I have been in a week long battle between a Vostok Amphibia 420, Hamilton Khaki Mechanical, and a Seiko SKX 013. All of these watches have timeless or signature designs, water resistance, a great amount of durability, bang for buck, and much more. The Vostok is the cheapest, cartoon like graphics, 200m water resistance, Soviet provenance, and unique design. The Hamilton is the most expensive, it is the most accurate, it is Swiss made, Great historic provenance, hand winding, clean design, field watch, good case size and case thickness, and 50m water resistance. The Seiko SKX 013 it is in the middle for price, It is made my one my favorite watch brands, ISO rated 200m water resistance, Signature Seiko Diving design, quality, and more. All of these watches have some cult status and all of them I have been very close to purchasing. I have anyone of them to arrive by July 10th as I have a trip in the 14th. Now for some pictures! Thank you for your time!

 

Seiko is the perfect beater

 

Seiko would be my choice. 38mm skx013 is a fab watch.

 

Vostok? Pfffft! Get the Seiko.

 

How important to you is the bracelet, because the bracelets on the Vostok models look really crappy.

 

but then.... everything on the Vostok looks really crappy. Yes you can drive over it with a car and it will not only still run but it will look the same (crappy)

Reference every other "beater" thread on the forum, get the Seiko.

 

Seiko. Best value, and phenomenal watches. Stick it on a NATO too.

Or if you want an Orient I may have an extra Orient Ray lying around...

 

The Hamilton is too good, the Vostok is too bad. The Seiko is just right.

 

I would throw it in the trash

 

Yeah Vostok lacks the solid construction and the Hamilton is not for the purpose of a beater.

 

The Seiko sits in the Goldilocks Zone of beater watches

 

Edit: SKX009 for reference. You get the idea!

 

I’d go 007 or 009 not the 013. It wears smaller then you’d think. Honestly it wears smaller then a Speedmaster pro. Due to identical width, shorter lug to lug, and wider lugs.

 

another vote for the seiko

 

SKX007 or SKX013, two photos for you to compare

 

I have all three of the watches you’re considering - and while all great choices, the Seiko SKX 013 would be my pick for ultimate beater. Good luck with the hunt!

 

seiko on a nato. kinda rhymes.

have fun
-kfw

 

Don’t get a MM300, it won’t be a beater, but most likely turn into your most coveted watch.

 

Seiko on a strap-o. Rhymes just as much and isn't an ugly crappy NATO.

 

I was thinking Perlon(yellow or blue), Gulf racing NATO, yellow/orange tropic, waffle, and a shark mesh.