What Watch do you wear when you hunt?

Ryan Brown · May 21, 2026

Cooposo said:
Alright watch people, a question for y’all.

Who wins the battle for toughest mechanical movement? I’ve got battery powered quartz, quartz solar, and a Grand Seiko Spring Drive. I’m thinking of adding an automatic mechanical watch. Something my great- grandson can still have serviced by a watchmaker in 100 years. And yes, I fully understand that quartz wins here. I do. But of the mechanical movements, what do you think?

I would prioritize toughness > wearability > accuracy > cost > brand

I would like to wear it anytime I’m not wearing my Grand Seiko, to include hunting.

My searching seems to indicate that Seiko mechanical movements are quite durable when it comes to rough-and-tumble. The Co-Axial escapement in Omegas can supposedly lend some durability. I love watching videos of men that have worn their Rolex or Tudor every day since Vietnam, get it serviced, and it’s back to nearly perfect accuracy for another who knows how long. I tried on some very comfortable IWCs that look great, but I’ve read some accounts of their warranty being ill-defined and service being slow.

What would you suggest? Omega? Rolex Submariner? Tudor diver of some form? Someone like Sinn using Sellita but putting their own magic into it? A Seiko, and if so, which movement and price bracket.

Thanks!

A couple photos: 1) my oldest personal watch, a Victorinox Swiss Army Whisper I found in a junk drawer and have worn on many a hike and hunt. (Also, Clancy dog as a pup)

2) my wife’s great grandfather’s Rolex, still in the family, still running. Part of the inspiration for me asking this question. My research shows it was probably made in the 1940’s. I don’t know much about vintage watches so feel free to enlighten me.

View attachment 765114
View attachment 765115

This link has a little history on your wife's great grandfather's bubbleback. I really like the California dial with small seconds. I am sure that watch has some great stories.

Buying, Selling, & Collecting: The Rolex Bubbleback And Why It Still Matters

The original Oyster Perpetual was one of the first watches collectors fell for; today, the Bubbleback represents an era of Rolex that still has a charm all its own.

www.hodinkee.com

0002S · May 21, 2026

pilar · May 22, 2026

Ok bit of a question
My citizen eco went kaput so it was sent in for repair
This is all that was returned with the watch
Testing time : 60 out of 60sec
Test pressure. : 20.282 bar
Initial deformation -309.2 um
Final deformation-3.1 um
Deformation trend -1.0 %um/ min

And a gasket

I’m not even familiar with what all this means or translates into?

pilar · May 22, 2026

0002S said:
View attachment 765661
View attachment 765662

Are these pictures digitally edited?
Because zero of my watches even remotely have this good a quality luminosity.
I ask because I have only two requirements for watches
1. Day to day precision
2. Good quality & lasting luminosity

And seem to be chasing the dragons tail getting a watch with both

Bonk · May 22, 2026

My newest acquisition:

0002S · May 22, 2026

pilar said:
Are these pictures digitally edited?
Because zero of my watches even remotely have this good a quality luminosity.
I ask because I have only two requirements for watches
1. Day to day precision
2. Good quality & lasting luminosity

And seem to be chasing the dragons tail getting a watch with both

No I have not altered the photo to make the lume brighter. Yes I have run the photo through a few basic filters to get the watch to look correct in the light and a tad sharpening.

This particular watch run 0/+2 across 6 positions and that matches it’s certification paperwork.

Lume is always an odd thing. I am taking the photos right at the moment I remove the light. It is at its brightest. Now the question is how fast does it initially fade? How long does it hold that fade? Finally can I read the watch all night in pitch black?

Tudor is some of the best in the business. Seiko LumiBright is also up to the task. COSC level accuracy is a crap shoot though. Omega’s dive watches are GTG. The ATs are good as well. Rolex is meets your standards.

This is actually a great travelers hunting watch.

BeeMaa · May 23, 2026

pilar said:
Ok bit of a question
My citizen eco went kaput so it was sent in for repair
This is all that was returned with the watch
Testing time : 60 out of 60sec
Test pressure. : 20.282 bar
Initial deformation -309.2 um
Final deformation-3.1 um
Deformation trend -1.0 %um/ min

And a gasket

I’m not even familiar with what all this means or translates into?

The deformation refers to how much "flex" there is in the materials of the watch while pressure is applied. This is measured in microns or "um". As for the time testing, 60 out of 60 seconds doesn't tell you much. Typically a watch is tested for accuracy in six different positions for rate (gain or loss of seconds per day), amplitude (swing of the balance wheel) and beat error (symmetry of the beat).

The level of accuracy is determined by the movement, and there can be wide variations depending on what movement is used. Some are only capable of + or - 20 seconds a day. If the movement is CSOC certified it should be -4 seconds to +6 seconds per day. METAS (Master Chronometer) certification is 0 to +5 seconds. And a quartz watch is capable of + or - 1 second a day.

I'm not sure what movement is used in your watch, but any quality watch shop should have a timegrapher to at least test it in one position. You may have to pay for this, but if you have a good relationship with them they probably won't charge you.

pilar · May 23, 2026

BeeMaa said:
The deformation refers to how much "flex" there is in the materials of the watch while pressure is applied. This is measured in microns or "um". As for the time testing, 60 out of 60 seconds doesn't tell you much. Typically a watch is tested for accuracy in six different positions for rate (gain or loss of seconds per day), amplitude (swing of the balance wheel) and beat error (symmetry of the beat).

The level of accuracy is determined by the movement, and there can be wide variations depending on what movement is used. Some are only capable of + or - 20 seconds a day. If the movement is CSOC certified it should be -4 seconds to +6 seconds per day. METAS (Master Chronometer) certification is 0 to +5 seconds. And a quartz watch is capable of + or - 1 second a day.

I'm not sure what movement is used in your watch, but any quality watch shop should have a timegrapher to at least test it in one position. You may have to pay for this, but if you have a good relationship with them they probably won't charge you.

Citizen Eco-Drive H820 World Chronograph A-T (. model HB20-087104) is a solar-powered Movement

BeeMaa · May 23, 2026

@pilar - This is a radio controlled quartz movement that will maintain perfect time as long as the battery remains charged. Your watch will receive a radio signal at 2am every day to make minor adjustments to the time. When properly setup, this watch will automatically change the day of the month regardless of the number of days in it and will even account for leap years. The power reserve is about 6 months but will never require a battery change if it's exposed to a light source.

I had an early version of version of the same movement (without the chronograph feature) and it did keep very good time, but getting it to receive a radio signal was not automatic. It had to be left in a certain position for a while with a clear view of the western sky for so many minutes. Then hopefully it would sync up, but most of the time I had to do it two or three times. I don't believe I owned it for a year before selling it. The Casio G-Shock solar atomic timekeeping was much more user friendly, but not nearly as elegant.

This movement seems to be very polarizing. People either love it or hate it. I think it's incredibly versatile for someone who does a lot of traveling, but also see where this kind of watch lacks a heartbeat or soul. At the end of the day, it's your watch and if you enjoy it...that should be good enough.

0002S · May 23, 2026

pilar said:
Citizen Eco-Drive H820 World Chronograph A-T (. model HB20-087104) is a solar-powered Movement View attachment 765926

They replaced your eco drive battery, case back gasket and tested for quartz accuracy. The pressure test included the case deformation test. The movement used is rated to accuracy of +/- 15 seconds per month.

EcoDrive batteries last about 10 years or so before they have to be changed.

275r7x57 · May 23, 2026

Not sure where to post this, but you guys might enjoy.

Hedge774 · May 23, 2026

I definitely don't wear this hunting, but I appreciate the times that I do. My wifey got this for me for my last birthday. It always makes an impression.

gearguywb · May 24, 2026

The lume on the Tudor's is truly fantastic. Remember waking up in the middle of the night while bear hinting in Alaska. The lume made it super easy to tell the time.

What Watch do you wear when you hunt?

Ryan Brown

Buying, Selling, & Collecting: The Rolex Bubbleback And Why It Still Matters

0002S

pilar

pilar

Bonk

0002S

BeeMaa

pilar

BeeMaa

0002S

275r7x57

Hedge774

gearguywb

Members online

Forum statistics

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Share this page