Okay so I need a daily beater watch that has the stopwatch function. I have one Speedmaster LE but I try not to wear that on a daily basis because I don't want it to get beat up. I'm looking for something similar so the choices are now down to another basic Speedmaster moonwatch or the Bell & Ross br V2 94. I can get eithe new for pretty close to the same price. Te Bell & Ross is a great-looking watch but I'm not sure of the quality versus another speedy. What say you? The other alternative is a diver 300. I could use the bezel for the stopwatch function but it's not ideal and I don't know about wearing a diver watch everyday vs Speedy or other.
Having owned many chronogrpahs over the past 3-4 years, tbh I've found the timer function on divers much much better. Speedys arent too bad, but still it's difficult to tell at a glance how many minutes have elapsed IMO.... the difference between 2, 3, or 4 mins is very difficult to determine from a chrono subdial - but I think much easier from a dive watch bezel. I recon go for a dive watch for a daily wearer for timing functionality. The vintage watchco SM300's are pretty great for the price!
I've been wondering for a while now: what (mainly for the OP) do people need a stopwatch function for these days, diving aside? And even diving, mostly I guess it would be a backup, given what these modern dive computers can do.
A timed instrument approach in an airplane. If you are an instructor sitting in the right seat it sometimes awkward to stick your hand between the students legs to set the timer if the student fails to do so. It is also a backup timer for the aircraft clock.
Use a stopwatch a fair bit at work. My work is charged in 15 minute blocks. Respray of dis-insection of a aircraft is 7 or 10 minutes. Cant have a phone out next to a plane refueling truck Can’t have a phone or computer on certain boats ie: gas, bulk fuels.
I've tried this with a standard chronograph, but realistically I think it's safer to use something with an alarm (like a Fortis Flieger Alarm Chronograph which is awesome). But when I started getting into faster airplanes I needed digital accuracy for timed approaches and used a dash mounted unit. This aside, pretty much any approach is now either WAAS enabled for LPV or at least an ILS which will soon go away in favor of the RNAV
+1 on timing approaches. Sometimes it's just easier to hit the pusher on your watch than set it on the clock or the primary flight display. Excellent for laps in the holding pattern too. Also handy for: steeping tea, baking, and knowing when to call someone back.