I need an analog wrist watch...

[Bolster]

I desperately need a watch that fits my needs. But I know almost nothing about them. Since I travel and present a lot, here's what it has to do:

- Be analog (not digital)
- Have a very readable face, so you can glance at it and see what time it is in a nano-second (which you have to do mid-presentation to see whether you need to slow down or speed up...no complex confusion of dials, etc...unwanted chronograph would only be a distraction for me, I don't need to keep track of seconds, only minutes and hours.)
- Have bright GITD (tritium? or something bright) hands or face, to read in a dark lecture hall or in a dark hotel room.
- Have an ALARM that's easy to set, and easy to see what time it's set for. To get me up in the morning. Preferably the alarm indicator is a single hand that just points to the time you want to get up (no separate mode, no separate dial, as little complexity as possible...usually set when I'm dead tired.)
- Have the date (no problem, what watch doesn't)
- Not be thick as a brick (doesn't have to be paper thin either, but definitely NOT THICK!)
- Neither cheap (I must rely on it) nor expensive (It'll be used, abused, and perhaps lost). I could drop a couple hundred on it if necessary.
- Not look overly "tactical." In fact, it really shouldn't draw attention to itself.

If possible, a comfortable cloth/leather band (don't like metal hair-pinching bands).

If you have a watch you love, that does this, please let me know...

[Mr Blonde]

I am very -very- satisfied with my trio of Tissot watches. The glass is really scratch proof and they are very classy and with just the right amount of functions.

Check out their site http://www.tissot.ch to see if there's a model you like.

Wouter

[Raqudu]

I've been very happy with my Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk for a number of years now. Easy set alarms (3), multiple time zones, and date in the digital windows plus a good pair of analog hands that I can see without my glasses. About $320 when I bought on sale a few years ago at Robinsons-May (now Macy's).

http://www.citizenwatch.com/

[vampyrewolf]

I've been beating on my gshock g-100 for over a year... large visible hands (minute and hour, no second hand), dual display (date, alarm, stopwatch, dual time zone, and digital readout with seconds) at the 6 position. Relatively cheap (100cad I think).
Only thing it doesn't meet on your requirements is thickness... 1/2" thick. I've smacked it into walls and door frames... stepped on it, dropped/thrown it, it's been through a few chemicals, shocked with 110vac a few times.
Will be getting my niece one when she quits losing watches.

Have a ti Skagen as my dress watch, but thats simply analog with date.

[AllenETreat]

Bolstermaniac -

I'm not sure if you meant pricewise or quality wise for a watch, but
check this one out -

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=44744

IMO not very tactical. But believe me, we made good use
of'em in this man's army!

AET

[Will V.]

If you really want tritium hands, you'll have to go with glass tritium vials, like in Luminox, Ball, and similar watches. Many of these look tactical, and I doubt any have an alarm, but I could be mistaken.

If you can forgo tritium for luminova, which is the defacto modern standard for non-powered illuminated watches, the list of watches that might satisfy your requirements grows considerably.

The alarm function will still present a problem in the purely analog realm. Undoubtedly, there are some analog and dual display analog/digital Timex and Casio watches out there. Check out the Timex Expedition alarm watch. Also check out the Seiko "Military" chronograph with alarm feature.

Good luck, let us know what you find.

[Jambo]

Traser/H3. I have one in titanium and it rocks, meets all of the about criteria except for the alarm. Had a steel one for 7 years before and it was virtually indestructable, it just didn't have the sapphire crystal my new titanium Traser does and it ended up getting quite a few scratches.

[Simple Man]

I'll have to throw a vote out also for G-Shocks, if you can find one that is not too thick, it should serve you well and look nice to boot. If not, the standard, non-GS, Casio line would possible have something classy that would work, and well under your limit.

[Fred Sanford]

Bolstermanic,

I own a 2 Seiko watches. My best one cost about $320. I love it and have been wearing it almost daily for about 7 years now. I also really want a G-Shock. Even though I've not owned one I've not read anything but good things about them. I don't know what your price range is. Also, are you looking to replace batteries or did you want a watch that is powered by kinetic movement or solar powered? My old Seiko is just powered by a battery that I replace about every 2-3 years. I still don't have even one scratch on the face.

On a side note, I've never had a metal band watch pull my hairs out or pinch my skin UNLESS they are cheap elastic style bands. I also hate that kind of band.

Here is a picture of the one that I own and wear 95% of the time:



Good luck with your hunt my friend.

[J Smith]

I have a TSAR and a sterile Ti Traser.
Love them both but the TSAR is my favorite watch of all time,at least until I can get a Bretling.
http://www.countycomm.com/tritiumsar.htm

[Dannyvi]

As mentioned, I doubt if there are any tritium powered watches with an alarm. Frankly, I have never owned a wrist alarm watch that could wake me up ! I owned a few and I could hardly wear it even when I was awake!

[arnon]

http://www.4-watches.com/casio/gs1100-1a.html
Arnon

[J Smith]

I think Luminox does do one with an alarm but it is covered with tons of other stuff that makes it hard to read the time.

[Slick]

What J Smith said and....

I want a watch not a billboard of unused funtions that interfere with function. I do not need multiple time zone info. I am usually only interested in local time. An alarm (one maybe two) would be nice but if at the expence of funtional efficiency I will pass.
I will continue to watch this thread.

[Bolster]

This one was a recommendation from the EDC forums...notice it is not thick as a brick (doesn't look like a mini-ampitheater on your wrist), and does not have a confusion of subdials. It has a single alarm, comes in a variety of configurations, this one is the white face with kevlar band:

[psimonl]

This one was a recommendation from the EDC forums...notice it is not thick as a brick (doesn't look like a mini-ampitheater on your wrist), and does not have a confusion of subdials. It has a single alarm, comes in a variety of configurations, this one is the white face with kevlar band:

I used to have that watch... Up untill yesterday....

It really is a great watch:

slim, light, made out of Titanium, alarm that is really loud, easy read of time, great glow in the dark numbers and needles, Saphire glass..... But I had the leather-carbon band and my skin ph is to high, it burned 3 bands in a year :eek: ....

Beside the leather-carbon band, I know it exists in Ti... And knowing St.Moritz, I know it's of high quality...

A very very nice watch for its price (170.00$) but now I've switched to something more...

I switched to a Citizen Ecodrive...

Take care,

Simon


Simon

[telemeister]

I have a Wenger (Swiss Army) watch, which is really cool - It is easy to read, has the dates, and can be read at night - it does have that 'military' look to it though. It was only about $150 US, I think. There are plenty of different models in the Wenger line up, not all of them 'tactical'. Check them out, they are pretty good for the price!

[kimjune01]

:D

[vampyrewolf]

kimjune01: **** you, now I have to go and spend $150 :p

[gandalfe]

I agree with Mr. Blonde. Tissot is the watch to have.Impeccable quality, and best bang for buck.The Swiss know how to make a great watch.