Knifemaker Bill Harsey sent an email with a few observations. SEALs do not use this watch. It is to luminous ( picks up IR) and having SEAL emblazened on gear isn't what spec ops people call "sterile." Personallly, I think merchants promotion of products by association with military units is vulgar. Whats next, Coca-Cola logos painted on Bradley fighting vehicles? Maybe I'll start marketing the Saddam BOB on EBAY <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Don't forget to include all of your WMD in your Saddam BOB. You should also have the modified bio-lab mounted on the Deuce-n-half standing by to carry your Saddam BOB safely into syria a few days before you beleagured minions face the wrath of the largest military on the planet on your behalf and getting slaughtered.

Or perhaps you could recommend a Custer SERE Manual?

I bought a Seiko kinetic watch a few years ago and still use it every day.
That 'no battery' concept appealed to me.
(model not displayed on seikusa.com)

But after about 3 or 4 years, the mechanism failed and needed repair.
It's working fine again.... for how long, time will tell...


Alain

You correspond with Bill Harsey, Chris? I would have been a little more circumspect with my comments on the Lone Wolf Harsey folder, earlier. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, I did half-heartedly look for his e-mail online once, just to compliment him on the designs of the two that I have, and to say thanks. I won't ask for his e-mail (no desire to intrude), but maybe you could convey that much, if opportunity presents.

Matt--

Among my half-dozen or so watches (wrist & pocket), the two I use are a TAG/Heuer analog quartz & a Casio G-Shock digital. Both are utterly reliable and very accurate.

My everyday, most of the day watch is the TAG/Heuer. It is Swiss-made & certified waterproof to 200 meters. It has a true mineral crystal, a day of the month display (must change manually for months not 31 days), a one-way ratcheting bezel, & luminous hands & marks. They are not self-luminous, but must be "charged"--a quick flash from a SureFire 6P does nicely for hours; a Photon takes a bit more time, & doesn't last quite as long. Though I’d prefer an automatic (read: self-winding), this one was a gift from my wife. It’s accurate to +/-2 seconds/month. The battery must be changed every 2 years, more or less, and to retain waterproof certification, must be done by an authorized/accredited facility. So far, I’ve replaced the battery twice, and no leaks to date, though I don’t dive. It’s been in pool & ocean, but probably no deeper than 6 feet or so.

The Casio G-Shock is one of several incarnations of that model. It sees use on weekends, for yard work, & lately, for travel (see below). Like Presumed Lost, I don’t like all the flashing blocks & dancing digits (when rolling over from 0, the elements of the numbers do a little “dance”—which I find quite distracting). They have nothing to do with being able to read the time quickly, and appear to me to be there because some programmer was showing off.

The G-Shock also has features I simply don’t understand: What purpose does a counter serve that will tell me how many days in the past, or in the future, a given date is from today? Or rather, FIVE (5) such counters? (BTW, I put my birthday, & that of my wife & kids in, so we can all find out how many days old we are…whoop de do.) I also don’t have much use for the Phone # data bank—it only holds 25 numbers, whereas my cell phone holds 100. I put a couple of pizza places in just to see how it works.

However, it also has five (5) independent alarms (occasionally useful—especially to replace an alarm clock when traveling, or when sick children need multiple doses of medicine throughout the night), a stopwatch, and dual-time zone display.

It’s tough, waterproof, & light, though bulky. The blue-greenish display will light up a room when illuminated, which fascinates my kids. Based on experience with previous models, the battery should be good for 5+ years; longer, if it’s not illuminated frequently. I was told by a jeweler that battery life was based on using the illumination button for 1 second 10 times a day—more frequently would reduce life, less would lengthen. Also based on previous experience, I don’t expect to be able to replace the battery & have the thing retain any semblance of a watertight seal. I expect to buy a new watch, instead.

Note, too, that these watches are on opposite ends of the price spectrum (well, the Heuer is really only mid-range, overall, but it still cost over 10 times the G-Shock).

This is my experience & opinion; YMMV.

Good luck.

David

This is not a true Navy SEAL watch, they are not, nor were they ever issued or even used by the SEALS. There was an issue watch for navigators which looked like the Luminox, it was a Stocker & Yale Sandy model 650. It had a 12 hr bezel, not 60 min markers. The Luminox watch is a great watch if you get the stainless steel version, screwdown crown and case back, making it reasonably water resistant. If you want to get rid of the Navy SEALS dial, go to www.mkiiwatches.com and get a plain dial installed, also available fully assembled from MKII, with the dial.

Don't go with the Timex Expidition. They break - quickly. I've given them the benefit of the doubt for three tires now, no way.
I also used to have a VibraLight III watch, which I beat the heck out of. I liked it because it VIBRATES for alarms, which helps maintain marital bliss when I have to get up at 4:00 AM and also allows me to FEEL alarms when I'm in a noisy environment.
The software in a vibra-light is shoddy in terms of practical user interaction, but it does have neat feature - you turn your wrist and the backlight comes on automatically - neat feature!