Trying to gauge any interest in the following; comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism is appreciated. Sorry for the long winded preface.
My foray into watches began roughly thirteen years ago, when I first started working in the emergency medical services, circa 1996. I don't remember the exact circumstances, but the watch I ended up purchasing just prior to entering the academy was a Tag Heuer F1 Formula One. These were quite popular at the time. They were available in different colors, with stainless steel or synthetic nylon (colors as well) straps, sapphire crystal, synthetic nylon bezel, and stainless steel case with screw down back. The crown was not a screw down. At the time, I don't think I paid more than $250 USD for it new. My particular piece stood up to substantial amounts work abuse over the next ten years, was very accurate with its ETA quartz movement, and the battery lasted almost three years between changes. My complaints were few and relatively minor: I almost lost the watch on a few calls from the spring bars popping off; the crown was not a screw down and I didn't trust getting the watch very wet; for a 38mm(?) watch the face was very small and sometime hard to read at times.
After the watch finally stopped working properly after ten years I began researching for its replacement; learning that Tag had discontinued the classic F1. I learned a bit about watches after researching many brands: quartz vs. automatic; acrylic vs. sapphire; fixed bars or spring bars, etc.
I wanted a watch that was tough, accurate, legible under many conditions, had fixed bars, and most importantly that it be of a smaller size (39mm?) and had a slimmer profile. Several models were quite close but not what I specifically looking for.
Bell & Ross Type Demineur: (https://www.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=180681) was a good candidate. There were no fixed bars, although the earlier Sinn branded models did have that. I really did appreciate it's smaller size; the watch was very comfortable when I did try one on. Seemed that the snag factor was quite low. The dial was very utilitarian and legible. I also the appreciated the fact that the battery for that particular movement (ETA 955.612) was good for 7 years. I was suspect of it's very high MSRP and upon further research I realized that B&R is really a marketing and not a watch company. I believe B&R is currently asking over $1000 USD for this model.
Marathon Navigator: This little plastic watch was very comfortable to wear at work. I happen to pick one up new on eBay for a very fair price. This piece doesn't seem much smaller that my MKII Blackwater, but I noticed that it's not as tall and hence feels less bulky on the wrist. I also felt as if the fixed bars somehow made the watch wear better on my wrist as compared to others with spring bars. The tritium vials were very nice, especially when working the night tour. The most accurate watch that I have had lately. After being tossed in a drawer for over a year the watch only gained 10 seconds. The rest of the watch seemed kinda cheap though. The snap on back and the cheap no screw down brass crown --which lost all it's black color after only several months of wear-- did not inspire any confidence for long term wear.
MKII Blackwater: This is the watch that I am currently wearing (for 2 years?) after deciding that the Navigator would not be a long term durable watch. I had been following the Blackwater since its inception and thus, was very disappointed when I found out that the fixed bars option was going to be abandoned. But the watch presented and enormous value for the workmanship offered. The case seems bulletproof, the curved domed crystal is beautiful, and the sterile dial options were invaluable for a true professional work watch. My complaints are minor but no less irritating: I have popped off the spring bars on more than one occasion; the watch is thicker and taller than I would have liked for my medium sized wrist; I have to re-set the time every three to four weeks because the movement isn't as accurate as a quartz.
So, is there any interest in a new MKII professional field watch that isn't necessarily based on a previous military design and/or a huge chunk of a metal dive watch? Perhaps what a current standards military issue watch really should be?
Suggestions:
39mm-40mm diameter and a low profile design
Precision quartz with long battery life and end-of-battery indicator
Fixed or screw bars
Sterile dial
Screw down crown and back
Sapphire crystal
Pre-assembled for low cost.
Perhaps the watch could come pre-assembled from Switzerland with only one set (determined by the MKII community) of dial and hands.
Then again, maybe no one cares for such a piece. Any cooments would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
My foray into watches began roughly thirteen years ago, when I first started working in the emergency medical services, circa 1996. I don't remember the exact circumstances, but the watch I ended up purchasing just prior to entering the academy was a Tag Heuer F1 Formula One. These were quite popular at the time. They were available in different colors, with stainless steel or synthetic nylon (colors as well) straps, sapphire crystal, synthetic nylon bezel, and stainless steel case with screw down back. The crown was not a screw down. At the time, I don't think I paid more than $250 USD for it new. My particular piece stood up to substantial amounts work abuse over the next ten years, was very accurate with its ETA quartz movement, and the battery lasted almost three years between changes. My complaints were few and relatively minor: I almost lost the watch on a few calls from the spring bars popping off; the crown was not a screw down and I didn't trust getting the watch very wet; for a 38mm(?) watch the face was very small and sometime hard to read at times.
After the watch finally stopped working properly after ten years I began researching for its replacement; learning that Tag had discontinued the classic F1. I learned a bit about watches after researching many brands: quartz vs. automatic; acrylic vs. sapphire; fixed bars or spring bars, etc.
I wanted a watch that was tough, accurate, legible under many conditions, had fixed bars, and most importantly that it be of a smaller size (39mm?) and had a slimmer profile. Several models were quite close but not what I specifically looking for.
Bell & Ross Type Demineur: (https://www.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=180681) was a good candidate. There were no fixed bars, although the earlier Sinn branded models did have that. I really did appreciate it's smaller size; the watch was very comfortable when I did try one on. Seemed that the snag factor was quite low. The dial was very utilitarian and legible. I also the appreciated the fact that the battery for that particular movement (ETA 955.612) was good for 7 years. I was suspect of it's very high MSRP and upon further research I realized that B&R is really a marketing and not a watch company. I believe B&R is currently asking over $1000 USD for this model.
Marathon Navigator: This little plastic watch was very comfortable to wear at work. I happen to pick one up new on eBay for a very fair price. This piece doesn't seem much smaller that my MKII Blackwater, but I noticed that it's not as tall and hence feels less bulky on the wrist. I also felt as if the fixed bars somehow made the watch wear better on my wrist as compared to others with spring bars. The tritium vials were very nice, especially when working the night tour. The most accurate watch that I have had lately. After being tossed in a drawer for over a year the watch only gained 10 seconds. The rest of the watch seemed kinda cheap though. The snap on back and the cheap no screw down brass crown --which lost all it's black color after only several months of wear-- did not inspire any confidence for long term wear.
MKII Blackwater: This is the watch that I am currently wearing (for 2 years?) after deciding that the Navigator would not be a long term durable watch. I had been following the Blackwater since its inception and thus, was very disappointed when I found out that the fixed bars option was going to be abandoned. But the watch presented and enormous value for the workmanship offered. The case seems bulletproof, the curved domed crystal is beautiful, and the sterile dial options were invaluable for a true professional work watch. My complaints are minor but no less irritating: I have popped off the spring bars on more than one occasion; the watch is thicker and taller than I would have liked for my medium sized wrist; I have to re-set the time every three to four weeks because the movement isn't as accurate as a quartz.
So, is there any interest in a new MKII professional field watch that isn't necessarily based on a previous military design and/or a huge chunk of a metal dive watch? Perhaps what a current standards military issue watch really should be?
Suggestions:
39mm-40mm diameter and a low profile design
Precision quartz with long battery life and end-of-battery indicator
Fixed or screw bars
Sterile dial
Screw down crown and back
Sapphire crystal
Pre-assembled for low cost.
Perhaps the watch could come pre-assembled from Switzerland with only one set (determined by the MKII community) of dial and hands.
Then again, maybe no one cares for such a piece. Any cooments would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
