I'd go with a Citizen Eco-Drive - he won't have to change batteries as it's solar powered, and the watch will get plenty of charge if he's working outside. Comes with 10 bar WR as well. This one's a bit big at 43mm, but he might appreciate the legibility and date function. The crown guards should help with the durability as well.

• AW0050-82E

 

I'd go with a Citizen Eco-Drive - he won't have to change batteries as it's solar powered, and the watch will get plenty of charge if he's working outside. Comes with 10 bar WR as well. This one's a bit big at 43mm, but he might appreciate the legibility and date function. The crown guards should help with the durability as well.

• AW0050-82E

+1

It is one of the best choices.

 

I have the Bertucci A-1S, which is the 36mm stainless model, so my experience is probably a little different from their usual 40mm titanium models.

The watch is objectively excellent, but I've never bonded with it. I looked at hundreds of pictures before buying, but was still not prepared for how different the case is in person and on my wrist. It sits pretty tall.

The fixed lugs are pretty cool, but I have a small wrist and it took me a year to find a strap I was finally sorta happy with. I think finding the best strap(s) for you (or your father) is absolutely key to enjoying this watch. Bertucci sells over a dozen different types, I would suggest getting a few to try out which one he likes best, or swap out for different occasions.

Watch itself is a tank and very well made. Mine has a basic Miyota inside which I doubt will give me any trouble and is accurate. Screw-down crown works very smoothly. Case finish is okay. I would say the lume is above average, but not great. Let me know what else you'd like to know.

I ended up with a Vaer C3 to fill the field watch slot in my collection and I like it much more (so much I bought a second one).

 

I would second the Citizen suggestion. I have this watch and it is fire and forget.

 

I do like Bertucci watches in general but value wise, suggestions towards the citizen route are better. Just better value I feel

 

Isn’t the Hamilton khaki field watch a good option in this range?

 

Not for sub-$200. Even their quartz is over $300. Citizen is a good recommendation. Another poster mentioned getting a Vaer and I can +1 that. Lightweight, thin, sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, comes with two straps (one of which is silicone, easy to clean). Really good value. I use mine for backpacking/hiking/kayaking.

 

depends on your long term outlook. I think Bertucci watches are fine - durable, very lightweight, variety of sizes, and batteries will run a number of years. on the other hand, fixed bars limit the kinds of straps you can use, titanium at this price point will tend to get marked up more, and i have read the lume is so-so. any watch at this price, the glow will be average at best unless it has tritium tubes - like a deep blue dive watch. if having the glow is important, take a look at something like the deep blue daynight 41 or 45 - just within your budget. (you didn't say how large or small your dad's wrists are).

I like the Citizen suggestions. this one is on the smaller side - 37mm case. Amazon is selling this for about $120, which is a really good price. Guessing the lume is average.

 

depends on your long term outlook. I think Bertucci watches are fine - durable, very lightweight, variety of sizes, and batteries will run a number of years. on the other hand, fixed bars limit the kinds of straps you can use, titanium at this price point will tend to get marked up more, and i have read the lume is so-so. any watch at this price, the glow will be average at best unless it has tritium tubes - like a deep blue dive watch. if having the glow is important, take a look at something like the deep blue daynight 41 or 45 - just within your budget. (you didn't say how large or small your dad's wrists are).

I like the Citizen suggestions. this one is on the smaller side - 37mm case. Amazon is selling this for about $120, which is a really good price. Guessing the lume is average.

View attachment 16639176

I've gotten my Dad two of these (he lost the first one.) Both were purchased from Joma for less than $80 a pop. Great watch.

 

No first hand experience with Bertucci. I have a couple of their straps and they are really well made. Biggest advantage with them is their solid strap lug bars. I am not familiar with farming, but I imagine its pretty rough on a watch. If he needs a really robust strap mount design I think its a good choice. Traditional spring bars can fail. I broke this one when my watch got caught on my backpack strap.

 

I have a Bertucci (the A-2T, 200M) and it is my most worn watch. It's a beast and I highly recommend this brand, especially the sapphire crystal models. It is super-light on the wrist for active people.

The lume on mine is quite good, but I paid particular attention to the size of the lume markers when deciding on a model.

I have worn mine for everything outdoors and/or rugged -- camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, woodcutting, rafting, wrenching, hunting, etc.

Despite all that, it does not have a scratch or dent on it and still looks new.

The quartz battery does not bother me; in fact, it is what I wanted for this type of watch.

I also prefer fixed lugs for all the above activities; I never worry about spring bars breaking. I purchase cheap ($12) single pass NATOs from an eBay seller and replace them when they get too grungy or worn.

I think a Bertucci (sapphire crystal) would be great for your Dad.

 

i really enjoy my Bertucci. They are great watches for the money and hold up well. He will definitely need a sapphire crystal model.

 

I also have the A-2T Vintage. It's what I reach for when I'm going to be abusive. Don't mind the battery, I appreciate the accuracy. Mine has a Swiss movement, sapphire crystal, LBI, 3-4 yr battery, ATM10, 40mm X 11.2 thickness
Also have the A-2TR GMT. Use it for rough traveling.

 

Bertucci's are good watches. I think I still have 100+ of them. One you should look at is the A-2T Super Classic. 40mm, titanium case, sapphire crystal, date, 200m WR, 10 year lithium battery, 3 year factory warranty....and they come in right at your $200 price all in, delivered...

Bertucci Ultimate Field Watch - A-2T Super Classic

 

View attachment 16639280

Have this one and love it, it´s my hiking and outside-stuff companion for many months and nary a scratch, so yeah another vote for the Bertucci

 

I like the idea of the solid lug bars for a farmer. That said, and I know the name shouldn't matter, but having family in west Texas I can picture the reaction on the ranch:

Grizzled cowboy in west TX drawl: "Bare-too-she?!!!! Like bare-assed?!!! Is that French or somethin'?"


A 38mm quartz Hamilton Field can be had for $259 on eBay. And again, it shouldn't matter, but you can say Hamilton started in Lancaster, PA.

 

I know the name shouldn't matter, but having family in west Texas I can picture the reaction on the ranch:

Grizzled cowboy in west TX drawl: "Bare-too-she?!!!! Like bare-assed?!!! Is that French or somethin'?"

Does this family eat the exotic food called "spaghetti"?

Perhaps they do but can't pronounce this totally foreign word?

Bertucci is like spaghetti cooked no dente.

I have had several Hamiltons and would not take any of them above my Bertucci for the farming tasks at hand.

 

Here's another vote for Citizen Eco-Drive, your dad would love it.

 

I have had no issues with my Bertucci watches. Keep in mind that the lugs are fixed so you can only use 1 piece straps. Momentum makes a good field watch. I have several Atlas models and all work well

Atlas

Engineered in solid titanium, the Atlas is so light you will almost forget that it is on your wrist. The Atlas combines unparalleled comfort, legibility and rock-solid water-resistance for an affordable price.

momentumwatch.com

 

Solid bars and 4 o’clock crown make for a rugged watch that wont dig into the back of your hand when working. Personally i prefer a G-Shock when doing manual labor but the Bertuccis seem like a nice alternative in a more traditional watch.

 

One word of warning about the Bertucci recommendations, while the solid lug bars do offer a very durable watch, they can present a danger depending on the activity. Since the OP's father is a farmer, I would assume he often has to work on complex machinery where snagging/catching on a NATO strap might cause his hand/arm to be pulled into a dangerous place.
For safety reasons, I would recommend a watch with spring bars or a NATO strap with a buckle that can act as a weak link allowing the watch to come off the wrist in case of emergency.

 

One word of warning about the Bertucci recommendations, while the solid lug bars do offer a very durable watch, they can present a danger depending on the activity. Since the OP's father is a farmer, I would assume he often has to work on complex machinery where snagging/catching on a NATO strap might cause his hand/arm to be pulled into a dangerous place.
For safety reasons, I would recommend a watch with spring bars or a NATO strap with a buckle that can act as a weak link allowing the watch to come off the wrist in case of emergency.

Ok, now that's funny......because a 'loose'? fitting watch band is waaaay more likely to fall to calamity than clothing, hair, fingers, earlobes, pocket protectors....and the solution is 'not' to not wear a watch, but to wear a watch that has a fail point in the form of a spring bar.

Don't get me started on avoiding riding in cars that can go faster than 15mph....

 

I see bertucci at local outdoor store and they are great looking watches. Have been tempted to snag one.
But, I’ll chime in for the citizen eco drive. I’ve had mine for 6+ years and it’s my fall/hunt club watch. I’m not a daily farmer but weekend work there is similar to farm duties…and it’s held up great.
it’s legible with decent lume, and has a profile that’s not so big. Fits under coats, layers easily. And- never need a battery change.
Wear mine on maratac nato.

 

Second metal man’s thoughts on fixed spring bars

 

Wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Bertucci, but my ex-FiL is a farmer and wore the chrome off a Timex Easy Reader...

 

Metallman is 100% correct.
Nato straps are not safe around machinery.
A traditional non-closed-loop watch strap, combined with spring bars, is much more safe.

 

What about a breakaway velcro watch strap? Like the one you find on the Moonswatch. The plastic keeper and spring bars should break or fly off easily enough. (Don't take this is workplace safety advice, refer to OSHA instead).

 

My colleague has worn a Bertucci watch every day for several years. He really likes it, and I think it’s quite nice looking.

 

I had the most basic plastic Bertucci and absolutely loved it. Sold it I had moved around to other beaters, but picking one up has always been on the mind. I imagine the Ti versions are only better than the basic plastic I had.

10 / 10, would buy again.

 

Personally I would go with one of the new Seiko military watches. The big advantage is that it has drilled lugs. One can use shoulderless springbars which are a lot more bombproof than regular springbars--the ends penetrate through the lug rather than into the lug. It is a Seiko so the quality is there and the lume is better than average. I believe they are running about $220 at Long Island Watch.

 

I have a Bertucci A-2T and it's my daily watch. Very good looking, IMO. Easy to read and wear. I wish they made the date bigger and had a day of the week showing.
I like Citizen solar or the Seiko.