15 MILITARY WATCHES THAT MAKE THE ULTIMATE TIMEPIECE
Are you unfortunate enough to have that one friend always asking you what time it is? Is your spouse woefully and eternally late to e v e r y t h i n g? Are you just not in tune enough with the sunrise and sunset yet to be able to tell when it’s 1700 simply by the angle of the shadows? If any of these ring true, or even if you just want to look a little fancier in that bland camo, these military watches for men and women are a great option that is also actually useful, unlike other accessories. Well, it’s 0500, which means you better wake your lazy self up and get ready for the day. You can keep on track with our assortment of the best military watches you can buy right now. Find your favorite type of watch by clicking on the links below. (1-4) Black Military Watch Options (5-7) Military Pocket Watch Options (8-11) Military Tactical Watches (12-15) Discount Watches
Best Military Watches
Black Military Watch Options
Sometimes, you just need something to go with everything. If you’re looking for military watches that complement every combat outfit, service uniform, and date-night attire, you’ve got plenty of options.
1. Tsovet SMT-FW42 Swiss Automatic
Company: Tsovet Price: Prices can reach up to $1,000 If you want a sleek black military watch, you won’t find many more suave options than a Tsovet. But you also won’t find many more expensive options, either. If you’ve got the assets, the Tsovet SMT-FW42 is a great choice for you or the military member in your life. It was actually inspired by the field watches worn by infantrymen in WWI, making them the perfect combination of style and historic importance. Be wary, though: Your S/O likely won’t be able to shut up if someone happens to compliment them while wearing this watch, be that for better or worse.
2. Bertucci DX3 Field
Company: Bertucci Price: $65.00 If you just need a basic black military watch, this one's for you. It’s far and away from the price of the last selection, making it a more affordable black watch that almost anyone can purchase. That doesn’t mean it’s worthless, however. It comes with Swiss luminous hands, 24-hour markings, and even a fiber-reinforced poly-resin unibody case. This is an overall reliable and stylish military wristwatch.
3. RZE Resolute Carbon
Company: RZE Price: $399.00 This RZE black military watch is accented with a chrome case and bright watch hands. You won’t even remember this thing is on your wrist until someone compliments you on it - that’s how comfortable it’ll be. It has leather backing on its custom canvas strap. Its solid titanium frame means it can withstand almost anything you or your commanding officer can throw at it.
4. Luminox Swiss 3798.MI Bear Grylls Paracord
Company: Luminox Price: $640.00 If there’s anything that everyone KNOWS military members are overly obsessed with, it’s paracord. Now you all have another excuse to wear paracord accessories with the Bear Grylls black paracord watch. While the entire exterior is black, the watch face is colored Army green and neon orange, giving it a distinctive service look. Apparently, it has a constant glow that is visible for up to 25 years. You’ll have to let us know if that one’s true or not when you buy it. Hot tip: A black military watch can be a great accessory for your post-military wardrobe
Military Pocket Watch Options
Kick it old school with a military pocket watch! Explore great options directly from your grandpappy below.
5. Bulova Harley Davidson Stainless Steel Pocket Watch
Company: Bulova Price: $395.00 If you have or are a military member who also loves motorcycles, the Harley-Davidson pocket watch will kill two birds with one stone. It has a 15” chain and a large Harley-Davidson logo stamped onto the back. The inside is a sleek ash gray with silver hands and notches.
6. Wooden Mechanical Hand-Wind Pocket Watch
Company: Gentleman Clothing Price: $35.95 For people who really love the antiquities, this pocket watch is perfect. It sports a beautiful wood inlay with a stainless steel bezel. It also has a peephole in the back where you can view the mechanics of the watch in action.
7. Double Hunter Mechanical Pocket Watch
Company: Brelsen Price: $125.99 This
Military Tactical Watches
Explore heavy-duty, true military-grade watches right here. Don’t expect a low price tag for these, though, you cheapster!
8. G-Shock GG-1000 Mudmaster
Company: G-Shock Price: $350.00 This is about as tactical as tactical gets. You can really see how sturdy this thing is just by looking at it. When reviewing its specs, it makes more sense to ask what’s NOT included rather than what is. If you’re in the throes of basic training or a harsh combat terrain, this watch is perfect for you. It’s made with ultra-strength mineral glass and a resin/stainless steel case. It is shock-resistant, mud-resistant, and water-resistant up to 200 meters (or just over 656 ft. for all of you who didn’t pass elementary conversion). Lucky for you, it’s also equipped with a stopwatch, so you can really see how poor your time was for that last run of the obstacle course.
9. Luminox Swiss 3745 Bear Grylls Compass
Company: Luminox Price: $975.00 This watch is not for the faint of heart -- if for no other reason than the hefty price tag. When you think of military-style watches, this almost HAS to be exactly what you envision. If you’re higher up in the ranks and making some of that amazing dough that you know the government definitely pays, you could totally afford this one. This is from the Bear Grylls survival collection, and it sure looks like it, too. It not only has a watch face front and center, but it also has a complete compass just below the main watch face. This pricey option comes with features that make the price tag seem worth it, even beyond the addition of a compass. It’s water resistant up to 1,000 ft., has sapphire-crystal, anti-reflective glass, and is made with a sturdy carbon compound case.
10. Suunto Traverse Alpha
Company: Suunto Price: $499.00 The Suunto Traverse Alpha is great for military members on-duty and off-duty. This is one of many military watches that features a digital face. However, it can do a lot of things that traditional watches can’t. It has hiking, hunting, and fishing modes. It has GPS/GLONASS navigation. It has tracking for altitude, distance, and speed. It pretty much has it all and then some. The watch is incredibly durable and uber-modern. Plus, it’s easy on the eyes.
11. Garmin Instinct Solar
Company: Garmin Price: $449.99 The Garmin Instinct Solar has everything you’d ever need from military watches. The tactical version is the most expensive, but they also have a standard version that is $100 less. It’s a digital watch that shows the date, sunrise and sunset times, and has a barometric altimeter, GPS, thermometer, compass, and accelerometer. What’s more is that it can also show you your heart rate and pulse blood oxygen level. It’ll even give you an alert when your heart rate is abnormal. There are also sensors for sleep, hydration, and women’s health. We’d say this is probably the best military watch you can find right now, especially for the price. Don’t rely on your tactical watch to do it all for you. Read more on Finding a Veteran-Approved Nutrition Plan That Suits Your Civilian Lifestyle
Best Military Watches Under $200
Looking for the best military watch that won’t break your (already fragile) bank? Choose from any of the more affordable options listed below.
12. Timex MK1
Company: Timex Price: $53.40 One of the older offerings from Timex, the MK1 is incredibly affordable while keeping the stylish Timex flare. It has sturdy double-layer fabric on its band and a strong anodized aluminum case. Of course, the watch face also has 24-hour markings, so you’ll always know exactly how late you are to report to duty.
13. Bertucci DX3 Compass
Company: Bertucci Price: $70.00 Bertucci also offers tons of options that are affordable for everyone. The DX3 in particular is a great choice because it comes with a small compass just below the watch face. On tactical military watches, that addition could bump up the price to well over $1,000, so this is a steal.
14. G-Shock DW5600 Mirror Digital
Company: G-Shock Price: $99.00 Too lazy to actually read a watch? Here, we have a digital military watch that caters to your special brain. Its sleek black and blue style is understated but attractive. It may be digital, but it still gets all the perks of traditional analog military watches. It’s water resistant up to 200 meters deep and has an afterglow and electro-luminescent backlight. At only $99, even you should be able to afford it.
15. Columbia Canyon Ridge
Company: Columbia Price: $116 The styling on Columbia’s Canyon Ridge watch harkens back to the Army pinks and greens with its olive-green band and taupe case. The band adjusts up to 230 mm, so even if your wrists have gotten grossly muscular during your service, you won’t find any issue with fitting into this watch. Looking to get more of your favorite items for less? Find out who offers year-round deals for YOU: 38 of the Best Year-Round Veteran Discounts (2022 Edition)
Conclusion
Remember, when looking at military watches, it’s about durability and longevity, so cheaper isn’t always better. But we obviously understand that some of you are cheap-os just for the sake of it. So enjoy buying a new watch every other month. For the rest of you, make an investment in your watch so you can enjoy it for many, many years to come. You’re all set and ready to tell the time and look d*mn good doing it. Did you get a new military watch recently? Share pictures with us and tell us what you like most about it on VeteranLife’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
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