Updated - A Guide to Military Field Watches

My recent post on Military Field Watches promised a Guide on the Topic.

  

Timex Expedition Metal Field Watch

Unfortunately, I forgot to post the link:  A Guide to Military Field Watches.  If I had been in the military, I'd probably be much more squared away!

Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.  By Spc. Van Der Weide/U.S. Army [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

To get started collecting field watches, you'll also want to check out my new August 2024 post on The Baseline Starting Point for Field Watches.

Casio Offers A Watch with Some Protection!

Since ancient times, man has realized the need for protecting the face.  At first, man needed to gain protection from swords and axes.  But, as man evolved, he needed the protection of a mask to fend off baseballs.

Catcher Vic Willis by William M. Vander Weyde (American 1871–1929) [Public domain, Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

It was  a short leap in human history to the creation of the hockey mask.  But, human development was not yet complete.  Man needed protection for his wrist watch as well as his face.  In World War I, wristwatches were first brought to the battlefield and their crystals needed protection.

By Museumsfoto (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum) [CC-BY-3.0-de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

Then watch crystal materials got a bit tougher so most people could go without a shield over their crystal.  But, not me, I've been banging my watches into door frames for decades.  But, recently, I found this cool little Casio at Target for only $25.00.  It has a wire mask to protect the watch crystal from damage.  Since I've nicked up so many watches that I confine myself to inexpensive timepieces, I could really use this watch.  Plus, it has a 10-year battery life!  It might be a pickup for me this year!

A 2012 Guide to Military Field Watches

For over a decade American soldiers have been putting their lives on the line in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) and in other places around the world.  They have made tremendous sacrifices in repeated deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.  It's no wonder that military-style field watches have become fashionable.

A Praesidus Field Watch (Amazon Photo)

A whole host of watch makers offer watches that are based upon analog field watches from World War II and Vietnam.  They look great and are easy to read.  To learn more, read my post:

A Guide to Military Field Watches

The Joys of a Mechanical Watch

As much as I like my seemingly endless collection of quartz watches, I love mechanical watches, too. They are amazing because they are a masterpiece of mechanical engineering and because someone took the time to sweat the small stuff! For example, this watchmaker at Elgin has to have a steady hand.

 My modern Elgin watches just aren't the same.  But, I still have some mechanical watches and they are cool.

My Walmart Automatic Watch

This one is my $50 Walmart Automatic.  I don't think they make this particular model anymore.  But, Walmart used it to pressure their suppliers into making lots of affordable, skeletonized, automatics. Today, you can get nice looking mechanical watches for much less.  For example, you can get a very good price on this Sewor Automatic over on Amazon.

A Cool White Ana-Digital Watch from Walmart

A few days ago, my wife found this ana-digital watch from Walmart for $12.88 or so.  From the dial arrangement, it is apparent that this watch uses the same Japanese movement found in one of my favorite US Polo Association Thre3 brand watches.  The white enamel appearance of this watch looks great.

A Great Looking Ana-Digital Watch from Walmart

Aviation-Inspired Watches with a Vintage Look

I really like the looks of the new vintage-style aviation watches.  They are simple, functional, easy to read, and classic.  In July 2025, you can get a Bell & Ross watch inspired by World War 1 aviation pioneers here at Bell & Ross on Amazon.

Whether you love Bell & Ross or Timex, you can find Classic Aviator watches with a vintage look.

[This post was updated with new links in July 2025]

Precision by Gruen: Somewhere west of Laramie . . .

Somewhere west of Laramie . . .

. . . a motorcycle roars down a desolate highway.  The rider is enjoying the freedom to be an American.  He can wear any kind of watch he wants.  But, he chooses a watch that fits in with the powerful V-twin motor that powers his flight across the west.

By Daniel Hartwig from New Haven, CT, USA (P7020127.jpg) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The watch he chooses Precision by Gruen.  A watch brought to you by a fabled name in American watch lore.  It has an accurate quartz movement from Japan.  The bezel rotates one click at a time.  It's a cool watch man and it looks like it's made for heavy metal thunder!

A modern Precision by Gruen quartz watch

Anybody can write advertising copy.  The question is will this watch work for you?  

Having a Watch Emergency? Try Rite Aid!

If you are having a watch emergency and find yourself in need of a watch in the middle of the night, you might try your local Rite Aid.  They are now selling Sergio Valente SV quartz watches for $19.99.

A Watch Display at Rite Aid

Diver Style SV Watch

 

Square Instrument Panel Style SV Watch