Introduction
Are there special kinds of watches made for the military, and specifically for Special Forces? There sure are! Keep reading to find out more!
Military (or tactical) watches are essential for military personnel in general, and especially for those who with military watch straps are preparing to confront combat situations on the battlefield. These tough timepieces are constructed in such a way that they can potentially save you from dangerous circumstances. Time management and co-ordinating events (based on timings) are extremely important regardless of whether the individual is a member of the Special Forces, Infantry, Artillery, or a medic. This is why, not just for those military personnel who put their lives in danger, a military watch is a necessity.
However, military watches are not restricted to just military personnel, meaning they are also sold to civilian consumers – and some of the best vintage military watches are considered an endless source of fascination to many civilians and can be collectables.
So, while we all enjoy wearing a traditional watch, we should also think about adding a military watch to our collection because of its tough aesthetic, functionality, and durability.
For both military personnel and civilians, here is a guide about shooting gloves which are necessary and go well with military watches.
How Many Kinds of Military Watches are There?
Although all watches will have common specifications, there are three main categories of military watch to consider:
| Type of Watch | Description |
|---|---|
| Heavy Duty Watches | 1. These have a lot of functions installed into them. 2. It might feel a little tricky to wrap your head around at first, but once you get the hang of how to utilise the different functions, you will fall in love with your watch. 3. They are also designed to survive very adverse conditions, like high atmospheric pressure or heavy rain. |
| Tactical Field Watches | 1. These usually come in very modern and simple designs. 2. The dials on them are also very conspicuous. 3. Although you will be compromising some extra functionalities that you may have gotten with the heavy-duty kinds, you still get something that is very durable and obtainable. |
| Pilot Watches | 1. As the name suggests, they are made for pilots or those who roam around in areas of high altitude. 2. The overall design of these watches was inspired by aircraft gauges. 3. Therefore, they are extremely resistant to high air pressures. |
The type you get for yourself should depend on the purpose it is meant to serve.
What Should You Look For in a Military Watch?
As mentioned earlier, military watches are a lot more resilient than your average everyday watch. A lot of the time, consumers may not know what to look for when they head over to buy themselves a hardy watch.
Normally the list of specifications for these kinds of watches is quite long, and below is summarized most important specs that you should check on different watch options:
- The watch should be Bluetooth enabled.
- This way, you connect to your phone wherever possible.
- If you intend to use it while on duty then I doubt you will make use of it, but it is still a good feature to have.
- The watch should have a built-in barometer (to track changes in atmospheric pressure), a compass, and a thermometer.
- You also have to make sure the watch is able to resist water, high atmospheric pressures, and scratches.
- The watch should also be shockproof, which is probably the most important feature of all military watches.
Some Watch Recommendations For You to Consider
When you visit a jewellers to research and purchase a watch you may not remember all of the above. Therefore, to make things (hopefully) easier for you, below is a list of the more common watches that we are sure you will love.
Casio G-Shock
The Casio G-shock is definitely a cult favourite for a number of reasons.
It is probably one of the most durable military watches out there, being almost 100% shock resistant.
Further, it is also strong enough to withstand gravity, electricity, and sub-zero climates (perfect for a hike around the Himalayas).
It is also waterproof to about 200 meters in depth.
It is not only loved by military personnel and police officers, but also sports enthusiasts.
Suunto Core Military
This is an accessory every modern adventurer must have in their adventure kit.
One of the most notable amongst its features is that it has a built-in storm alarm.
The barometer detects changes in the atmosphere, which is a clear indicator of bad weather.
Further, it also has a built-in altimeter and compass that tracks your progress as you move.
It also has sunrise and sunset times for over 400 different locations.
This military watch is a great option for those on a budget.
Marathon WW194007 TSAR Military Diver
The Marathon is purely military-grade as it was made according to the requirements set out by the army.
For those of you who are marine officers, these are great for any missions way out in the sea as it is waterproof to up to 300 metres.
Marathon Military Navigator
The Marathon Military Navigator is mainly intended for pilots and paratroopers.
The watch has a high-impact fibre shell casing, self-illuminating tritium gas tubes, and a Swiss-made high torque ETA F06 quartz movement.
Meanwhile, this military watch has a water resistance certification of 6 ATMs, which means fast pressure changes will not damage it.
Casio Men’s PRW2500T
The Casio Men’s PRW2500T tactical watch is powered by solar energy, water-resistant to 200 meters, and packed with features.
It is designed to withstand anything you can throw at it.
A compass, a thermometer, an altimeter, a barometer, a moon phase graph, a tide graph, a power-saving function, and other features are included in this feature-full watch.
G-Shock Mudmaster
This magnificently resilient timepiece from G-SHOCK has been designed in collaboration with the British Army, and made to withstand the most unforgiving of land environments and boasts an updated Carbon Core Guard Structure and triple-layered carbon-insert bezel.
This is an important part of the design as it delivers unparalleled durability in a lightweight case.
This special edition Mudmaster features a camouflage design which takes its inspiration from the Army’s own Multi Terrain Pattern.
Summary
Army attire has affected our society’s aesthetic styles for many years, and they should be recognised for their greater goals of defence and protection. Having said that, both military personnel and civilians can wear a military watch to benefit from its variety of features like GPS navigation, altitude data, temperature indicators, topographical map components, in addition to timekeeping. Military watches can, therefore, be excellent treasures for all watch collectors.
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