What watch is on your wrist / What timepiece do you use?

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Grooveski

Native
Aug 9, 2005
1,707
10
53
Glasgow
Don't wear a watch but sometimes wish I did - if only to take it off, drop it in the dirt beside the bike and roar off singing steppenwolf.:burnout:
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,989
4,638
S. Lanarkshire
Normally ? well it's a pretty little gold Rotary that has so far survived a dunk in Loch Fyne :eek: , innumerable dye baths, boatyards, foraging, gardening, climbing, (falling down a scree slope, it's got a kink in the strap now :rolleyes: ) and it still works.

If I intend to be out and potentially giving my watch a hard time it's a Casio water resist alarm chrono, cost under £15 and I've been using it for over ten years :) it has survived lots of dunking in salt and fresh water, digging (I'm an archaeologist), heavy abuse as I lug stuff around, laying slabs, foraging, clearing ponds, scraping hides, fires and scrubbings and apart from a new strap ( I bought a velcro-close Animal one) and two replacement batteries, has need nothing done to it. Pretty bombproof really :)

cheers,
Toddy
 

Salix

Nomad
Jan 13, 2006
370
1
55
Bolton
Another watch fetishist here,

I have about 10 watches at the last count...........................

I alternate between 3 though,

My Omega seamaster, on most of the time if im not bashing and banging around :)

I have a Seiko Divers, excellent watch.

And i have a Luminox series 3000/3900 bright yellow face, with tritium markers that glow like hell, i tend to wear that out at night :rolleyes:

I also have a casio G-Shock for when im doin any tree surgery, coz it can take a knock ! an i aint worried if it comes out worse.

Mark

Latest addition to the family a Breitling Avenger Skylander limited edition Black.........no 1885. It's the dogs doo daas

DSCN3286.jpg
 

Graham_S

Squirrely!
Feb 27, 2005
4,041
65
50
Saudi Arabia
At the moment?
A Citizen Skyhawk
I travel a lot so a watch that can set itself to local time is handy plus all my documents at work need UTC put on them. Having a watch that can keep track is nice.
 

widu13

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Feb 9, 2008
2,334
19
Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
If you want cheap cheerful and reliable to about 10 secs per month go Casio G Shock. Bought one in 1989 and it gave up two years ago on the same battery! The resin had decayed on the case, but it's been dived with, rock climbed in, covered in oil and it worked as it should. I bought a G shock solar in replacement which didn't work too well at all (some kind of issue with the solar charger). I've replaced it with the same model G that I bought in 89 when I was in the mob. I had a G10 in the mob which was absolutely fine, but didn't have the features the G did/has. I've the G for everyday wear and a moody auto seamaster and moody auto submariner for smart- both keep very good time!
 

Shambling Shaman

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
May 1, 2006
3,859
5
55
In The Wild
www.mindsetcentral.com
Haven't read all the post, but I gave up wearing a watch years ago. If I need to time my self on a walk I've got a very old casio (no strap) with a thin bit of black ribbon tied to it that clips to my ruck strap. (pic to follow):D
 

Toots

Full Member
Aug 22, 2005
576
41
Sutton in Craven, North Yorkshire
Citizen eco drive (divers 200m) for me. Never needs a battery change and in the 5 years or so its been strapped to my wrist has been through quite a bit of punishment and never faultered. Has a few "character marks" on it now though ;) .
 

Rebel

Native
Jun 12, 2005
1,052
6
Hertfordshire (UK)
These threads always get a varied amount of replies. So far you've been recommended everything from a Rolex to a Timex.

If you're on a budget the Rolex, Omega and other designer brands aren't going to be something you'll consider. I'm figuring your budget is less than £100 so basically that leaves you with Casio, Timex and one or two Citizen and Seiko models.

Everybody has their favourites and there's a mixture of taste and functionality. Some people's favourite watch might not be the best outdoor model but they find it aesthetically pleasing. You didn't mention your personal preference, digital, analogue, combo, mechanical, electronic. Solar power, battery power, automatic.

Personally I always wear a watch but I've no great love for them. One watch is enough for me and I wear it for every occasion. For me a good outdoor watch needs to be cheap enough that I won't cry if I break or lose it. Rugged enough that it takes a lot to break it - shockproof in other words. The time should be easy to read and visible in the dark. It should be waterproof. It should be comfortable on my wrist with a strap that is both easily adjustable and not too fussed if its dipped in muddy water or other slime.

Other features that I look for are: A sunken bezel; raised bezels scratch quickly in the outdoors and get cracked. Buttons that are recessed with little or no chance of being ripped off or adjusted accidentally. The old fashioned knurled knobs that stick out of the right hand side of many watches get caught on branches and other things and adjust themselves or break off.

So far I've broken every watch I've ever had except for an ancient dirt cheap Casio that was so naff that I got fed up of it and gave it away. In the past few years I got through two Timex Expeditions. They weren't expensive so they aren't a great loss but it was annoying that they broke so easily.

I decided to switch loyalty and I bought a G-Shock after much deliberation. The entire range is well suited to the outdoor life and it is reasonably priced. They are well thought out with regards to taking abuse. They might not be the prettiest watches around but they are functional and they look okay. If you do manage to break one you'll be out by around £40-£100 depending on the model.

There's a choice of atomic timekeeping, solar power, analogue, digital, ana/digi, battery, long life battery, fashion style or classical style. The more expensive Protrek watches are similar and might be worth looking at too.

Here's the current G-Shock line up for the European market: http://www.g-shock.de/euro/lineup/

Mine is the AW-591MS, one of the few models with a cloth strap (something I personally like for several reasons). I'd recommend the model I bought because I'm pleased with it for the price but design and features are down to personal preference. I'm not recommending these watches for their aesthetic appeal, high price, snob value or collectability but as a decent tool that can take abuse and not cost a fortune.

Here's an abuse test for you: http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=57302
I'm not expecting my watch to suffer like that but it's good to know that it can.
 

scoops_uk

Nomad
Feb 6, 2005
497
19
54
Jurassic Coast
This was my everyday watch (Breitling Colt Superocean Pro) for a good few years now, bought it to wear and it's taken everything I've thrown at it. It's also been an investment as the 'pro' model is quite rare and sells secondhand for more than I paid for it:

ba11_12.JPG


For the last few weeks I've wearing one of these (Casio Sea Pathfinder SPF 40T), sailing is my big love of late...

spf-40t-7v.jpg


The titanium strapped Casio's last a lot better than the resin strapped ones. Got this for £41 off ebay rather than the £185 RRP!!

Casio's take a lot of beating in purely practical terms, but the Breitling lives breathes and has a soul. There's just something about a mechanical movement.

Scoops
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Aren't you just looking after that for the next generation? :rolleyes:

lol, yes I suppose I am, to be honest the Patek is safely locked away and never used. Back in the 80's I was earning some very serious money and acquired a couple of good watches. When things went pear shaped for me back in 87 I sold the Rolex Submariner:( but kept the Phillippe.

The Timex I use all the time is fine, and has the Indeglo back light which is good for me as my eyes are not what they used to be
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2537423/Trail/searchtext>TIMEX+EXPEDITION.htm
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,715
1,962
Mercia
Seiko kinetic - accept no substitutes :)

Bought for me by BB about 5 years ago and only been off my wrist for MRI and surgery since. Been splashed with hot caustic, taken more recoil than I can imagine (including a rather fine 416 Rigby among other soft recoiling toys), submerged innumerbale times, hit, banged and generally abused.

Looks as good as new and keeps perfect time - no battery required.

Love it

Red
 

SteveW

Forager
Dec 10, 2006
202
0
Launceston,Cornwall
I like the look of that Casio, Rebel more importantly so does SHMBO. One thing though, the auto Led light feature, how does that work exactly? I have visions of it coming on whenever you move your hand and blinding me and everyone near me in the dark.

Ta muchly
 

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