What’s the best watch to wear on safari?

[Iclimb]

Ok, not sure how many watch nerds there are here….
what is the best watch for safari? Best watch for hunting in general?
maybe the most nostalgic watch for safari?

are you a “one and done” kinda guy?

recently i had a customer that dropped by and we were bs’ing about sheep hunting…I noticed a Rolex ‘pepsi’ gmt on his wrist. I’m guessing a mid 80’s model. It was well worn with much patina! I could tell this was his go to watch! It got me thinking…how many miles that thing has endured, been a part of, experience’s akin to.
I envy those that take a minimal approach! Buy something fantastic and then use the hell out of!

currently I’ve been rocking the new Tudor ranger on a bracelet! I kinda love this thing! Comfortable, light, simplistic…. It has character, it’s a great balance of luxury and ’tool’ watch, in many ways it embodies the “minimalist“ mindset mentioned above.
A Rolex explorer 39 or a gmt (maybe a 116710ln x) might be a better Option… I don’t know… but I’d like to know if anyone has something better or at least to call me crazy to think up such a question. Have you ever thought about it?
This new model Tudor ranger is certainly one I could nominate!

 

[meigsbucks]

A similar thread ran a couple of years ago.

What Watch do you wear when you hunt?

You know, there are so many threads about tipping vs not tipping, brake vs no brake, Hornady vs Nosler, Blaser vs everything else LOL. Here is one I have not seen. Watches.... I am a huge watch lover. I was curious what do all of the AH.com crowd wear when on a hunt? I wore a Suunto Traverse...

www.africahunting.com

 

[steve white]

Have to think about recoil, etc. My father was given a Seiko as an award--it broke when he accidentally left it on while jack-hammering concrete. Bought a timex and hammered away.

 

[Iclimb]

Yeah, I’ve ran a jack hammer and they are violent for sure! Repetition like that will kill a watch and I’ve killed many. But an occasional shot is nothing to worry about, imo. Modern movements are getting good at shock prevention, Rolex/ Tudor being of high rate, I am told!

I killed a gshock in two weeks…I cut timber and wedging tree‘s is kinda violent, like the jack hammer.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I wear my Rolex GMT Master 2 everywhere and all the time, except in Johannesburg. It is the only watch I have or ever will have. It has been on all my hunts too.

 

[Iclimb]

might I ask the bezel color? I think you’re dead on!
as A “one and done” it’s a pretty deadly combo! Congratulations sir! I’d love a picture if you can easily upload one (or care t0)….I enjoy the memories beat into a fine piece of kit!

I have an Omega Seamaster 300 heritag too that I really enjoy, but it’s a bit too polished….not enough tool watch aesthetic for me…the Tudor ranger has this in spades! I will likely have a watch smith bead blast the entirety of the seamaster or see if they can put a brushed finis on it (Likely I’ll never get around to this big idea but in my mind…)
it’s a sickness!

 

[BigGame]

I've traveled the world and my philosophy is don't bring anything you can't live without leaving there. I brought a Casio G-Shock recently to Tanzania. I ordered it on Amazon the week before I left. I thought about leaving it with my tracker, but he didn't seem to care to much about time so, I wore it back to the States. Now I'm going to wear it to Maine for the last week of hunting season. Good luck to the Rolex crowd!

 

[Tundra Tiger]

The one on my PH's wrist.

I don't wear stuff. It's all I can do to keep a wedding ring on. A watch? NoPe! I would add, I don't have a cell phone (for the time), and I am very punctual and abhor being late. Even so, having something on my wrist is just not for me. For social functions I do wear a pocket watch.

 

[JimP]

The only time that even wear a watch anymore is when I am hunting and it is a cheap Timex. The rest of the time I really don't care what time it is. I eat when I get hungry and I go to bed when I am tired. I get up the same way.

But then for over 33 years I was driven by time. Having to show up at a certain time, had to do a job in a certain amount of time, had to be home at a certain time, had to eat at a certain time, and had to go to bed and get up at a certain time.

 

[Iclimb]

i like a watch for many reasons….weight on the wrist is one for sure! Speaking of which a left hand drive “destro” configuration is very comfortable as well…maybe the new Rolex “sprite” gmt master 2…
I wear copper bracel On the other wrist….I’m not easy on anything!
I enjoy having a nice piece of kit something that can literally last generations!
listen, a gshock is the most practical answer (although I’d insert a ‘Nixon regulas‘ a better option here) but this kind of thing lacks soul!
watching a vintage safari film on YouTube and I’m most positive the grizzled vet “PH” is sporting some rolex 316L … soul!

to the above: you needn’t be driven by time to edc a watch. I’m not a slave to the clock. But I time lots of things, pace myself, even use a watch for cardinal direction…just some features to name a few. I would love it if I had a fine time piece that my grandfather carried on many a trip, to be able to wear it for my lifetime and pass it along afterwards, that’s just something that’s kind of cool! Think of a fine rifle the same way!

 

[Bonk]

I like and appreciate well made wristwatches. I have a modest collection. When I go to Africa I'll probably be wearing my Omega Railmaster on a rubber strap. Simple, rugged, waterproof, shockproof, and it's brushed stainless. I wear that watch when I'm working and doing chores. I have other Omegas and Breitlings I wear when I'm not working.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think one of those broken watches you guys mentioned is the perfect one to wear on safari.

 

[Hogpatrol]

On safari, I let the PHs keep track of the time.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I’ve e been wearing an Isobrite chrono for the last 10 years. Seems to work nicely and I can leave my Automatic collection back in the states where it’s much safer.
HH

 

[Inline6]

When hunting, it's the one time I don't have to worry about time. No watches, they only way I would know the time is when I took a pic with my cell phone. Other than that like @Hogstated let the PH worry about the schedule, I'm taking in the sights.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

None. Just another thing to reflect light and spook game.

 

[Iclimb]

Tudor ranger

 

[Fatback]

I wear this luminox all the time. Have had this one going on 8 years. Before this one had another one exactly like it. I’ve always worn a wrist watch since I was a teenager.

 

[GuttormG]

None... It is my vacation, my time off, my time, why would I want to wear a watch?

 

[R.M.C.]

On safari, I let the PHs keep track of the time. View attachment 501126

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