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1. Disclaimer: I have seen all manner of timepieces used in the field from $3 kids watches to Rolexes and Speedy Pros. Personal preference rules the day, and everyone has a different preference. The guide below is intended to help inform those that want a few data points on timepieces without dropping the cash to buy a watch they might not want. I hope you enjoy.
2. A Little About Me: I divide my time between an office job and a fire department with frontline fire, EMS transport, and river rescue capability. I also work with two mountain rescue teams as wilderness rescue team leader and wilderness EMT. I started as a wildland firefighter a long time ago. I dive recreationally when I can.
3. Watch Background: When I fought wildfire, I had a $6 digital watch with a nylon strap on my wrist, and it worked great. I could always tell time when I needed it, it was comfortable, and it had an alarm feature that I used to wake in the morning. However, it didn't survive a cannonball I made into the river during a canoe trip, so I was without a watch for a time. I replaced it with a brass Timex Expedition Rugged Metal Field watch that I kept on my wrist for five years. I beat this watch to death, but the only damage it shows are wear marks, some latex paint stains from a recent home improvement project, and some crystal scratches from the time my dog tried to eat it. I love this $50 watch, but it lacked features I needed. The watch was not well suited to timing activities (heart rate, etc.), and it lacked an alarm that I needed when sleeping at the firehouse or spiked out on a SAR mission somewhere. This is what sparked my search for a better watch.
4. My Requirements:
· Stopwatch/Chrono function
· Quartz "Ticking"
· Alarm
· Water Resistance
· Rugged Durability
· Multi-Mission Suitability
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation
· Bonus: Unique Features
Stopwatch: I'm terrible at math and can't remember numbers in my head. This is problematic when trying to time my jogging runs but also when I need to time certain activities such as respirations/minute, heart beats/minutes, and my dive times. I try to do simple match in my head, but it hard to remember exact start and stop times.
Quartz "Ticking". Battery operated quartz watches have second hands that "tick" once per second. Spring-powered automatic watches tick multiple times per second in what looks like a smooth motion unless carefully observed. I have several durable Seiko automatic divers that I love, but they are not suitable for rescue work because it is very difficult to count seconds when the second hand sweeps. I find it much easier to count seconds in the back of a bumpy ambulance when the second hand moves at one tick per second.
Alarm: As noted above. It's just nice to have, especially when I don't have my phone nearby.
Water Resistance. I like to dive, but most of the water resistance concern is related to build quality. Dive watches with 200meter or 300meter ratings are usually built to a higher standard than watches with a lower rating. I like to dive, but it's build quality that I'm most concerned about.
Rugged Durability: I don't want my watch to break. Enough said.
Multi-Mission Suitability: The ideal watch should be appropriate for Fire, EMS, SAR, Diving, and desk work. (Note: Watches are worn underneath firefighting equipment and are not necessary when actually fighting fire, but I still keep it on so it doesn't get lost. For water and ice rescue, I strap the watch to the exterior of my drysuit for easy reading.
![Wrist Arm Finger Hand Joint]()
Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: At some point the law of diminishing return kicks in, and extra $$$ for watch features starts to outweigh the additional benefit those watch features provide. The calculation is different for everyone, and this helps explain wildly divergent timepiece selections.
Bonus Features: Some watches have features that are not necessarily "must haves" but are helpful, cool, or interesting.
5. Watches Reviewed: The list below is intended to provide examples of certain watch types, cost ranges, and features. This is not an exhaustive list.
· Timex Rugged Metal Field (905 U9)
· Seiko SKX 007/009
· Casio G-Shock GW-7900B (G-Rescue)
· Casio G-Shock GW-5610
· Marathon TSAR with a MARATAC Zulu Strap
· Seiko SSC293P2 Solar Chronograph with a MilTat strap
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Measuring instrument]()
![Auto part Fashion accessory Rim Ring Jewellery]()
Timex Rugged Metal Field (905 U9)
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: No
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: No
· Water Resistance: 50M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Ok for Fire/EMS/Inland SAR but not much else
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $50
· Bonus Features: None
Review: This watch saw a lot of use, and I never worried about it breaking or getting lost or stolen. It lacks many features I wanted, but have no hesitation taking this watch or a similar one into the field.
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap]()
![Strap Zipper Jeans Material property Fashion accessory]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Strap Fashion accessory]()
Seiko 007/009
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: No
· Quartz "Ticking": No
· Alarm: No
· Water Resistance: 200M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Great for recreation diving and office work.
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $200
· Bonus Features: Divers unidirectional bezel for timing functions
Review: The Seiko SKX family of dive watches are well known and well respected. They have a history of use that dates back to U.S. servicemen in the Vietnam War, and I know a lot of active duty personnel that swear by these watches. I recently serviced a 20-year-old Seiko 7002 (predecessor of the current 007/009 models) that a retired Army Ranger had on his wrist every day since 2000. These are tough watches. However, they lack many of the features that I want in a watch. The auto-winding feature is great, but I'm not worried about running out of battery life while on the job. I am worried about trying to count seconds without a "tick" function. I've tried it. It's hard. Also note, the strap on the 007 is bulky. It will catch on a uniform sleeve or turnout coat wristlet if I'm not careful (I do not have the same problem with the stainless oyster bracelet on the 009). I love these watches, but I don't wear them while on duty.
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap]()
![Hand Wallet Fashion accessory Leather Wrist]()
![Analog watch Watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap]()
![Fashion accessory Metal Titanium Wrist Silver]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Strap Fashion accessory]()
Casio G-Shock GW-7900B (G-Rescue)
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: Yes
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: Yes
· Water Resistance: 200M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: EMS, Inland SAR, and water rescue. No good for cold weather, office work, or fire fighting
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $150
· Bonus Features: Tide and Moon graphs, solar power, EL-backlight
Review: This watch has all the features I need for work at a good price, and it is very lightweight. I love the EL-backlight feature, where the backlit display operates via the flick of my wrist. This is an excellent feature when one hand is occupied with a patient or both hands are on the ambulance steering wheel. However, this is a giant timepiece. I can't wear it with a dress shirt, and it catches my turnout jacket wristlets every time I wear it. In cold weather, the LCD screen stops working around the 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This is my go-to dive watch, but it's too bulky for use otherwise.
![Watch Technology Dive computer]()
![Black Camera accessory Strap]()
![Watch Dive computer Technology Electronics Electronic device]()
Casio G-Shock GW-5610
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: Yes
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: Yes
· Water Resistance: 200M
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Ok for everything in warm weather, but hard to use with gloved hands
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $85
· Bonus Features: Solar power, EL-backlight
Review: This watch has all the features of the GW-7900B (minus the tide and moon functions), but it comes in a much slimmer package. It doesn't catch on any of my equipment, and I'm not out much money it if breaks or get lost. However, the tiny buttons are hand to operate with gloved hands, and the LCD display doesn't work well in cold wintertime environments. (Note: This watch does not come from the factory with the reverse LCD screen. That was a mod I did on my own: https://www.watchuseek.com/f17/5600-owners-thread-732634-96.html#post32271289)
![Watch Technology Electronic device Stopwatch Digital clock]()
![Black Strap Leather Fashion accessory Wrist]()
![Watch Watch accessory Digital clock Strap Wrist]()
Marathon TSAR
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: No
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: No
· Water Resistance: 300M
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Works for all missions even if it lacks features. I'd cry if I lost it though.
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Worth the $500 I paid, but lacks many features I'd like.
· Bonus Features: Unidirectional bezel for timing.
Review: The TSAR is the penultimate "tool watch". It has a 300-meter dive rating and thick scratch-proof sapphire crystal. The watch is well known as the standard issue dive watch for US and Canadian dive rescue teams. Its durability is also internet famous (see:
) This is also the only watch I own that strangers ask me about. The wrist appeal is high. Unfortunately, the watch lacks many of the features I need, and I'd cry if it was lost or stolen. Also note, the aftermarket strap adds bulk that will cause the watch to get caught on sleeves and wristlets, but the strap design will prevent the watch from falling off my wrist if a single spring bar fails.
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Strap Fashion accessory]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Black Fashion accessory]()
Seiko SSC293P2 Solar Chronograph
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: Yes
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: Yes
· Water Resistance: 100M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Good for land-based operations. No good in the water
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Worth the $150 I paid. This watch probably rests between G-shock functionality and T-SAR wrist appeal
· Bonus: Rotating inner bezel with compass markings.
Review: What I like most about this watch is the easy to use stopwatch function. The top right button activates the stopwatch, and I can activate it easily with one hand. The G-Shocks reviewed here also have stopwatch functions, but it requires cycling through the timer and alarm functions first, which can be a pain. This watch has excellent wrist appeal, but I'd never take it on a water rescue mission. The rotating compass bezel is cool if you know how to use the watch and the sun to determine direction. Any analog watch can be used for this purpose, but the compass directions on this watch make allow for a more accurate reading (see: How to Use an Analog Watch as a Compass: 8 Steps). However, no SAR personnel use their watch as a primary or even backup compass because it's not accurate enough and requires direct access to sunlight that's not available at night, when overcast, or when under deep tree foliage. Most of us carry an orienteering compass for primary navigation and maybe a small wrist compass for quick reference.
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap]()
![Strap Fashion accessory Buckle Material property Leather]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Black Fashion accessory]()
6. What I Take into the Field Most Often
· Fire /EMS: Casio G-Shock GW-5610
· River/Ice Rescue: Casio G-Shock GW-7900B
· Inland SAR: Marathon TSAR
· Office Work: Seiko SKX009 or SSC293P2
· Recreational Diving: Casio G-Shock GW-7900B
· Bathroom Painting: Timex Rugged Metal Field (905 U9)
I hope this review was informative and totally respect different options based on preference and mission needs. Feel free to post your own options below if you have more to add or have questions for me.
2. A Little About Me: I divide my time between an office job and a fire department with frontline fire, EMS transport, and river rescue capability. I also work with two mountain rescue teams as wilderness rescue team leader and wilderness EMT. I started as a wildland firefighter a long time ago. I dive recreationally when I can.
3. Watch Background: When I fought wildfire, I had a $6 digital watch with a nylon strap on my wrist, and it worked great. I could always tell time when I needed it, it was comfortable, and it had an alarm feature that I used to wake in the morning. However, it didn't survive a cannonball I made into the river during a canoe trip, so I was without a watch for a time. I replaced it with a brass Timex Expedition Rugged Metal Field watch that I kept on my wrist for five years. I beat this watch to death, but the only damage it shows are wear marks, some latex paint stains from a recent home improvement project, and some crystal scratches from the time my dog tried to eat it. I love this $50 watch, but it lacked features I needed. The watch was not well suited to timing activities (heart rate, etc.), and it lacked an alarm that I needed when sleeping at the firehouse or spiked out on a SAR mission somewhere. This is what sparked my search for a better watch.
4. My Requirements:
· Stopwatch/Chrono function
· Quartz "Ticking"
· Alarm
· Water Resistance
· Rugged Durability
· Multi-Mission Suitability
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation
· Bonus: Unique Features
Stopwatch: I'm terrible at math and can't remember numbers in my head. This is problematic when trying to time my jogging runs but also when I need to time certain activities such as respirations/minute, heart beats/minutes, and my dive times. I try to do simple match in my head, but it hard to remember exact start and stop times.
Quartz "Ticking". Battery operated quartz watches have second hands that "tick" once per second. Spring-powered automatic watches tick multiple times per second in what looks like a smooth motion unless carefully observed. I have several durable Seiko automatic divers that I love, but they are not suitable for rescue work because it is very difficult to count seconds when the second hand sweeps. I find it much easier to count seconds in the back of a bumpy ambulance when the second hand moves at one tick per second.
Alarm: As noted above. It's just nice to have, especially when I don't have my phone nearby.
Water Resistance. I like to dive, but most of the water resistance concern is related to build quality. Dive watches with 200meter or 300meter ratings are usually built to a higher standard than watches with a lower rating. I like to dive, but it's build quality that I'm most concerned about.
Rugged Durability: I don't want my watch to break. Enough said.
Multi-Mission Suitability: The ideal watch should be appropriate for Fire, EMS, SAR, Diving, and desk work. (Note: Watches are worn underneath firefighting equipment and are not necessary when actually fighting fire, but I still keep it on so it doesn't get lost. For water and ice rescue, I strap the watch to the exterior of my drysuit for easy reading.
Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: At some point the law of diminishing return kicks in, and extra $$$ for watch features starts to outweigh the additional benefit those watch features provide. The calculation is different for everyone, and this helps explain wildly divergent timepiece selections.
Bonus Features: Some watches have features that are not necessarily "must haves" but are helpful, cool, or interesting.
5. Watches Reviewed: The list below is intended to provide examples of certain watch types, cost ranges, and features. This is not an exhaustive list.
· Timex Rugged Metal Field (905 U9)
· Seiko SKX 007/009
· Casio G-Shock GW-7900B (G-Rescue)
· Casio G-Shock GW-5610
· Marathon TSAR with a MARATAC Zulu Strap
· Seiko SSC293P2 Solar Chronograph with a MilTat strap
Timex Rugged Metal Field (905 U9)
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: No
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: No
· Water Resistance: 50M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Ok for Fire/EMS/Inland SAR but not much else
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $50
· Bonus Features: None
Review: This watch saw a lot of use, and I never worried about it breaking or getting lost or stolen. It lacks many features I wanted, but have no hesitation taking this watch or a similar one into the field.
Seiko 007/009
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: No
· Quartz "Ticking": No
· Alarm: No
· Water Resistance: 200M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Great for recreation diving and office work.
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $200
· Bonus Features: Divers unidirectional bezel for timing functions
Review: The Seiko SKX family of dive watches are well known and well respected. They have a history of use that dates back to U.S. servicemen in the Vietnam War, and I know a lot of active duty personnel that swear by these watches. I recently serviced a 20-year-old Seiko 7002 (predecessor of the current 007/009 models) that a retired Army Ranger had on his wrist every day since 2000. These are tough watches. However, they lack many of the features that I want in a watch. The auto-winding feature is great, but I'm not worried about running out of battery life while on the job. I am worried about trying to count seconds without a "tick" function. I've tried it. It's hard. Also note, the strap on the 007 is bulky. It will catch on a uniform sleeve or turnout coat wristlet if I'm not careful (I do not have the same problem with the stainless oyster bracelet on the 009). I love these watches, but I don't wear them while on duty.
Casio G-Shock GW-7900B (G-Rescue)
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: Yes
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: Yes
· Water Resistance: 200M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: EMS, Inland SAR, and water rescue. No good for cold weather, office work, or fire fighting
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $150
· Bonus Features: Tide and Moon graphs, solar power, EL-backlight
Review: This watch has all the features I need for work at a good price, and it is very lightweight. I love the EL-backlight feature, where the backlit display operates via the flick of my wrist. This is an excellent feature when one hand is occupied with a patient or both hands are on the ambulance steering wheel. However, this is a giant timepiece. I can't wear it with a dress shirt, and it catches my turnout jacket wristlets every time I wear it. In cold weather, the LCD screen stops working around the 0 degrees Fahrenheit. This is my go-to dive watch, but it's too bulky for use otherwise.
Casio G-Shock GW-5610
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: Yes
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: Yes
· Water Resistance: 200M
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Ok for everything in warm weather, but hard to use with gloved hands
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Excellent bang for $85
· Bonus Features: Solar power, EL-backlight
Review: This watch has all the features of the GW-7900B (minus the tide and moon functions), but it comes in a much slimmer package. It doesn't catch on any of my equipment, and I'm not out much money it if breaks or get lost. However, the tiny buttons are hand to operate with gloved hands, and the LCD display doesn't work well in cold wintertime environments. (Note: This watch does not come from the factory with the reverse LCD screen. That was a mod I did on my own: https://www.watchuseek.com/f17/5600-owners-thread-732634-96.html#post32271289)
Marathon TSAR
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: No
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: No
· Water Resistance: 300M
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Works for all missions even if it lacks features. I'd cry if I lost it though.
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Worth the $500 I paid, but lacks many features I'd like.
· Bonus Features: Unidirectional bezel for timing.
Review: The TSAR is the penultimate "tool watch". It has a 300-meter dive rating and thick scratch-proof sapphire crystal. The watch is well known as the standard issue dive watch for US and Canadian dive rescue teams. Its durability is also internet famous (see:
Seiko SSC293P2 Solar Chronograph
· Stopwatch/Chrono function: Yes
· Quartz "Ticking": Yes
· Alarm: Yes
· Water Resistance: 100M
· Rugged Durability: Yes
· Multi-Mission Suitability: Good for land-based operations. No good in the water
· Positive Cost/Benefit Calculation: Worth the $150 I paid. This watch probably rests between G-shock functionality and T-SAR wrist appeal
· Bonus: Rotating inner bezel with compass markings.
Review: What I like most about this watch is the easy to use stopwatch function. The top right button activates the stopwatch, and I can activate it easily with one hand. The G-Shocks reviewed here also have stopwatch functions, but it requires cycling through the timer and alarm functions first, which can be a pain. This watch has excellent wrist appeal, but I'd never take it on a water rescue mission. The rotating compass bezel is cool if you know how to use the watch and the sun to determine direction. Any analog watch can be used for this purpose, but the compass directions on this watch make allow for a more accurate reading (see: How to Use an Analog Watch as a Compass: 8 Steps). However, no SAR personnel use their watch as a primary or even backup compass because it's not accurate enough and requires direct access to sunlight that's not available at night, when overcast, or when under deep tree foliage. Most of us carry an orienteering compass for primary navigation and maybe a small wrist compass for quick reference.
6. What I Take into the Field Most Often
· Fire /EMS: Casio G-Shock GW-5610
· River/Ice Rescue: Casio G-Shock GW-7900B
· Inland SAR: Marathon TSAR
· Office Work: Seiko SKX009 or SSC293P2
· Recreational Diving: Casio G-Shock GW-7900B
· Bathroom Painting: Timex Rugged Metal Field (905 U9)
I hope this review was informative and totally respect different options based on preference and mission needs. Feel free to post your own options below if you have more to add or have questions for me.
