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Sailing40
30
Jun 29, 2016
I forgot to mention that the only thing that makes these watches ‘Military’ is the manufacturer knows this will draw some who really believe they are. “They are NOT” Military grade watches period! Many of the Special Operations Military personnel, all units have opted for Casio G-Shock, and more recently Casio’s Hybrid GPS models! Why? One, they don’t have to pay the $1500 and up for one, but more importantly they are all on the same time, minute and second, no guess work when you have others depending on your detail to be executed to start an operation, and my small collection of g-shocks are interesting to see all of them on the same time, but especially when all their second hands are clicking away at the exact same time.
Jamesony
50
Jun 30, 2016
Sailing40Just because these watches aren't tried and tested by military personnel doesn't mean they aren't military inspired. A quartz digital watch made of plastic is always going to be far more reliable and accurate then an automatic watch. That being said very similar style watches were used in WW2 and similar nato straps in Vietnam. Also I don't want a fat plastic watch with very little style... I want a watch that looks like those used in WW2 and has a little class. Not to mention Automatic or mechanical watches in general I far nicer then anything digital. It's like comparing a computer to a vintage motorbike.
beas
49
Jun 30, 2016
JamesonyWho's military? Most procure by buying at the lowest bid price. Most of the macho man , uber military stuff is not issued by any military. Military issue is very utilitarian with few exceptions, because something was bought at a base exchange (PX) doesn't signify much. Some Brits will kill for any watch with a broad arrow (indicates issue status)
Nato straps or regimental straps were brought about as a cheap washable and uniform method of keeping a watch on your wrist without offending any standing orders on dress and deportment. It's usually laid out what band you can wear in uniform but since I'm 71 I like to wear my old unit colours and perhaps break it up a bit with some allied unit. I have leather, nylon as well as rubber straps.
Some units want a matte black or OD casing with a plain black nylon band. Some may turn a blind eye to a unit strap (matching the stable belts etc)
And there's nothing wrong with Seiko at any of their price and quality levels. The Seiko is actually a pretty accurate rendition of issue watches I've seen. Any unit I was in didn't issue a watch, Construction Engineering and Refrigeration & Mechanical shone their boots with a brick and couldn't tell time anyway.
Sailing40
30
Jun 30, 2016
JamesonyJamesony, Thank you for the reply, and I do agree that many of the cleaner watches as we've seen here being advertised by Massdrop are damn good looking. I did buy the Seiko Solar Compass Watch and I'm still eagerly awaiting for my Seiko Prospex Sky Watch, plus earlier this month I bought a Seiko Men's SNE331 Sport Solar Black Stainless Steel Watch with Beige Nylon Band. Being a former Combat Veteran myself, and staying abreast of whats new, much of what I've shared is from my own experiences or others like my nephews son who was recently discharged from the Marines after serving 10 years and also served 3 combat tours of duty, one in Iraq, and two Afghanistan. My also having served in Germany and going through countless NATO Alerts facing off with the Russians T62 tanks and later their T72 tanks, I'm not aware of any 'formal' NATO watchband. But in Munich, their Bavarian 'October Fest' is fantastic.