Most suited watch for active duty military?

[MCO1]

A sub would do! I use to wear my Pepsi GMT when I was in the service back when they were brushed steel bracelets. In today's line I would say an Explorer or Explorer 2 might be a good fit as well. Prince Harry wore a white dial Explorer 2 while on active duty and it looked good in uniform. I would think Omega would be a better fit with Rolex being the anomaly in the watch world that they are.

[marc2828]

https://www.gshock.com/watches/master-of-g/gprb1000-1

[marc2828]

Originally Posted by marc2828

https://www.gshock.com/watches/master-of-g/gprb1000-1

Pic

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[GONZO2LR]

SSsubDate(rehaut) 5 digit and Thank you for your service!

[Rolex fan 61]

Casio G shock, CWC military watches, or a Divex 200m or 500m watch.

[Rowlf]

Tudor Black Bay Blue

[Jak77]

Ahh yess. Sub for me.

[jeorge]

How about one that is reliable and tells time! there's a million watches out there this thread could last for ever lol

[Maximus84]

I’ve worn my Speedmaster (on NATO) and Polar Exp II (16570) on deployment (Air Force Aviator). Prefer the Rolex for date and GMT complication. These days I wear the Rolex or Bremont Alt-1 ZT that was made for my Squadron. Date, GMT, chronograph, it has it all. Quite chunky though.

[B2 Stealth]

I joined the Forum just to respond to this question. I retired from the USAF after a 26 year active duty career as a bomber pilot. One of my big regrets is not having "The" watch during my military career. In 1985 Rolex were offered in the Base Exchange catalogs at discounted prices but I wasn't interested in them. I flew with Breitlings and Omegas but now that I am all Rolex I wish I had worn a Sub or GMT II during my flying combat missions and 14 month deployment as an Air Advisor in Afghanistan. The Submariner can take all the abuse the desert and combat can dish out. As noted by many on this Forum many wore their Rolex during deployments to Vietnam and many continue to do so today during deployments to the Middle East. I, like many, wore a Casio G-shock in Afghanistan and only purchased my first Rolex in 2017. Buy a Rolex, wear the Rolex, put some battle scars on her. Pass the watch on someday hopefully to a son or daughter who follows your footsteps into the military.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by B2 Stealth

I joined the Forum just to respond to this question. I retired from the USAF after a 26 year active duty career as a bomber pilot. One of my big regrets is not having "The" watch during my military career. In 1985 Rolex were offered in the Base Exchange catalogs at discounted prices but I wasn't interested in them. I flew with Breitlings and Omegas but now that I am all Rolex I wish I had worn a Sub or GMT II during my flying combat missions and 14 month deployment as an Air Advisor in Afghanistan. The Submariner can take all the abuse the desert and combat can dish out. As noted by many on this Forum many wore their Rolex during deployments to Vietnam and many continue to do so today during deployments to the Middle East. I, like many, wore a Casio G-shock in Afghanistan and only purchased my first Rolex in 2017. Buy a Rolex, wear the Rolex, put some battle scars on her. Pass the watch on someday hopefully to a son or daughter who follows your footsteps into the military.

Welcome to TRF!

[Ravager135]

I was a flight surgeon when I was in the Navy. I flew regularly, but certainly wasn't the pointy end of the spear. I spent my operational medicine bonuses on a Breitling Navitimer and a Rolex Explorer II. I mostly wore the Breitling. If a naval aviator is going to buy a luxury watch, it will probably be a Breitling. That's just what most aspire to. Rolex was probably number 2. Neither was really super practical, but they were well protected by the flight gloves which come up pretty high on the forearm.

If I could go back to active duty, I'd probably wear my IWC Top Gun Pilot Chronograph since it would look good with everything, is very scratch resistant, and is extremely easy to read. Far and away, most pilots and NFOs wore G Shocks.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by jeorge

How about one that is reliable and tells time! there's a million watches out there this thread could last for ever lol

A better reply would start with “Thank you for your service.” and end with an actual sincere answer to the OP’s question

Thanks to everyone on here who serves. Without you many of us wouldn’t be blessed enough to come on here and complain about all things luxury watches

My suggestion would be a g shock or a modern Rolex with the paraflex shock absorbers

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by BumbleB

Explorer II black dial


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This is the right watch. Also, thank you so much for your service


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[Willows]

Originally Posted by spoilsofwar01

When He was.... Prince Harry wore a Exporer II

For the price id opt for a Tissot Sea Star (as I own one) rather than bash up one of my Rolex's

Do my eyes deceive me or is that crown not screwed down?

[Wishlist>$]

Originally Posted by BumbleB

Explorer II black dial


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Agreed. Perfect watch with date and GMT function. Understated and timeless, it worked well for me in flight suit or dress uniform.

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[skiahh]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

I think submariner (date or no date) because of rugged design, brushed case and Glidelock.

IMO, nothing with PCLs or jubilee would look right in uniform.

What say you?


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Not sub. Anything with GMT hand (or display).

And a sweep second hand (so no daytona).

[N&M]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

I think submariner (date or no date) because of rugged design, brushed case and Glidelock.

IMO, nothing with PCLs or jubilee would look right in uniform.

What say you?


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It must be mechanical watch, diver or GMT.
Sub will be nice, of course with date

[BLNR Nairobi]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Patek perpetual.

Made me laugh out loud

[ev8296]

Explore II 42mm black

[Seibei]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

I think submariner (date or no date) because of rugged design, brushed case and Glidelock.

IMO, nothing with PCLs or jubilee would look right in uniform.

What say you?


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I say Casio.

[jhd29]

Sea-Dweller 126600

[chris242]

expII. rugged, legible and one can always keep track of the time back home


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[Doc Savage]

No mechanical watch is really that durable. We love these devices, so we don't really want to admit it, but it's true. I took my sub across Central Asia during my service there, and I've worn it on numerous building entries / clearings /
search warrants. But I have always worn a Casio digital for the most physically demanding work. It made no sense to risk what is, in the end, a relatively fragile piece of machinery.

I'm not slagging our beloved Rolex brand here. I think they are extremely well-built automatics. If I had to choose an auto for military service, it would be the Explorer 1, but I would worry about it surviving some of the things I have had to put watches through.

[AJMarcus]

Originally Posted by Doc Savage

No mechanical watch is really that durable. We love these devices, so we don't really want to admit it, but it's true. I took my sub across Central Asia during my service there, and I've worn it on numerous building entries / clearings /
search warrants. But I have always worn a Casio digital for the most physically demanding work. It made no sense to risk what is, in the end, a relatively fragile piece of machinery.

I'm not slagging our beloved Rolex brand here. I think they are extremely well-built automatics. If I had to choose an auto for military service, it would be the Explorer 1, but I would worry about it surviving some of the things I have had to put watches through.

I disagree. Rolex watches, though expensive, are extremely durable; particularly the sports models. That is what separates Rolex from most other luxury brands like AP, Patek, And others. Rolex may look more like jewelry than the models 50 years ago and certainly cost a helluva lot more these days, but they are extremely robust and highly durable. Deciding not to put your beloved Rolex through such extreme activities is an entirely different topic, however. Think about the scratch resistant bezel, the sapphire crystal, perpetual movement, and highly corrosive resistant 904 steel and, of course, the oyster case and impeccable accuracy. Rolex sports models were designed for activity not dinner parties. Rolex Subs and GMTs were widely used by pilots and SF operators beginning in the 1960s with no problem. We know many of the early test pilots and NASA astronauts never left home without their trusty Pepsi GMTs. And Submariners, GMTs, and Explorers continue to be used by military personnel, pilots and infantry, throughout deployments. Plenty of officers and NCOs are WIS actually in my experience and they appreciate the benefits of a fine mechanical watch. Some have more than one Rolex or other fine timepiece and choose one for more rugged activities.

[Kyle3130]

Originally Posted by Kyle3130

I wear my 14060M Submariner 24/7/365. AD Air Force 2005 - Present. Bought it 7 years ago when my son was born and it’s currently on it’s 3rd desert trip with me.

Forgot to add the pic last time!


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[SGTs1]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

A better reply would start with “Thank you for your service.” and end with an actual sincere answer to the OP’s question

Thanks to everyone on here who serves. Without you many of us wouldn’t be blessed enough to come on here and complain about all things luxury watches

My suggestion would be a g shock or a modern Rolex with the paraflex shock absorbers

Are you the guys parent or what ? You have no right to sensor anyone here He was simply saying his opinion !

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by SGTs1

Are you the guys parent or what ? You have no right to sensor anyone here He was simply saying his opinion !

Don’t shoot me, I just appreciate people who actually take the time to post a helpful reply that answers the OP’s actual question.

Consider it a suggestion based on my opinion rather than censorship.

[Doc Savage]

Originally Posted by AJMarcus

I disagree. Rolex watches, though expensive, are extremely durable; particularly the sports models.

They are only durable compared to other mechanical watches. They can't come close to the durability of a G-Shock, Pro Trek, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I love my Rolexes. I bought them because they are amazing mechanical watches. But they don't come close to their digital cousins.

Originally Posted by AJMarcus

...Think about the scratch resistant bezel, the sapphire crystal, perpetual movement, and highly corrosive resistant 904 steel and, of course, the oyster case and impeccable accuracy.

All of which are surpassed by a decent G-shock.

Originally Posted by AJMarcus

...Rolex Subs and GMTs were widely used by pilots and SF operators beginning in the 1960s with no problem.

Of course they were. At the time, they were the best option available. But durable quartz watches have come a very long way in the past 60-70 years. Mechanicals - not so much.

Rolex are to be congratulated for advancing the accuracy and durability of mechanical watches to the level they have. For most people, they will be accurate and durable enough. But for heavy-duty, physical military work on extended field ops, tough plastic quartz is the clear winner.

Originally Posted by AJMarcus

We know many of the early test pilots and NASA astronauts never left home without their trusty Pepsi GMTs. And Submariners, GMTs, and Explorers continue to be used by military personnel, pilots and infantry, throughout deployments.

I served in the infantry, and nobody I saw ever wore their Sub (or any other Rolex) in the field. Pilots? Sure. Navy? Why not? REMFs? Of course. But slogging through the mud, humping a 70lb pack and getting your body (and watch) banged up as you drag yourself, your rifle, and your buddies over rocks, barbed wire, and other obstacles? No way. Rolex sports watches are impractical in these scenarios, as they are heavy, light-reflective, and can get in the way of straps, ropes, etc.

[AJMarcus]

Different strokes for different folks Doc. In all honesty, most folks baby their Rolexes. I know a retired Army General who wore a Rolex Submariner his entire infantry career; including Airborne commands. And a Marine General who wore his Submariner from the moment he got it as a gift upon his commissioning. He was field artillery. . (BTW, These guys were not dinosaurs. GShocks have been sold since 1980.) My list can go on and on. Grant it, they often used Zulu and NATO straps in the field to avoid reflection and for added security. It’s all about being confident with your choice.