Suggestions for a watch for mechanical type work

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Walrus

·Oct 19, 2022

My buddy is starting a business, well more like expanding it and wants me to help him out. He already has some pretty good plowing contacts as well as painting and some other “handyman” type of stuff. I hate to make a “what watch should I buy” type thread but it seems most searches I do many are talking g-shocks which are cool just not my thing. I guess rather than asking what should I buy I’d ask what do you typically wear when doing more “manual labor”. For me it has been my Vostok but it’s getting pretty chewed.

I’m thinking maybe 350 usd or under as I’m making moves to get a flingflambadaboomblingding watch in the near future. I’m kinda leaning toward Hamilton (only have one) Orient (don’t have any) Seiko I already have a decent amount and another brand which name is escaping me right now as I’m a noob with a bad memory. I think a bracelet may be needed as yes he’s even got a sewer line snaking machine. I’m not getting rid of this trusty Vostok, getting another is also on my mind. Well hopefully you get the gist of what I’m saying here as I get too loquacious and write a book when I’m asking something that could probably just have been one sentence but I don’t make many posts and really need to put my all into it.

alas, a pic of my much abused Vostok that needs to retire and live a peaceful life

 

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ghce

·Oct 19, 2022

Mine is this.

Great diameter at 46 mm so you can quickly ascertain the time when you are doing manly work things.
All solid Titanium so you don't overexert your self on wearing the watch alone whilst you are doing those manly tasks.
Water resistant so you can cool off with out worry after your hard labours.
And best of all a highly accurate Seiko NH35A ll movement that can readily be sourced as a replacement after you have beaten the crap out it doing those rugged manly tasks.

 

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Larry S

·Oct 19, 2022·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

This is my gardening, cycling, gym skiivy neighborhoods etc watch…..just had serviced with new seals and battery..Todd Snyder collaboration…

 

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Walrus

·Oct 19, 2022

Off topic but shout out to my wife I had this spring bar jump on me (I’m getting better but still happens. Asked her to keep an eye out. What was lost had now been found

 

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bananapeanut

·Oct 19, 2022

Marathon Black General Purpose Mechanical (GPM)

 

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ghce

·Oct 20, 2022

Walrus

Off topic but shout out to my wife I had this spring bar jump on me (I’m getting better but still happens. Asked her to keep an eye out. What was lost had now been found

I do that sort of thing in my overfilled ( but clean) garage, once those puppies have sprung away you have next to no chance of finding them luckily spring bars are cheap!

 

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Walrus

·Oct 20, 2022

ghce

I do that sort of thing in my overfilled ( but clean) garage, once those puppies have sprung away you have next to no chance of finding them luckily spring bars are cheap!

It’s only the seiko and omega ones I bother trying to seek out when they shoot off

 

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Walrus

·Oct 20, 2022

bananapeanut

Marathon Black General Purpose Mechanical (GPM)

Do you have one of these? When I did a search for “work watches” marathon popped up. I know someone selling one, it’s a quartz but that would not bother me. I found the brand interesting as I was not familiar with it and it was interesting to read about. I think it’s a strong contender and I might be able to work out a trade which is always a plus, well not always but in this case I do believe so.

 

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Syzygy

·Oct 20, 2022

Honestly, I'd just keep adding character to that Vostok. But if you're looking for an excuse for a new watch (aren't we all), that Marathon is interesting indeed!

 

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JwRosenthal

·Oct 20, 2022

Walrus

Do you have one of these? When I did a search for “work watches” marathon popped up. I know someone selling one, it’s a quartz but that would not bother me. I found the brand interesting as I was not familiar with it and it was interesting to read about. I think it’s a strong contender and I might be able to work out a trade which is always a plus, well not always but in this case I do believe so.

I got the Marathon Aviator for my wife years ago for her beater work watch (bakery) and she loved it. That thing took it in stride.

 

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krogerfoot

·Oct 20, 2022

I don’t think I have anything to suggest, but the SS Marathon and Anadac quartz models made by Gallet are interesting. The present-day Gallet company keeps hyping them with a lot of complete bullshit in part to flog the purported “Operation Desert Storm” prototype mechanical watch, of which the handful of examples are conveniently owned by Gallet executives, the guy who runs the watch museum where it’s displayed, and somehow one or two additional pieces that seem to come up for sale whenever the bullshit history of the watch surfaces online somewhere. But to get off my hobbyhorse, they have a cool asymmetric look, though counterfeits abound.

https://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/closer0510/605349.html

Edit: I guess I did have a suggestion after all.

 

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Walrus

·Oct 20, 2022

Syzygy

Honestly, I'd just keep adding character to that Vostok. But if you're looking for an excuse for a new watch (aren't we all), that Marathon is interesting indeed!

I am considering that but I was injured a few years back and had to leave doing “paid” maintenance type work. Helping my friend grow his business is allowing me to leave one of my side gigs I was getting tired of and the fact I’ve bounced back physically to tackle it again, it’s a minor celebratory excuse I guess. That Vostok helped me paint two houses and do so much DIY stuff the past couple years I am attached to it. Hell of a power reserve.

 

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bananapeanut

·Oct 20, 2022

Walrus

Do you have one of these? When I did a search for “work watches” marathon popped up. I know someone selling one, it’s a quartz but that would not bother me. I found the brand interesting as I was not familiar with it and it was interesting to read about. I think it’s a strong contender and I might be able to work out a trade which is always a plus, well not always but in this case I do believe so.

I don't but I thought of getting one at some point. They have very good reviews.

 

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wagudc

·Oct 20, 2022

A Seiko diver, but I doubt you could afford it.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/fs-...ndition-australian-edition-28-000-obo.125027/

 

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Foo2rama

·Oct 20, 2022·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

Seiko 5kx GMT

 

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timjohn

·Oct 21, 2022

Vaer do some well-designed field watches. And if you’re doing sewer lines, definitely a selection of natos you ca strip off and put on a hot wash…

 

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wagudc

·Oct 21, 2022

timjohn

Vaer do some well-designed field watches. And if you’re doing sewer lines, definitely a selection of natos you ca strip off and put on a hot wash…

I have one with the USA made quartz movement. I like that they are trying to produce things locally. It is quite nice, but I am not a huge fan of the bracelet and don't buy it if you are OCD about the second hand hitting the ticks exactly. This is a known issue, and Vaer is not going to fix it for you.

 

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Walrus

·Oct 21, 2022

timjohn

Vaer do some well-designed field watches. And if you’re doing sewer lines, definitely a selection of natos you ca strip off and put on a hot wash…

I’m glad you brought up the nato. Let’s just say you are in a home that had a sewer line back up. Hopefully the floors are vinyl or cement or anything but carpet. Either after or before snaking a 90’ sewer line up to the street you use (or we have) a shop vac to extract the inch off poopy water if the homeowner did not catch it in time or they didn’t realize they should stop all water use.
It’s not like an everyday thing but it happens. I’m thinking rubber or a bracelet may be the best choice for quick sanitation. Also getting in and out of the heated cab of a plow to shovel or snow blower leaves you with a wet nato that can intermittently freeze up. I’m probably overthinking this. I can always just take of the watch but that makes me feel naked.

 

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Flatfoot

·Oct 21, 2022

NATO straps concern me from the standpoint of getting entangled in something around machines and heavy items always seen around work sites. There is no weak point on a NATO when compared to watch with a strap with spring bars that would fail and minimize injury.

i bought an inexpensive, fun Seiko Super-Mod diver on a seiko rubber strap as a dedicated beater watch some years ago. In fact it was cheap enough, so I bought a second one…

 

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Aroxx

·Oct 21, 2022

Maybe take a peak at Bertucci watches if you don't mind quartz. It fits the bill of cheap quartz that you won't worry about destroying. Although, they all come on straps so you'd maybe have to find a rubber strap that would work for your requirements. I bought a DX3 Field years ago when someone or other was hyping them. It's okay, but I rarely wear it anymore. Used to wear for yard work and such. I like the case with the crown at 4 o'clock. The one thing that blew my mind when I recently changed the battery on mine was only 50M water resistance 😲 They do have models with better water resistance. https://bertucciwatches.com/Bertucci/WATCHES.html