Digital Watch search

[Battle Monkey of Zardoz]

My normal watch is a Luminox 3100 series. It's a good watch, tough. Stands up to my job, oilfield. But I miss a good digital watch. So APS folk. What are some suggestions on a good, tough, water proof digital watch?  Price range under $300.

[taurusowner]

I might be in the minority here, but I find the best watches are the $50ish Timex ones.  I'm in the military, and just starting my career in law enforcement.  And the only thing that sucks more than breaking your watch on the job, is breaking a $300 watch on the job.  When I look at websites like LAPoliceGear, 5.11, and other "tactical" sites that sell watches that cost multiple hundreds of dollars the only thing I can think it that the wearer of that watch is one slammed HMMWV door or one tussle on the ground at 2am away from being out $300.  I honestly don't know anyone in the military or law enforcement who takes those expensive watches seriously.

I can see spending a good chunk of money one a real nice dress watch if one plans on wearing a suit regularly.  But if the watch is meant to be worn out in the field doing a tough job, it's going to break.  It's up to you if you wanna break $50 or $300.

Sorry I can't be any help actually answering your question, but that's just what I think about expensive watches in a field environment.

[MillCreek]

BM of Z, I think your search will begin and end with the Casio G-Shock series.  That is all.

http://www.gshock.com/

Last time I checked, I had about six or seven of them.  Almost all of them are a tough solar atomic model.

[Nick1911]

I wore one of these for years and years: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Timex-Mens-Fashion-Digital-Indiglo-Watch/1146505?sourceid=1500000000000003260380&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=1146505

Heck, the only reason I stopped wearing it is because my wife hated the way it looks.  I was impressed in how well it held up to the abuse I gave it.

Expensive watches are nice for dress up occasions, but I like cheap timex for day in, day out work.

[RocketMan]

Get yourself a cheap but solid digital watch.  There are a lot of them out there.  There is no sense in buying an expensive watch you may bugger up on the job or at play.

[The Lone Haranguer]

I am pleased with my Casio G-Shock.

[thebaldguy]

I have some 20+ year old Timex Ironman digital that still works. I end up replacing the band every year, but the watch still works well.

On the other hand, a few years ago my girlfriend got me a newer Timex digital that died when it got wet in a rainstorm. I was supposed to be waterproof to 100 meters, but that didn't work. It was out of warranty by a year.

If you're serious about digital watches, check out the Casio G Shock line.

[sanglant]

mudman 

[red headed stranger]

I'll have to echo the sentiment for the G-Shock watches.  Very sturdy and very affordable. 

[Waitone]

Go retro.  Timex watch and a Spiedel band. 

[Boomhauer]

I broke a Gshock.

Haven't actually physically broken or drowned a Timex yet. $25 at Walmart for the Ironman.

Now, I tried one of the Timex watches with the digital compass. That one messed up for some reason (and the compass was anything but accurate). But the Ironman and Atlantis watches from Timex have never failed me or my father.

[sanglant]

if you don't mind me asking, which gshock? some are more gshocky then others. something like a mudman or other master of g and you're in a whole different ball game, and price range.

[Boomhauer]

if you don't mind me asking, which gshock? some are more gshocky then others. something like a mudman or other master of g and you're in a whole different ball game, and price range.

A standard Casio G-shock, one of the digital models that had the synchronization with the atomic clock. It was always strange anyway- seemed to have a mind of it's own.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Black-Atomic-Solar-G-Shock/dp/B00009NH3R/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=watches&qid=1268607934&sr=1-14

^^^^
One of these, IIRC.

[dm1333]

I broke a Gshock.

Haven't actually physically broken or drowned a Timex yet. $25 at Walmart for the Ironman.

I've broken both.  Been wearing my present G Shock for about 9 months, it is one of the cheaper ($130) models.

[sanglant]

  Avenger29, i don't know how to say this. try not to let me offend you, i'm not trying to. that looks almost as bad as my old wilson watch, i loved that watch(but it was ugly as all get out ), busted it on a doorknob i thought i had broken my wrist i broke the plastic that covered the buttons. it still worked for a few months but it ended up getting moisture in it and dieing. i have killed a drawer full of watches(all of them cheap ) timex casio and nonames. at this point i won't buy a watch till i know a few people with the same model and it still working.(i count watch forums or i couldn't buy a watch ) here's the gshock forum. here's a review of the watch i've been wearing for around 15 months now. not my review. i couldn't wright that well if my life depended on it. i started back with digital watches with a 2300, i don't think i could break it if i was trying.

P.S. sorry for rambling about something your probably not interested in, i'm bad to keep going when i get started.

[Boomhauer]

I'm not offended. I brought it for the solar power/ atomic synch capibility, not the looks.

Was really disappointed when it both failed to deliver and failed to keep working...

[AmbulanceDriver]

I have the solar/atomic sync g-shock with the metal band.  I've beaten the tar out of this watch.  hitting walls, doors, etc.  I'm a little on the clumsy side at times.  :)   I have never broken anything on it. 

The only downsides:  The atomic sync doesn't always work.  It depends on how far you are from the time signal transmitters.  It also seems to work better if you leave it near a window or exterior wall.

The battery on it holds a charge pretty well, especially in the summer time.  Winter time, I occasionally have to charge it under a lamp for a few hours.  Combination of less sunlight and long sleeves. 

[mtnbkr]

How long do the solar g-shocks go between charges?  Do they use an actual battery or a capacitor charged by solar?

Chris

[SADShooter]

On my wrist as I type is a Timex Ironman Triathlon purchased in 1985-86. The bezel is beat to hell and gone, but the crystal and guts are fine. Keeps pretty good time, as well. 

[MillCreek]

How long do the solar g-shocks go between charges?  Do they use an actual battery or a capacitor charged by solar?

Chris

Mine go for months between charges and I think they use a capacitator.  For those of mine that have the power-saving mode, I do enable it.  This probably stretches out the time between charges.  However, any time the solar models are in light bright enough to read by, they are charging up. 

[sanglant]

casio = solar charging battery

seiko = really cool generator set up charging a ?

citizen = solar charging a capacitor?

 

[mgdavis]

When I wear a watch, which isn't so often lately, it's a G-Shock I got at Costco for $40 a few years ago. I think the model it 2608, looking at the back of it. WAVE CEPTOR/TOUGH SOLAR, according to the front. It's big and ugly, but it works well for me.

[sanglant]

hmm,


  this one?

[MillCreek]

^^^ I have this very watch, also bought at Costco.  It actually spent some time strapped to the crossbar of my Suzuki dual-sport.  I swapped it out for another Casio solar atomic, but with analog hands, so it is easier to read while jouncing along. 

[mgdavis]

That's the one. Never drops below a Mid charge, even during our gloomy NW winters. Stays charged to High during the summer.

As a bonus, I noticed this weekend that the auto daylight savings time setting works correctly.