Wristwatch Question

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Optimistic Paranoid

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My watch died a couple of weeks ago. It was some kind of military field watch I bought from either Brigade Quatermasters or U.S. Cavalry several years ago for around fifty bucks, so I've got no complaints on that score.

Anyway, need to get a replacement, and the Gander Mountain where I work part time will be holding a special employee sale in a couiple of weeks, I'll be able to buy any watch in the store for 30% off their regular price.

They've got Luminox, and they've got Swiss Army.

A $200 Luminox would set me back about $140 during the sale, and I'm leaning that way.

Anyone here own one? (Or one of the Swiss Army, for that matter?) Wondering what you think of it, how it's held up, etc.?

Thanks for any info.

Regards
John
 
I have had one of the Swiss Army watches for years and it still keeps great time. The only thing I don't like is the fact that it doesn't have an automatic calender so I need to make sure and set the day to 1 at the beginning of every month. Other than that it has been great, I got this watch from Marlboro back in the day when I was a smoker and it just keeps tickn'.
 
I'm no help on this one. I buy the cheapest watch I can find. Working in the building trades will teach somebody quickly that no watch is unbreakable.
 
I agree, cheap. I break and lose them all the time. The one I have now my wife bought from the Avon Lady, 15 bux I think.
 
PatMcD said:
I'm no help on this one. I buy the cheapest watch I can find. Working in the building trades will teach somebody quickly that no watch is unbreakable.
Click to expand...

Agree that no watch is unbreakable but I have a Casio G-Shock that has stood up to the test of everyday electrical work and general construction. The Swiss Army watches are a good deal. Look for one with a Swiss movement rather than a Japanese movement, although the Jap. is OK too. Luminox makes a decent watch too and if you can get one for $140, that's the way to go. Watches are like firearms, they can get addictive if you start collecting. I have many including a few higher end, (Omega Seamaster Automatic, Patek Phillipe Skeleton) that I really like. My favorite, though, is the $30 Timex my 11 and 6 year old sons bought me for father's day about 4-5 years ago. The thing still keeps absolutely perfect time, (plus, my boys bought it for me so that kind of adds to it) and is quite durable too.

Regards,
Chris
 
PatMcD said:
I'm no help on this one. I buy the cheapest watch I can find. Working in the building trades will teach somebody quickly that no watch is unbreakable.
Click to expand...

Duluth Trading has an interesting idea for that problem.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/42168.aspx

I'm just not too sure it's compatable with having all kinds of gun stuff - holster, mags, flashlight, etc hanging on the same belt . . .

Regards
John
 
I have one of the higher end swiss army watches. It's made of
stainless and weighs a ton, but I like the look of a stainless
watch with a white face. I have had two minor issues with it
(unglued digit and broken link pin) in the past 4 years, but I am
very hard on watches.


F
 
I've had a Swiss Army for 5 years now. I wear it at work so it gets the crap beaten out of it. Had the battery replaced once, it's a great, durable watch. Still looks good after 5 years of wrestling with 100 pound dogs and ferocious feral cats... I'd suggest one to anyone.
 
I have a higher end swiss army watch as well. I think that it was like 300 about 13 year ago. I have the battery changed aobut every 5 or so years. It's gotten the crap beat out of it...and it still works.

I love those Victorinox watches.

Oh, and mine looks like this one.

sa_V.25704_sol_a02.jpg



And like it was said, the only thing that you really have to do is set the date after every month that doesn't have 31 days.
 
Last edited:
One of my absolute requirements for a watch is that it doesn't mind being 100 feet or more deep in salt water. Unfortunately, even those that work fine originally, invariable leak like sieves as soon as you break the seal to replace the battery. As a result, I buy a low end Casio or Timex and replace it whenever the battery wears out. I also toss the original bands and put them on a Timex velcro band I picked up a few years back. Never shifts on my wrist; never any looser or tighter than I want.

Ken
 
KMaurer said:
One of my absolute requirements for a watch is that it doesn't mind being 100 feet or more deep in salt water. Unfortunately, even those that work fine originally, invariable leak like sieves as soon as you break the seal to replace the battery. As a result, I buy a low end Casio or Timex and replace it whenever the battery wears out. I also toss the original bands and put them on a Timex velcro band I picked up a few years back. Never shifts on my wrist; never any looser or tighter than I want.

Ken
Click to expand...


The good things about the swiss army watches is that they are to be sent to Victorinox to have the battery changed. You just have to find the jeweler that does it that way. It costs like 25 bucks to have the battery changed, but it's worth it.

I've never had mine leak ever, and I've been out in the ocean with them...

Granted I've never had them more than 10 or so feet below water as I don't dive. But it's never leaked.
 
The best watch I’ve ever owned is my Citizen Navihawk. I travel internationally for business and this pilot’s watch has a digital section that allows you to set the UTC time zone and then it calibrates itself for all time zones. Also, you set the calendar once and forget it, except for daylight savings. It cost a bit, but I’ve wore it every day since 1992 and I’ve changed the battery perhaps 5 times. It also has 3 alarms you can set. I would stager these 10 minutes apart when I absolutely had to be up and out for a plane. My watch is probably the most useful piece of equipment I own. With that said, everyones digital phones can do the same things today!
 
I used to work for Casio, I will tell ya a Casio G-shock is a tough watch they are actually tested be being dropped off of a 3 story building and then checked to see if they still operate, which they always do. The only downfall is that they are not the smallest watch out there
 
Am I the only one here that's still crazy for a good old fashioned mechanical movement?

Bought a Fortis Cosmonaut model (same LeMania 5100 Swiss movement as the official Skylab Bell and Ross model, but in a more industrial stainless case) back when I first started earning a 'real' paycheck out of college. That was in 1990. I've sent it in for new dial and hands as they faded after about 11 years - it was oiled and cleaned at that time too. Other than that, it's been on my wrist almost non-stop for going on 17 years. With the exception of a few pin replacements as I've snagged something and they broke (work like a fuse) I've never had any problems. It's 'automatic', so my daily movements keep it wound. I have to set the date on every non-31 day month change but otherwise it's been pretty accurate too. Worn it everywhere. Diving in Hawaii, Riding Camels and Elephants in india, for IDPA (^_^), and even to time contractions when my son was born. Just about everything I've done since College my watch has done.

That said, I really like the new Citizen solar powered watches. Now if they would just make a model with a REAL saphire crystal.
 
sellscottsell said:
The best watch I’ve ever owned is my Citizen Navihawk. I travel internationally for business and this pilot’s watch has a digital section that allows you to set the UTC time zone and then it calibrates itself for all time zones. Also, you set the calendar once and forget it, except for daylight savings. It cost a bit, but I’ve wore it every day since 1992 and I’ve changed the battery perhaps 5 times. It also has 3 alarms you can set. I would stager these 10 minutes apart when I absolutely had to be up and out for a plane. My watch is probably the most useful piece of equipment I own. With that said, everyones digital phones can do the same things today!
Click to expand...

I love mine. The sliderule is good for a little geek cred. I'm always using it to figure out gas mileage and the like. It's time to send it off for an overhaul: the button gaskets are going and the crystal has seen better days.
 
Your a smarter man than I if you figured out how to ue the slide rule ring! I contacted thier San Diego office and you can send the watch back for an overhaul for short money, inclusive of crystal. My problem is that it's my only watch!
 
My swiss is 5+ years old. It's still kickin hard. Replaced the batter once. Buff it up once a year and it looks great. Keeps great time, and has a date window at 3. At the time it was $140ish. My fiance got it for me. I'll never use anything else, unless I can pony up the cash for a Tag Huer automatic movement.

Oh, and I'm real hard on the watch, and it's never flinched.
 

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