Here’s my advice “don’t say g shock, don’t say g shock, don’t say g shock”….. have you ever heard of Casio? Lol…. I kid.
So when I was a more active and younger fella…. I’d buy cheap quartz watches at Wally World and just beat the hell out of them and when they failed I’d just buy another one. Surprisingly I once got a timex Ironman edition watch that lasted for a few years and was great. I’m not sure if that was normal or not, but it did great.

 

It’s normal for an Ironman. They’re almost indestructible. I’ve had one for over 30 years (not the same watch). I’m retired military.

 

Yes you’d be better off with a quartz - more accurate, more robust, cheaper to buy and maintain. Even better, a solar quartz - unscrew the crown a few times a year to adjust the date, otherwise don’t even think about it for 20 years

 

This.

 

Thank you for your service.

 

First off, Thank You for your service!

On to the point of real-world durability of mechanical watches: while watches are more of a niche interest these days, millions upon millions of mechanical watches are still sold and used around the world every day. Mechanical devices DO fail. By some amazing circumstantial coincidence, two men in a similar line of work under similar circumstances have two different mechanical watches 'fail' in similar manner. Not having been present with you, or being a watchmaker, or even having both watches in front of me, I can't really comment too much on that, beyond that it is unfortunate.

That said, I have had cheap, knockoff watches - think some of the cheapest mechanical movements made in China - from the early 2000s that I used and abused in very similar fashion on Oil Rigs and didn't have issues. I inadvertently wore a vintage WEWC with a Longines Movement when mountain-biking and thought I killed it, only to have it pop right back into operation when I tapped it once. I have a Chinese Seagull Movement that is over 20 years old in a watch that I have worn for that long that hasn't skipped a beat.

Things happen, and its unfortunate - but I hope you and your friend get answers in your circumstance!

 

I only do quartz/solar watches. They last for a long time.

 

Oddly enough, sometimes watch movements do fail.
I’ve worn various watches during deployments over a military career that spanned 3 decades and always had some form of G-Shock with my pro gear as a backup to whatever was on my wrist (which included Seiko and Marathon).

 

A while back in S.E. Asia we (mostly all) wore Seikos, Orients, Citizens and Timexes sourced locally or from the PX. They were all mechanicals and they all did very well. The so-called fragility of mechanicals is proven false by history.

 

I agree that mechanicals are very durable. A well built quartz will always be the “toughest”. Both are more than capable. I think OP just had some bad luck.

 

My GSAR has done camping duty, mechanic duty, yard duty, and much more. It’s never been shot at, but it’s gotten very dirty and grimy. Runs fine.

Do you remember to religiously screw down the crown? Forgetting that just once can do damage if the watch is submerged or buried in dirt, or even if you shower while wearing it.

What about vibration? My right absorbs the shock of using the tools that military guys use, if you get my meaning. Watch is on the other arm. But lots of construction impact tools might be too much for any mechanical watch.

Rick “some ideas” Denney

 

All you need is a raised bezel to protect the crystal and at least 100m WR.

Anything else is optional, IMHO.

 

I wore a GSAR the last few years doing submarine duty and underwater stuff. I broke the bezel a couple of times. It remained operable, but not for long term use. Quickly repaired both times. Once with just a new click spring, the second time a new bezel and click spring. Submarines are hard. Kept good time. I did have a Casio DW6900 that I wore for the balance of my submarine career and kept as a back up.

 

Quartz is always better for heavy work with shocks.

 

Would I have been better off with a quartz or manual wind movement?

I agree with the point above that mechanicals are more robust than many give them credit for today, yet I am also certain that for field use a high quality solar quartz should (all else being equal) be even more reliable and accurate.

I suggest that something like a Citizen Promaster eco drive may suit your needs.

Cheers

 

You say that you didn’t do anything outrageous with them but it sure sounds like you gave them heck. Perhaps a quartz watch would meet your needs better.

 

Interesting data points OP thank you for sharing. During my previous deployments to Afghanistan, I went the cheap quartz route. During my first tour, this was a Timex i440 sports watch, which I rarely removed. Unfortunately the silicone strap broke toward the end of my tour. Before my next tour, I purchased a Timex Expedition Acadia in Camper Black with a nylon strap, which held up beautifully -- it still works well today, and looks quite out of place in my collection. I also brought along an Omega Seamaster for occasions when I needed a little bling -- Afghan men tend to appreciate nice watches, and the Seamaster often served to break the ice ("you're telling me that's a REAL Omega?" - a reference to the glut of Chinese counterfeits on the local market there).

I have a Marathon GPM but left it at home -- was never really a fan of the case or narrow strap, and the MSAR just looks like the same watch with a giant diving bezel attached.

Hope they get fixed!

 

Tool watch is a term people made up. There's nothing inherently more toolish apart from it's looks.

In my experience, the dressy-est Omega would've held up better than the lower priced tool watches.

 

If i'm in a need for a rugged watch i never wear a mechanical watch. Always a G-shock (steel or titanium squares).

 

Mechanical watches aren't infallible. They can only take so much wear and abuse before they need to visit the medic. Cheers!

 

Calling a watch a "tool watch" makes about as much sense as calling a hammer a "tool hammer"...

 

So noted by the Department of Redundancy Department.

 

I’m surprised the movement in both watches developed problems:

Sudden decrease in power reserve and accuracy, followed by a loud rattling sound coming from the movement and a gritty, sticky feeling in the crown.

The impact of dropping the watch onto a hard surface even wood floors can cause the hairspring to get dislodged from the studs resulting in the watch running too fast and low PR. Wearing the watch and falling down with it isn’t strong enough for that to happen. I’ve managed some spectacular crashes on my snowboard wearing mechanical watches even tearing my MCL and shattering the bones in my ankle on two separate occasions. The watches were fine.

The rattling sound would almost likely be the loosening of the main screw on the rotor which was an issue in the old 7s26 movement from the 90s. The turtle has the 4r36 which could’ve experienced something similar. Just screw it back in tight.

Sticky feeling in the crown would be dirt and grime.

 

First, thank you for your service. Sincerely.

Second, were I to imagine the coolest (had to fix a typo that said "toolish" which also fits) watch I'd employ in your position, the one that comes immediately to my mind a Marathon GSAR.

So, big prop points from me, A double statute!! LOL

And your buddy's Seiko turtle is also a classic. I'm aggrieved they both failed. Did they have great exposure to ultra-fine sand?

Sorry to know two epic watches failed. Ouch! The GSAR is a watch I'm circling as an "apex" watch in my collection.

Ouch!!

I do have a super-cheap, but really nice, option that might serve one of you--or both--as a placeholder while you wait upon repairs.

The Steeldive SD1970 "Captain Willard" is going to hit rock-bottom prices this Monday (Aug 19) on Aliexpress. They will be well under $50.

At under $100 these SD1970s are almost universally considered the top-value among Ali watches.

But "value" means squat if the watch isn't something you vibe with.

I TOTALLY vibe with my Steeldive Willard. The case design, all props to Seiko, is so damn comfortable and the asynchronous case (with built in crown guards) is rugged and purpose-built.

They may be as little as $45 come Monday. With free international delivery.

Just a thought.

Bill

 

Pretty sure my $50 Timex quartz watches are more durable than any of my mechanical ones.

 

Someone mentioned raised bezel to protect the crystal,when I am looking for tough duty I go for either this mechanical:

With case hardened bezel, or if considerable roughness is expected, then a couple of my half dozen quartz Holton Professionals.

There is a nice automatic version too, but the quartz means business.

HAGD

 

I took my SKX on a vacation and accidentally dropped it a few feet onto a hard surface. It still kept time but ran extremely fast. It is a very ‘robust’ watch by mechanical standards tho. At the end of day the mechanical watch movement is an enthusiast’s anachronism.

The most durable, accurate and cost efficient time keepers are quartz and digital at that.

As stated above ‘tool watch’ is kind of obsolete at this point as far as mechanicals in my opinion.

Not that some CANT take such abuse, just that they’re not the best tool for it.

 

A solar quartz is a better option for a service watch. (Seiko SNJ025)

A THIN and SMALL solar quartz watch is better for a combat watch. (Citizen BM8180-03E)

Just two examples, there are many options out there.

-jm2c

 

There is nothing that makes an ETA housing more robust if you put it in a beefy steel case. I suppose the Rolex movements are a little more rugged with their shock absorption, and i am sure there are a few more - but you are going to have to get a Richard Mille if you want a truly rugged mechanical movement. Or get a GShock.