Watch

I'm not crazy about mine. It's big and heavy. I'm a big heavy guy, but it's too much for me to wear every day. I did get the Blue Angels version. It's pretty, but still, HEAVY.

The weight hasn't bothered me in the 15 or so years I have worn one. Yes, they are a bit more pricey but they tend to last me 3-4 years, only to be replaced due to finally enough scratches to bother me. Never had an issue with a battery with the eco-drive stuff. Bands last longer than the bezel in terms of wear and tear. Sure, I am sure other brands (and less expensive) work just as well, but the citizens look good with a suit, a uniform, or even casual. Not sure how others set up the watch collection, but I have an everyday watch (citizen) and a watch for working out and/or in water that's cheap but does have a stopwatch and lap times. That's the collection.

Can't lie, thinking about the apple watch, but from a practicality standpoint I don't see much in the PRO column for my needs. The end game is still a Breitling, but that's when the left seat of a major is where I would be wearing it.... Always wanted one, not sure why.
 
am I the only one around here who loathes watches? I have one, and i wear it because the company tells me to. i don't know what it is. it's a fossil something or other. looks good I guess, was kind of pricey, but what ever.

I just can't help but chuckle at how redundant it is. In the flight deck I can reach no less than 3 independent stop watches, 1 clock, and probably two smart phones with at least a clock, stop watch, timer, and alarm. Why do i need a watch again?
 
Why do i need a watch again?
Some GA airplanes don't have a clock, and those who do, well at least I found unreliable....When you fly GA, old planes, club , rent etc...a watch is imperative.
You're right poser, otherwise it's redundant but so is the other engine you fly with ;)
 
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Some GA airplanes don't have a clock, and those who do, well at least I found unreliable....When you fly GA, old planes, club , rent etc...a watch is imperative.
You're right poser, otherwise it's redundant but so is the other engine you fly with ;)
I agree that some sort of time telling device is required. I always just used the hobbs or my phone when i instructed.

My company requires I wear a watch, however and to me that just seems like an antiquated policy.
 
I always just used the hobbs or my phone when i instructed.
Iphones etc. are trying to run an operating system first. Only then they are concerned with running a watch, foreglight or tinder.
Since they crash, overheat, hang etc, I consider them unreliable.
On the other hand, the 10$ casio has all her DNA embedded and as long as there's power she'll tell you the time, which is certainly helpful for GA crowd.
 
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Iphones etc. are trying to run an operating system first. Only then they are concerned with running a watch, foreglight or tinder.
Since they crash, overheat, hang etc, I consider them unreliable.
On the other hand, the 10$ casio has all her DNA embedded and as long as there's power she'll tell you the time, which is certainly helpful for GA crowd.
I'll grant you that...but that's just a risk I am willing to take.
 
I had a Citizen watch that started looking poorly after about 3 years of constant abuse. I eventually got a Casio Pathfinder.

http://www.watchzworld.com/casio-atomic-protrek-triple-sensor-pathfinder-prw2500-1.html

The plastic version started looking worn after 5 years. But the feature list is awesome.

Atomic clock reset each night so it is always accurate to the second.
Solar power face so no need to ever replace battery for as long as you may wear it.
Compass
Altimeter
bunch of other standard watch features.

A few Xmas ago my wife bought me a metal version with all these features plus moon and tide cycle.
 
I'll grant you that...but that's just a risk I am willing to take.
Of my pilot friends, 0% wears an expensive watch. I only wear a watch because it was given to me by someone important. I'd love this watch even if it was made of sticks. My point equals yours: whatever does the job. The only difference : the equipment we fly. :)
 
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Just for fun, a little watch porn, a sample of some of my aviation watches....

Here's my current daily wear, the Casio G-Shock MTG900, in the T-38C. Solar-charged, daily time-hack via radio, and close to indestructible.
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This is my former daily wearer, the Omega X-33. This thing is also tough as nails, and put up with all kinds of abuse in F-15E and T-38 cockpits. Probably my favorite utility watch overall as an aviator.
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Here's a Breitling Airwolf custom, from an order made for my squadron over at RAF Lakenheath back circa '07. This one is more of a safe queen, but I'll make it a daily wearer at some point, I'm sure. Can't speak for the durability of this one, but I can say that it has kept AMAZING time over the last 7-8 years just sitting in my safe.

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Finally, this is my USAF-issue Casio G-Shock DW5600E. I wore the snot out of this thing during pilot training and the year or so afterward, and when I replaced it with the Omega X-33, it became my swimming/biking/running watch. All that athletic activity pulverized the rubber of the case and strap, so this is a pic of it after replacing those parts. Here's also a shot of it with a velcro band I replaced the original broken rubber strap with for a while. All the internals are still perfect, though.
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I hate you, I hope my wife doesn't see this post...
;)
 
Those are affordable!? I dont like paying more than $50.
They make all their movements in house (as I try to do too :eek:) and the quality is on par with Swiss stuff at three times the price.
Also you can goto other web sites to get big discounts. I just linked the company web site that posts retail price..
But yes, $50 will get you something that tells time, unless you'd also like a piece of machinery put together by hand with tweezers and an eye loop. (@Boris Badenov, ya ever had a softball lobbed at you so nicely?)
But I digress...
 
Casio G-Shock of your favorite flavor and style. I was issued the DW-5600 E as a USAF pilot training student, and later bought my own MTG 900.

That second watch has been through a dozen deployments, thousands of hours in the cockpit and all kinds of rough abuse and still updates itself automatically every morning and has a full battery thanks to the solar cells. Absolutely as nails, and practically indestructible. I highly recommend it.

My absolute favorite watch is my Omega X-33, which also has a couple thousand hours in the cockpit of fighters and trainers and has also been on several deployments.

Hacker - is the Omega X-33 still sold? Saw some info on it on their website, but I'm assuming you have to go through a dealer.
 
Well, there a lot of fine choices listed, a lot of them I like, some of there are outside my budget. I will say I'll wait a minute to put some extra cash together so I can get one I really want.
 
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