Help choosing a diehard rugged tool watch for daily+++++Updated.

10182 Views 138 Replies 88 Participants Last post by UDIVER, May 14, 2022

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2022 (Edited)

10

So long story short, I've been collecting for about 15 years and over 450+ (give or take) watches and in that time I've tried a little bit of everything and somehow this topic always challenges me because I keep trying different watches then selling them off.

I'm a wearer, I don't baby my watches, I get them serviced but this watch will be slept in, showered in, taken in the ocean, working around the house, work in general and any other type of daily abuse.

I'm a mailman and to be honest, the job is pretty tough on gear, so it will be in everything from the weather, snow, rain, heat, cold and being hit on metal and overall getting used pretty hard.

So in the past 6 years , to name a few, I have daily worn the following....

Breitling Seawolf
Omega Planet Ocean 8500 XL
Omega SMP300 Chrono
Sinn U1
Sinn 104
Oris Aquis date 43
Kobold Artic diver
Marathon GSAR
Fortis B-42
CWC military diver quartz
Orient Sat diver 300
Squale 1521
Seiko SKX007 x 4....
Sunnto Core
and a bunch of different G-Shocks
I'm sure I missed some.

Currently I wear a Longines Hydroconquest 41mm with ceramic (the new one)
and a DLC Mido Ocean Star 600 on rubber

My other watch is a Nomos Club that I wear casually on Sundays or holidays, weddings....etc etc.

As for the Longines and Mido, there's nothing wrong with them and the Longines has been rock solid over the past year so I don't really "NEED" something else.....but I'm looking for something more permanent and special, the reason watches like the Seawolf and PO were sold are because of size, I'm really only into 38-42mm watches now, the Mido is 43mm but short lug to lug and DLC help shrink it.

So I've picked a few watches, some like the PO that I've already owned but in 42mm instead of the 45.5mm

Pretty much always going to be on bracelet, maybe a nato or rubber here and there but not much.

I've wrapped my brain around this for a while now and honestly just wondering what others would choose because I really wouldn't have a problem with any of these, as for the list of contenders....

I lean as of now towards the PO, Superocean or Muhle SAR

Sorry for the long post, what's your thoughts? thanks

Frank

Omega PO 8500+ in 42mm

Breitling Superocean 42mm

Tudor Pelagos

Doxa Sub 300T

Sinn EZM 13.1 chrono

Sinn U50

Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon

Muhle Glashutte Sar

Damasko DC80LVH

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Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 139 Posts

JC316

· #2 · Apr 21, 2022

Tudor Pelagos gets my vote!

Reactions: 5

Mediocre

· #3 · Apr 21, 2022

Muhle gets my vote, may also look at Tutima

Reactions: 4

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 21, 2022

Mediocre said:
Muhle gets my vote, may also look at Tutima

Yeah, I do like a lot of the Tutima stuff but a lot of it is 43mm or larger.

Reactions: 1

Mediocre

· #5 · Apr 21, 2022

UDIVER said:
Yeah, I do like a lot of the Tutima stuff but a lot of it is 43mm or larger.

Very true. If you want more affordable in the closer to 40mm range, Archimede is fantastic. If you want a bit higher tier I'm a fan of Muhle & the Pelagos

Reactions: 2

SirHugoDrax

· #6 · Apr 21, 2022 (Edited)

I'm actually considering a Pelagos myself at the moment. They seem pretty light and for as much as it sounds like you are on the move, less heft may benefit.

The Planet Ocean though...man, what a watch! Gorgeous.

Reactions: 4

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 22, 2022

Mediocre said:
Very true. If you want more affordable in the closer to 40mm range, Archimede is fantastic. If you want a bit higher tier I'm a fan of Muhle & the Pelagos

Yeah, I've looked at Achimede, Stowa and Limes and considered them all but never did get around to trying any out.

Reactions: 1

JC316

· #8 · Apr 22, 2022

SirHugoDrax said:
I'm actually considering a Pelagos myself at the moment. They seem pretty light and for as much as it sounds like you are on the move, less heft may benefit.

The Planet Ocean thought...man, what a watch! Gorgeous.

I love the PO look, I just hate the helium escape valve so much!

Reactions: 1

SirHugoDrax

· #9 · Apr 22, 2022

JC316 said:
I love the PO look, I just hate the helium escape valve so much!

I'm a bit biased as my daily wear is a SMP, so the helium escape valve doesn't bother me AS much but it really does seem much more pronounced on the Planet Oceans for some reason.

Reactions: 1

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 22, 2022

SirHugoDrax said:
I'm actually considering a Pelagos myself at the moment. They seem pretty light and for as much as it sounds like you are on the move, less heft may benefit.

The Planet Ocean thought...man, what a watch! Gorgeous.

Well the PO is very nice and the 8500 I owned was great and all but the crystal actually chipped and the AR scratched really easily.

But I'm willing to give it another try in 42mm instead of the 45mm

Reactions: 2

Summydad1

· #11 · Apr 22, 2022

JC316 said:
Tudor Pelagos gets my vote!

Mine too. Love it. I saw the U1 on your list. Why didn’t the Sinn work for you? It’s so tough.

Reactions: 1

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 22, 2022

Summydad1 said:
Mine too. Love it. I saw the U1 on your list. Why didn’t the Sinn work for you? It’s so tough.

I loved the U1 but it was too large, my taste changed over the years, that's why I'm considering the new U50 , as for the 104.....I liked it but mine was the white dial and polished case so it was a bit much for daily beater.

Reactions: 1

Summydad1

· #13 · Apr 22, 2022

UDIVER said:
I loved the U1 but it was too large, my taste changed over the years, that's why I'm considering the new U50 , as for the 104.....I liked it but mine was the white dial and polished case so it was a bit much for daily beater.

Ok cool. I have a U1-T and the tegimenting is tough. Mine has shown zero scratches anywhere in a year. I had a pallet of freight fall and scrape along it and zero scratches so the u50 gets my second vote if it’s tegimented.

Reactions: 2

msig81

· #14 · Apr 22, 2022

I would say get the Tudor or Sinn U50. I love my SMP but I think omega and breitling lean more toward dress-diver than pure practical tool.
Get whichever you think would look best banged up a bit!

Reactions: 3

TrojanSharkCrabs

· #15 · Apr 22, 2022

Traska makes some pretty indestructible bracelets. Not sure how the movement will hold up. They have some nice designs although may not meet the size preference

Reactions: 1

Tackman

· #16 · Apr 22, 2022

Pelagos gang

Reactions: 3

jsbx1

· #17 · Apr 22, 2022

Tudor Pelagos is too pretty and expensive to be a daily beater.

I'd get the Sinn EZM 13 or 13.1 or the EZM 3, if you can live without the Chrono function.

I've got the 13 and it wears smaller then it's specs, but packs so much punch for the dollar.

Regards,
Tony

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Reactions: 2

alinla

· #18 · Apr 22, 2022

My first choice would be a Full Metal Square. Mine will probably outlast me. Just make sure you get a positive display.

Next would be either Muhle or Damasko.

Third would be the PO & Pelagos.

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 22, 2022

jsbx1 said:
Tudor Pelagos is too pretty and expensive to be a daily beater.

I'd get the Sinn EZM 13 or 13.1 or the EZM 3, if you can live without the Chrono function.

I've got the 13 and it wears smaller then it's specs, but packs so much punch for the dollar.

Regards,
Tony

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

The PO and Pelagos slightly used are the same price as a new 13.1

I do like the 13.1 a lot!

UDIVER

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 22, 2022

alinla said:
My first choice would be a Full Metal Square. Mine will probably outlast me. Just make sure you get a positive display.

Next would be either Muhle or Damasko.

Third would be the PO & Pelagos.

Eh

I like G-Shocks but I prefer to have a mechanical watch on bracelet that can take a punch or two.

I do like Damasko a lot but I really really like that Muhle Sar, my only concern is the rubber bezel and how well it will hold up over time.

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