watch durability

[mooseman100]

All this talk of new watches has me looking for a new piece myself. I did not want to hijack the current thread running, so here is the new one.

I have usually only worn Times Expedition of some sort, generally they never last more than a year. Not just band problems, but buttons don't work and lens is so scratched up you can barely read the screen.

I am very hard on equipment in general, but particularly watches. I wear my watch facing the inside of my wrist to protect it a bit more. Even then they take a beating.

I have put off spending a few hundred dollars on a watch because I figured I would tear up the crystal in the same amount of time as a cheap Timex. Am I wrong?

Also I am not sure I want the screen lite up all the time but maybe more a way to turn it on for a few seconds. While sitting in a tree stand predawn, I am not sure how far that tritium would be visible.

[Pokeguyjai]

I'm pretty hard on my watches too and I have found that if I didn't have to look fancy business-like when I see customers then I would probably stick with my Casio Pathfinder. It has a compass direction bezel over the face (which you can rotate) which protects the crystal/glass from scratches but that itself will get banged up quite a bit. And they are bomb proof! When the Suuntos were still made in Europe (Denmark or somewhere in the north) they were bomb proof but now they are made in China and they feel cheaper.

My Luminox is a good middle of the road between nice and rugged. Nice enough so that I can wear it when I see customers but rugged enough so that if I smacked it into something I would not worry. It does not have a bezel which protects the glass but I have not scratched mine noticeably yet... but with the Luminox, I paid something like $300-400 for it and I can send it in to them to have them replace the crystal or fix any dings if I cared enough to.

The Casios and Luminox both bear the Made in Japan mark IIRC so that goes a long way too!

[MatthewMT]

I dont think tritium would be to visible especially if you wear it turned inward like mentioned, as for the timex vs other most likely IMO the other (depending) would out last a timex in quality etc. my bro in law is a commercial pilot based over seas, he wears a titanium citizen I believe and loves it, it was well worn last I saw him and I don't think it was quite as expensive as some of the others out there.

I'm sure others here are more knowledgable on the crystal, but to the best of my knowledge the crystal would hold up much better than a plastic or cheaper glass.

[EDELWEISS]

Well I hate to mention Rolex because of the insane cost BUT my GMT Master took me through Gulf War One and 10+ years as a cop. The worse that ever happened was the band un-latched during a fight; but then the suspect and I also crashed through a huge plate glass window. I didnt loose the watch because of the "continious link" type band. Now I will also say you cant count on a automatic to keep the time of a quartz.

I finally retired the Rolex after 20+ years. I wnat another one but the price has more than doubled since 1990. I ended up picking a Marathon GSAR. its more accurate than I can believe and takes as much if not more beating than my Rolex, plus it was well under $1000. As long as they continue to make batteries for it (a problem with anything requiring batteries), I'll likely be wearing it.

[P.D.]

I had a Heuer dive watch (made before TAG and Heuer became Tag Heuer) that finally gave up the ghost after about 20 years. I replaced it with a CWC dive watch that has been ticking without skipping a beat for about 15 years and on its third battery now. I'll buy another CWC any day.

[lightfighter]

Like Dr Meade said, there's no comparison between a Timex crystal and a Sapphire crystal that one finds on many high end watches.

I too have a Rolex and a Marathon TSAR . The Marathon cost me a little less than $ 500 and it features a sapphire crystal just like a Rolex. It keeps better time than the Rolex and cost about 15 times less.

[TACC]

I have never seen the Marathon TSAR before but it looks noce.

I will definitely check into them.

[mooseman100]

Thanks for the responses. I figured the crystals in the better watches would hold up better than the Timex, just did know how much better.
I refer three things in a watch, date, some type of back light or tritum hands, MatthewMt is probably right, the little light from teh hands is not real visible at a distance, the third is dual time. The first two seem easy enough to find, but the dual times a bit more difficult. Casio Edifice and wave ceptor seem to fit all three.

[Tom Cornelius]

I have a TAG Heuer that I run with, train with, ocean swimming, etc... Great beater watch. Tough as nails. TAG Formula 1

[Wilburt]

Like I have mentioned before, I really like the Luminox. If you shop around you can find a decent one for ~ $250+.

[Mickey Rourke]

I have an older model Timex Expedition Chrono. It does have a raised bezel and mineral crystal and was way more expensive than other Timex watches at the time I bought it. The brushed stainless case and band looks like a Titanium gray color.

I've worn it daily for almost 10 years and there is one tiny scratch on the crystal and a few on the band. The battery lasts about 3-4 years in this one.

[MRick]

If you are that hard on your watches and dont need something particularly dressy go with a G-Shock. The original DW-6900 can be had for under $50 and is beyond bomb proof. Its simple to use and clear to read during the day and the push to glow is nice and bright at night. I shower with mine on to keep me on schedule :-o

[Jons999]

I have an MTM Special Ops watch, was around $500 IIRC. The black ion coating wore off revealing the stainless steel underneath which kind of ticked me off but as far as durability and water resistance is concerned the watch is great and the built in LED is very handy too.

[SPQR476]

I just can't get past any watch that says special ops or navy seal on it.

Does anyone have any experience with victorinox watches?

[Tom Cornelius]

I'm with you, SPQR476...

[MatthewMT]

Sounds like you got some options! Good luck Bro.

[Craig R]

generally they never last more than a year.

I've been bashing my Casio G shock off two wheelers and milk crates as a milk man for the last 5 years and it hasn't missed a beat.
Stylish, not really....... tough as nails, absolutely.

[JOE MACK]

When I was falling timber for awhile, I'd go through a watch a month from the vibration of the saw. Now, I use my cell phone to check the time.:confused:

[Coach]

I've been bashing my Casio G shock off two wheelers and milk crates as a milk man for the last 5 years and it hasn't missed a beat.
Stylish, not really....... tough as nails, absolutely.

+1
The G-Shock is the Kalashnikov of timepieces. I wear a GD-100.

[blake1391]

I found the g shocks(newer models) to be too big for my wrist. I have rather small wrists. I went with a timex iron man series for a sports type watch. For 60 bucks if it breaks I'll buy something else and won't cry.
I also have a few fossil watches that have proven to hold up semi well minus scratching and a Rolex submariner that was given to me by my grandfather. I didn't wear that too often and was stolen last year. :(