 31 numbers can be stored in such a small place but there is very little information on how it works on the internet
As a retired infantrymen in the Army, I gotta include the Timex Ironman. My Ironman made it through 2 tours in Iraq and numerous other deployments. I don’t wear it as often as I did from 2001 to 2008, but it’s still ticking. I know it can still do the job, but it’s now more of a nostalgia watch for me.
For military/first responder use, if you're not wearing a Garmin, I'd either say G-Shock of your choice or a mid tier dive watch (e.g. Seiko) that has good specs but wouldn't break the bank if you lost/broke it.
I was 100% waiting for this watch video I wanted my version of dirty dozen! Unfortunately ordered my take on it last week!!!!!! So got a Sinn 856 buhr 🥴
US army veteran here. You may not have military cred but you have watch cred so you're alright by me. I wore Ironmans throughout the 90's and then Casio G shocks. I wore a Suunto Core and I still have it to this day. Casio is my pick though.
Neither watches made this list but I'm looking at both Islander automatic field watch and Bertucci A-2T. Both are under 200 with Bertucci being 40 bucks less. I'm leaning towards Bertucci cause it comes with 3 year warranty where Islander is only 1.
the Breitling Evo is my daily wear watch. Love this timepiece. great functionality. titanium bracelet and case make it extremely lightweight. i forget i'm wearing it most of the time. this watch loves to be paired with nato straps. it goes with so many different straps. i think maybe only the Omega Speedmaster offers more diversity in terms of just how many ways you can dress it up or down by pairing it with different straps. I have many watches from many different brands but this has been my go to for several years now. i will tell you that the battery life is shorter on this watch on some other watches i own. I only take this to an authorized Breitling dealer to have the batteries changed.
In today’s Army it’s either a G shock or a garmin on 99% of wrists. G shocks are cheap and durable. Garmins are also durable, give you GPS capability, and track fitness data. I have and wear both, depending on the situation.
I'm a Huge fan of the Garmin watches......I also have G-Shocks, but to be honest, I would bet my LIFE on the Garmin, also the sheer Insane amount of Live Data.....and I literally charge mine Once a month.
I can tell you in the canadian navy any battery powered watch is out for certain spaces on ship. Very surprised vostock didn't get a mention making one of the only 24hr automatics in a price range where it could be used.
