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What's your favorite tool watch?

sevenhelmet
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Traditional pick for me is the Speedmaster. It went to the Moon, and was used to time critical phases of spaceflight. If it's not one of the top picks here at OF, I'll be surprised.

Speedmaster 2.jpg


My modern day pick, and overall "tool watch" choice would be the Skywalker X-33. People pan the Skywalker, but I think it's an improvement to the (still praiseworthy) 1990s X-33. As a pilot, the "Skywalker's" outstanding accuracy and features make it a breeze to track local, GMT, and "where-I-am-headed" time at the push of a button. No hacking or resetting necessary, and as a bonus, it's the great grandbaby of the original Speedy. The bi-directional bezel is a blessing when I need to track a particular time, but am momentarily too busy to write anything down. For anyone in a skyfaring profession, it's hard to argue with a watch that was designed by an astronaut.

X33 Flying 4.JPG
 
citizenrich
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dialstatic dialstatic
I know many people here hate it, but the Seiko Monster is my go-to watch for when something might actually happen to it. And it hasn't let me down so far.

IMG_3103.JPG


Do people really hate the Seiko Monster? Is anyone here willing admit their dislike?
 
Foo2rama
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citizenrich citizenrich
Do people really hate the Seiko Monster? Is anyone here willing admit their dislike?
I personally don't like the design. It's a neat watch just not for me.
 
rhj
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there can be only one..
672aa3a215139073f56457a8d36ad32a.jpg
 
Archer
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Tubber Tubber
2011, I think.

Their parts pricing is pretty outrageous - a case tube for an Omega with a screw down crown is $3, and they wanted nearly $19 for one in 2011. An Omega steel screw down crown is $49 and the Tag version is $84. As you say it makes refurbishing a watch like this a matter of sentiment rather than economics.
 
Tubber
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Archer Archer
Their parts pricing is pretty outrageous - a case tube for an Omega with a screw down crown is $3, and they wanted nearly $19 for one in 2011. An Omega steel screw down crown is $49 and the Tag version is $84. As you say it makes refurbishing a watch like this a matter of sentiment rather than economics.
The service was done by Tag in Singapore so all prices are in SGD. Not that it makes much difference.
 
gostang9
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citizenrich citizenrich
Do people really hate the Seiko Monster? Is anyone here willing admit their dislike?
‘Hate’ is a strong word, truth is I would never buy this watch and would not wear it even if someone gave it to me. But that’s my personal opinion and I know not everyone would buy or wear the watches I prefer so it’s irrelevant.
 
GordonL
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Speedmaster Pro for me, what else?

But I also have a cheap Bostok/Vostok Komanderski which is a treat to wear, 100% waterproof and keeps great time.
 
jimmyd13
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citizenrich citizenrich
Do people really hate the Seiko Monster? Is anyone here willing admit their dislike?
Not hate but it's not something I would wear. For me, there's too much going on with the dial seemingly trying to make up for the case.
 
Seaborg
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Ralf Tech WRX - Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (here captured in Miyajima Sanctuary - Japan)

Ralf.jpg
 
gostang9
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By ‘tool watch’ I think of a watch I use to accomplish some work. For me, the biggest ‘work’ uses of a watch are having quick access to date and another time zone in my global role. Therefore my best ‘tool watch’ has to be my Explorer II. It gives me quick visibility of home time, date, and secondary time zone. None of my other watches do all three of those like this one...

Here’s a photo from a few weeks ago...
F0201101-412E-47DD-935E-2B8F189266F8.jpg


I love my Speedy for the looks, but I rarely use the chrono function, it doesn’t have a date feature, and visibility sometimes requires rotating it back and forth briefly so that light catches the hands and hour markers properly. Love the watch but definitely not a ‘tool’ watch for me.
00E75D78-3B23-4C8F-A3D0-B3BDE6B1AC06.jpg
 
sevenhelmet
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gostang9 gostang9
By ‘tool watch’ I think of a watch I use to accomplish some work. For me, the biggest ‘work’ uses of a watch are having quick access to date and another time zone in my global role. Therefore my best ‘tool watch’ has to be my Explorer II. It gives me quick visibility of home time, date, and secondary time zone. None of my other watches do all three of those like this one...

Exactly. This is also why I like my X-33 so much. And as a thermocompensated quartz, its accuracy is second-to-none.

gostang9 gostang9
I love my Speedy for the looks, but I rarely use the chrono function, it doesn’t have a date feature, and visibility sometimes requires rotating it back and forth briefly so that light catches the hands and hour markers properly. Love the watch but definitely not a ‘tool’ watch for me. (Photo)

That's what makes the original Speedmaster so useful. It's got the contrast you're lacking. That is a beautiful watch though!
 
adi4
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sevenhelmet sevenhelmet
Exactly. This is also why I like my X-33 so much. And as a thermocompensated quartz, its accuracy is second-to-none.

Seeing the X-33 every so often definitely triggers a need to some day add it to the watch box. One note though, the movement accuracy is second to Seiko and Citizen. 😗 😝
 
sevenhelmet
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adi4 adi4
Seeing the X-33 every so often definitely triggers a need to some day add it to the watch box. One note though, the movement accuracy is second to Seiko and Citizen. 😗 😝

Oh, darn you're right... but they hardly compare as tool watches, do they? Nevertheless, I'll be kicking myself all the way to the consignment counter at my local jewelers'. Why, oh why, did I buy a watch I have to re-hack every 6 months? What a hassle! 🙄
 
Bushido
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As a few others have mentioned, I interpret the term "tool watch" to mean using it for specific work/professional related purpose. For me, I volunteer as the team physician for several local sports teams. I'm also lucky enough to do some work with the USOC Sports Med and other regional organizations. The most useful complication for me with my watch is the chronograph. Quick and easy legibility is also an absolute must. So, while I've worn and used several different chronos both in office and at events, this one seems to be my current go to "tool watch" for in/on the field:

IMG_20171006_200109[1905].jpg
 
gostang9
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sevenhelmet sevenhelmet
That's what makes the original Speedmaster so useful. It's got the contrast you're lacking. That is a beautiful watch though!
I bought the watch as a Speedy Pro and agree it had better legibility. However, going with the ‘tool’ analogy, sometimes you need special items for very specific purposes.

Needle nose pliers are useless to hammer in a nail, or tighten a screw, but there are some occasions where a needle-nose plier just works better than anything else. That’s the beauty of having more than 1 watch, with the Exp2 being a high visibility GMT with date, I had the luxury of getting something that I liked more for its aesthetics than functionality.

😉
 
Tubber
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wareagle35 wareagle35
It is actually really comfortable and the size is perfect in my opinion.
Thanks for that. I didn't win the Seiko so I'll be looking for a Doxa 👍.
 
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