Most suited watch for active duty military?

[travisb]

My son currently wears a G Shock but I'll be getting him a 126710 GMT. Perfectly suited for the Air Force.

[scranger]

I did a year on the ground and in the paddies of Vietnam with a Citizen day/date I bought in the PX at Soc Trang. It never let me down, and I still have it. Seikos were also a popular choice.

[enjoythemusic]

Depends if your a desk jockey, Ranger, or Special Ops.

What will your duties be?

[xjeeunitx]

Aviator = GMT Master II

Eveyone else = Explorer I

[garyk]

G Shock or its cool Chinese knock off, the Smael!!





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[beshannon]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well can assure when Rolex was used as real tools years ago by the military world wide, they did not use parachrom or paraflex shock systems which in the real world are just made up words.And would doubt in the real world any better than the Kiff or Nivarox hairspring that were used by Rolex and most of the Swiss watch industry for decades.

Thanks Peter

Glad to see that there is at least a little real watch discussion left on the forum.

[jburson250]

Originally Posted by Patton250

No question about it a G-Shock. I own one through six years of working in an engine room in the Navy. It lasted quite well. Countless hours of rebuilding machinery. So wear a G-Shock during working hours. Now after working hours strap on at submariner.

I wore a Submariner 5512, working in Navy nuclear propulsion plants (USS Enterprise, USS Long Beach and two land-based prototypes) during the mid 60's to early 70's. The Sub took a brutal beating in those pre G-Shock years, but survived. I don't doubt a modern Sub would too.

BTW, the same 5512 - restored - lives on, today.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by BumbleB

Explorer II black dial

Toughest watch Rolex makes and more legible than any other SS Rolex. 42mm Explorer II would be my choice.

YM42 is the most militaristic looking IMO. In SS would be a top contender

[Chester01]

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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Many will say gshock, and that’s fine provided it’s not a smart watch as the new rangeman may be now. Was speaking with a vet and enemies were tracking soldiers movement on the base with “smart watches.”

As for rolex, Che Guevara and Fidel wore subs and gmt for months in guerilla war for months (Che for years in other countries) living in the woods, and they held up. Tudor subs And subs were issued in small scales for military use. Many people here that will say the gshock has no clue what their Rolex is capable of (talking 5 digit here). If I would recommend against the ceramic, as they can and do fail, that’s even with normal desk divers, let alone military use.

[MTdweller]

G-shock would be my go-to but the GMT Master is a great choice for less rugged environments.

[Bybybmw]

Originally Posted by jburson250

I wore a Submariner 5512, working in Navy nuclear propulsion plants (USS Enterprise, USS Long Beach and two land-based prototypes) during the mid 60's to early 70's. The Sub took a brutal beating in those pre G-Shock years, but survived. I don't doubt a modern Sub would too.

BTW, the same 5512 - restored - lives on, today.

Hi, fellow Navy nuc here. What I remember wearing were Seikos which I could get at the NEX, and could afford. It wasn't till I got out and started working civilian nucs that my watch choices expanded and even then I didn't really know about Rolex. My choice was Tag Heuer of which I still own the first one I bought when I left the navy back in the 80's.
Now I finally have discovered Rolex and enjoying my OP and YM

[Cabaiguan]

G Shock.

[jburson250]

Originally Posted by Bybybmw

Hi, fellow Navy nuc here. What I remember wearing were Seikos which I could get at the NEX, and could afford. It wasn't till I got out and started working civilian nucs that my watch choices expanded and even then I didn't really know about Rolex. My choice was Tag Heuer of which I still own the first one I bought when I left the navy back in the 80's.
Now I finally have discovered Rolex and enjoying my OP and YM

Hey Marty, thanks for your service! Timex and Seiko were the popular watches, hands down, when I was in. The guys I worked with just couldn't understand why I wore such an expensive ($195) watch, doing the jobs we did.

Post-navy I spent 38 years in the industry - 13 with Westinghouse and 25 at Seabrook Station. Retired end of 2012.

Good to hear from a member with similar experiences.

Best Regards,

[KeithP]

Explorer II black dial

[Eagles4133]

Explorer I or Sub, should be good enough to get you through anything. There is also the new "CasioOak" G-Shock GA2100, but they are impossible to find.

[HogwldFLTR]

Here's an article of interest of the military (AF) issuing Garmins. It's from the internet so it must be true. My problem with these is that they need to be recharged weekly. That's not always possible. I'd much prefer a high quality mechanical watch.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/...heres-why.html

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Here's an article of interest of the military (AF) issuing Garmins. It's from the internet so it must be true. My problem with these is that they need to be recharged weekly. That's not always possible. I'd much prefer a high quality mechanical watch.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/...heres-why.html

Thanks for posting. Interesting application of the Garmin capabilities to provide an indication to forewarn issues in the cockpit. Given that they are issued to Navy Aviators, there would be time to charge them when not flying.

[Oldwoods]

If you don’t need a date function then Explorer or how about an SKX.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by stevers63

Thanks for posting. Interesting application of the Garmin capabilities to provide an indication to forewarn issues in the cockpit. Given that they are issued to Navy Aviators, there would be time to charge them when not flying.

Right, for pilots there are no charging issues; for ground troops perhaps however.

[flametop]

General Norman Schwarzkopf wore a TT Datejust.

[904VT]

5 and 6 digit Rolex divers are both surprisingly popular. Subs both 5 and 6 digit, SDs in 5 digit.

[Calatrava r]

I would wear a SS Datejust in 36mm and forget about it. I think a larger watch would tend to snag on things and generally be in the way.

[RolyMoly]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Thanks Peter



Glad to see that there is at least a little real watch discussion left on the forum.

Right?

But now onto the real question, which Service watch will be the better investment to outrun the Dow over the next ten years? And please post pics of it on food while in discussion.

[037]

Gold Sub to use for negotiation when the SWCC boat fails to show up on time and leaves your team on the shoreline waiting for exfil.

I think I saw it in a movie once so it must work.

[SS Oyster]

Thanks for your inputs. For those who have and continue to serve, thank you! I too served as a Surface Warfare Officer (nuclear) from 1985 to 2007. I bought a SS DJ white dial romans in 1987 while teaching at Nuke School in Orlando. Great watch, but sold it to help fund a Porsche 911 Targa while attending postgraduate school in Monterey. Loved that car too! Didn't buy another Rolex until after I retired, but always admired those who wore them, thinking back on some friends who had GMT Master Coke, Submariners and SDs.

If I had to do it over again, I think for my career as a SWO and Nuke, I would have loved to have worn either a Submariner 5513 or Explorer II black dial to keep track of Zulu time.

The real shame is that when I was a midshipman at the Naval Academy, for my plebe and youngster years, the Mid Store carried Rolex. I used to just stare into the glass case at those beautiful submariners and wish I could afford one, which I think was well under $1,000 no sales tax back then.

My junior and senior years (when I could have afforded to purchase one), the Navy in their infinite wisdom shifted to Tag Heuer.

[TheGuvna]

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 wore my GMT II Master when I did a lot of traveling, but due to my most recent billet there is less traveling and more opportunity to damage my watch. I got a Ceramic Tudor Black Shield for use during work hours.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Right, for pilots there are no charging issues; for ground troops perhaps however.

Roger that. Friend of mine was in the Air Force Special Tactics and he wore a Timex Ironman.

[dali314]

GMT ice: ultimate scratch resistance, and the many diamonds offer plenty of negotiation opportunities.

What about the best car to go on duty? RR, Ferrari, Lambo, Bugatti? with a camouflage covering of course.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Originally Posted by dali314

GMT ice: ultimate scratch resistance, and the many diamonds offer plenty of negotiation opportunities.

What about the best car to go on duty? RR, Ferrari, Lambo, Bugatti? with a camouflage covering of course.

Hennessey Performance Ford Velociraptor.
EDIT:

[Dr. Robert]

G shock! Especially the cool British army one.