I served in the United States Marine Corps for 22 years. I went to the field to train and to do real world Marine things. Afghanistan, Iraq, Philippines, Sri Lanka…I wore Timex Ironmans. When I wasn’t in the field, I wore my TAGs. Watches my wife gifted me every time I was promoted. All of the watches have a story. My wife purchased all of my TAGs at the Marine Corps Exchange

The burger analogy is by far the best thing I’ve heard in a long time. Ill carry this analogy to more aspects of my life

I just got into watches recently and my first purchase was a Citizen 37mm Garrison Chandler. Eco Drive movement for no fuss operation/maintenance, legible Arabic numerals on a stark, black dial, basic lume, day-date feature, an arrow in place of the 12 and 100M WR on the stock canvas strap. Works for me. Simple and effective.

- Authentic field watch to work outdoors in the dust and mud is a Casio G-Shock. - To sit in clean environment and talk about what is a tool watch, is a Rolex Explorer or Hamilton Khaki (and the likes). - Burger analogy is spot-on.

I have been thinking about classifying watches into different categories and wearing watches on different occasions. This video made me realize that for me, its all about what emotions does a watch evoke when you put it on you hand. I am a lot into hiking, spending time in nature or at least parks, outdoor exercise of any kind, walking whenever I can. When I put on a field watch, it just evokes in me memories about hiking and nature and spending cool time with my parents in nature, generally very nice memories. Also, when I go exercise or do something in casual clothes in general, it just feels right to put on a field watch. When I dress more smartly for office, It just feels right to have a dressy watch on wrist. I dont wear divers for the most part except when I actually go swimming. Not sure why It works like that for me, its all about feeling 'right' and evoking the right emotion at the right time.

I work in healthcare at a correctional facility. The correctional officers require a watch as part of their uniforms. 19/100 use an apple or android smart watch. 80/100 west G Shocks. The G shock is in my estimation the true, toughest modern day field watch. 1 officer wears an Omega seamaster professional. I’ve started to wear my G shocks there. It’s nice to blend in well.

Rocking a Hamilton Bronze Khaki here, a gift from my son. I adore it. Upon my demise, the watch enters his collection.

I simply enjoy your eloquent explanations. I find it like great book material. Have a great time.

I had my heart set on a Ranger, then I saw the Sinn 556 A and went with that. A lot less money and a really good quality watch.

I personally don’t use the word “tool” anymore when talking about expensive mechanical watches. When you say, “use as a tool,” do you mean the act of reading the time? Really enjoy these theoretical discussions.

I love my Ranger. I enjoy having well made things that don't scream "luxury." As with many products, restraint in design often leads to a more fulfilling ownership experience. Don't get me wrong, there are times I like my watches a little more fancy, but sometimes, a quality understated tool is what I want. Thanks for the video.

Well, I've got an Eterna Bumper produced in 1942. That watch has actually been 'in the field', which makesvit a true field watch

If we are going to imagine anyone actually uses each watch for it's original purpose this makes me feel I've saved a bunch of cash by sticking with the kaki feild for my choice of feild watch. I love its simple design.

I would just add one thing to Mike's thorough analysis/perspective of what makes a true "tool field watch" that Mike did not overtly state. A person who is buying a true field watch for its simplicity to read the time also wants to buy it as a "beater watch". Meaning I am going to use it at the gym, at a construction site (or other manual labor job), sweat in it, swim in it, biking with it, go rock climbing with it, even go to the office with it, or all of the above! The point being is that I want a watch that can be scratched or I can get dirty without worrying about babying it. The most important features are is it steel or titanium, and inexpensive to the point where I do not worry about scratching it. I guess a person who only wants to buy a field watch for its life style vibe would buy a Patek Philippe 5226 in white gold, but not someone who is going to beat the heck out of it in the field!

I've had a Bertucci A-2T Classic since 2019. Best $110 I've ever spent. My job is outdoors. I've put this watch through snow and ice traversal, river rescue, tech SAR, backpacking, everyday bumps and knocks. It has held up and never let me down. Love it

Thanks for being you. Too many flamboyant youtubers. Your style of communication is truly appreciated.

My newest watch - The Tudor Ranger. Love it.

I've taken a dive into the watch world and at the end the only one which I ended up using on a daily basis is a 70€ Lorus Lumibrite with a day/date function. Convinience is what makes it stand out for me, even if it lacks all of Casio's functions. It does it's job quicker than a phone.

Sinn makes some great field - tool watches. 556 and the 856!

Big fan of my two Hamiltons. They just feel perfect on my wrist. Large numerals are most appreciated.

I love listening to your analysis of different watch topics. I picked up a Bulova Hack about 9 months ago and it has become my daily driver. Its about half the price of a Khaki and the most accurate mechanical I own.

It's refreshing to see a focus on functionality and simplicity over luxury in the watch world.

PP 5226 is GORGEOUS! I love that watch. I love plain faced watches, mainly with numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9. (sometimes more like in the 5226). My daily wear tool (?) watch is a Timex Hodinkee Waterbury Limited Edition. I love the pebbled face of the dial and the simple legible dial layout.

I have always loved the Field watches, easy to read.

1. Thank you. Your description is spot on. 2. My daily beater watch is a 40 year old Wenger military field watch. 3. Someone mention the Timex Ironman. I have 4 used ones. I have one remaining new one to gift. I give new Ironman watches as beater watches to high school and college graduates.

I have been in the US Infantry for the netter part of 9 years, and I have been absolutely thrilled to pick up a Rolex Explorer. I have had a deployment with this watch along with numberous training events where it gets thrashed left and right for the last two years. Using this watch as a tool watch, as it is originally intended, is what makes this piece so awesome. All the cool functions that come from a G-shock are cool and all, but we never use any of it in the real world; no need for the world time, no need for the stop watch function etc. We typically carry a GPS anyways that has all those functions. So why not train in style? The 100m water resistance gives me a lot of faith when working in harsh weather conditions and even during swim events. Even though it is a "luxury brand", i still think Rolex still has their head in the game for making some absolute beaters of a watch. When people say this watch can fit any situation, ill tell you what; it absolutely does.

got a citizen ‘Ray Mears’ titanium field watch. It’s fantastic. 300m, solid titanium block, solar powered eco drive, Kevlar strap. All for £300. Love it.

Staight-forward, informative, friendly, cordial... that's what a KZfaq presenter should be. And also a tool watch. Wry smile. Thank you very much - excellent!

Mike- your discussions are prescient, intelligent, and unbiased. I have been yearning for a field watch and have considered precisely what you discuss here. I would add that the best field watches are more than simply the design and construction. The best examples have a back story and an air of authenticity. Personally, I like the Ranger, the Hamilton 38 Murph, and the IWC Mk XV.

Fantastic video, you couldn't use best words to explain why fild watches are definitely my favorite ones. Thank you for your work 👌

I love this ad about Oris rebuilding a watch. Beautiful. I watch it almost every time. Beautiful music too.

I have a bronze Hamilton Khaki for the reason you mentioned- simplicity. I can wear and forget. It is light weight with an olive NATO strap, so I can wear it in the garden, at the side of a rugby pitch or working on the car. I do have a Bremont Broadsword as well. It is on a stainless steel bracelet, Bremont did not have an attractive strap when I bought it. A nice clear face but much heavier- heading towards a dress watch. Very rugged, it is the one I tend to wear when I am travelling, it covers all the bases for a business trip in Asia.

Reminds me of the KISS saying... Keep it simple stupid... You get the basics right and then they will be superb. I probably like the Draken Aoraki most. Its well made... Its tough... It has a faraday cage in it... It a great field watch! Have a great one Mike!

I've been owning a Tudor Ranger for almost one year now. It's the best daily I ever had. The watch is absolutely perfect for what it is, nothing has to be changed. In its own mystical way, it is simply gorgeous ❤

citizen eco-drive field watch $100 15 years ago and still going, has gone through hell, oil sand, salt water, mud, 30+ meter dives on weekly basis. Light, small, simple, cheap, durable for sure and always on time with zero adjustments or maintenance. A set it once and forget it type.

My go to field watch is the Tudor BB36 gloss black dial. It’s simple, sporty, and the perfect size.

That was very good and got me thinking about my relationship with my Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic 42 on bracelet, which ive always loved. Busier then the mechanical, it also starts to push that boundary (slightly) but remains firmly toolish because...i only paid $500. And that's another essence of the field watch, it's important not to pay too much.

So good to hear someone digging into this topic and articulating so many of my thoughts. Really, it's only out of respect to the heritage that we still view field watches, like the Hamilton, no matter how stripped down, as tools. We simply have cheaper, better technology to do the tasks required; spending $700 on an instrument to tell us the time is a luxury no matter how you look at it. Watches are so fascinating because they're not just about what they do in a mechanical sense, but what they say to the world about the wearer. Values, whether they be utilitarian, nostalgia, stealth wealth, or other subtle and NON-subtle signaling are all at work.

Just purchased a Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst field watch and love everything about it. I also have a Hamilton titanium khaki field, and alternate between the two.

After a lifetime of disposable timex's(and a really nice Seiko) my tool watch for the last 3 deployments was a GMT II- worked great, did everything I needed and took a lot of punishment-so, in my eyes, the best field watch I've owned.

My one and only "Field Watch" is the, as you noted in the video, the disqualified "Murph 38". I love it because it's "cleaner" than the base Khaki, but because of the beautiful brushed case, I won't let it become a beater - I love the clean brushing - which defeats the whole purpose! 😂

My first mechanical watch was the 42mm Hamilton khaki field I bought in 2006. ❤

I have the polished version of the khaki and absolutely love it. Its my work watch i wear to the office and great for when occasionally i need to go out into the field.

Excellent video. You've just given me another reason to love my 124270 Explorer even more. It really is about as luxurious as a field watch should be without compromising its role as a tool.

the g-shock is the modern day field watch lol the g-shock is the modern day dive watch the g-shock is the modern day sport watch. the g-shock is the past day smart watch. basically the g-shock is for everything, but it's bleedingly ugly IMO.

My favorite field beater travel watch is the Hamilton H70455523. Within the last ten years I have worn it on five different continents. On a nato it still wears fairly slim. I actually use the date complication when I travel compared to home where I prefer time only watches

Sinn 556 a -rs. I think technically a pilot, but fits as a field watch and is consistently on my list as ‘the next watch I’ll buy’

Every day I throw my polished titanium GS on my wrist and forget about it (whatever I am doing) until I need to know the time. It still looks the same as the day I bought it. No-one notices it because at a distance it looks like an everyday steel watch from the 70s. I never worry about its power level - it has never stopped. That is my idea of a tool watch.

When I finally set out to buy a field (tool) watch my first look was to the Rolex Explorer (39mm). I liked the heritage, reputation, and look. But in reality I liked the look of the Explorer 1016 much better. To me it had "the look". But the 1016's are getting pretty old and very expensive for a decent one. Fast forward a couple years and the newest Tudor Ranger arrives on scene. It's well built, has a modern/rugged movement, a great size for my 7 1/2" wrist, and had that Explorer 1016 look. I don't think I could be any happier about this purchase. I use it golfing, hiking, bike riding, and all sorts of work inside and outside my house. It did take me awhile to fully appreciate this Tudor and now I have a hard time giving my other watches time on my wrist.

Great video. You've reached into my thoughts and perfectly described my core watch strategy. Couldn't agree more with you.

The function I find most important in a field watch is luminosity that lasts all night, I was an infantry scout and spent many nights on patrol. The cheap Timex field watches I wore at the time barely made it to first light. My favorite working watch was a gift from my mother-in-law, a Tissot PR100 Titanium. It's luminous marks are easily read on the longest nights without the preparation of holding the dial to a flashlight. I wear it every day, but it excels as my camping watch.

After the dive watch, I"d say the field watch is the most popular style out there. That's why there are tons of affordable options in addition to the models you show in your video. One of the better-known budget field watch it the Timex Expedition. They made a gazillion of them in different styles and one can see them quite often on the wrist of any given stranger on the street.

You nailed it. I think you could have even thrown the Longines Spirit into the conversation. Regarding the G-Shock...things with batteries like to act up in very cold weather and very hot weather, so I might argue that a mechanical watch is better suited to temperatures more on the extreme side.

I enjoyed your presentation very much. Just wanted to throw in that I ordered my first field watch this February. I was persuaded by the Mad Hacker to support his launch of his very own Field Watch. Listen to his sales / specifications speech and you may understand why I was hooked. Plus it’s wind up. Cheers R

Great video and topic. There’s something so refreshing and charming about the utilitarian spirit and unpretentious yet efficacious design of a field watch. I think you’re right in saying that sometimes less is indeed more. Simple uncomplicated three-handers can deliver a lot of enjoyment. I own ta Serica 4512, a modern no non-sense field watch, which is perhaps just a tad more sophisticated than your average hammy. And in fact the Murph 38 was Serica‘s main contender and lost also for a question of budget. But when it comes to field watches I have to mention the CWC G10 and W10. Especially their quartz variants deliver great value for watches that have historically been issued to the British army. I‘d love to add a W10 to my collection at some point!

Nice take on the tool watch world. As an owner of a 5226g I appreciate the brand's option of a tool like watch. I think Patek successfully bridged that tool luxury divide. And that dial.....

My field watch is a Vaer. I love it.

Thank you for this great video, Mike! It reminded me why I love my unpretentious Sinn 856 so much! Please keep up your excellent content!

T4YC. I agree. BUT it shouldn't be shiny (for obvious reasons!). Much like a dive watch. These definitely can't be shiny (but some people don't understand that). Titanium is underated. It ages SO beautifully. And the wear makes it better. Steel's biggest weakness is the scratching. If you need to polish your watch, either the watch owns you, or you have the wrong watch.

Great point of view . Down to earth , intelligent perspective . Very much enjoyed .Thank you .

Per my personal experience, there is no such thing as a "luxury hammer". It is a toll. If well built, you use it "in the field' It can never be a "show off" item. Same goes with watches. Ironman's or G-Shock's are the field watches. Having said that I found out that a whole Halo team was using Rolex Submariners (painted in black) since there are resistant to electro-magnetic explosions. Still, I don't think there is any real field watch in this video ( but only retro field style watches). They are like our SUVs; lost their connection with the off-road, instead became glorified SWs.

I have a Hamilton khaki field mechanical. I got it because it was simple, easy to read and didn't require batteries. When I told my wife that I had to wind it every day she asked, "What's the point?" That was the point.

Also, the Chinese are pumping out some really good field watches with NH35 movements for not much money. And the build quality is pretty damn good

One of the things I always loved about Steinhart Watches was the “field watch” vibe. I own the GMT which I’m sure was created for people who cant or wont afford a Rolex Explorer II. It is my weekend watch! My beater. The one I never worry about. All painted markers. 300M of water resistance. Completely brushed. All for less than $600 USD. I know a lot of people hate the brand because they knockoff other designs. But I love the only Steinhart I own…because its truly go anywhere do anything for the weekend beater. And with that said…it’s the weekend. See ya.

First time to this channel and I learned more about watches in this video than any other video I have watched so far.

Love your straightforward explanation. Really helps.

The Tudor Ranger is my favorite of the field watches you touched on because its screw down crown, legibility and overall quality vibe on the wrist.

I forgot to add: 1. thank you. You are accurate on describing the field watch. 2. Sunday, I had dinner with 4 family members. 3 wore Rolex watches. Those three I had gifted new Victorinox field watches over the years. one had a factory overhaul of her Rolex in Paris last year -$700, So, having a field watch as a beater watch can be a good move.

Great channel, well researched, well crafted, and eloquently and succinctly presented. Thank-you.

I am a simple retired fireman on a (hamburger) budget. For many years my “field watch” at work was a G Shock GA100-1a1. I don’t own a true field watch so the closest watches to that would be my Timex Expedition Rugged Field Mens Watch T49626 and my Timex Expedition Rugged Core. Both serve me well. As you say, the simple burger is best. Cheers.

Thanks for the vid. Already anticipated it since I woke up today. Perhaps the sushi comparison might have fit better, given the idea is to focus on the taste of the single most important ingredient (the fish in most cases), as opposed to other cuisine like French, Italian or even burger, where the combination, despite being simple, is key. And yes, the Hamilton Khaki is the field watch

Interesting argument. I would think the luxury interpretation of a field watch would be crafting it out of materials that are difficult to work with / labour-intensive.

People for some reason are not comfortable admitting that they are wearing jewelry and are trying to pass off their often multi thousand $ purchase as a tool. Other than personal preference in terms of style calling anything in this price range a tool with a straight face is just silly

What a great discussion. I present that the sinn 556 is the peak tool watch currently available as you describe the idea in this video.

I love my Sinn 104 but I also love my Seiko 5 sport. The Sinn has a touch of luxury (stainless), day and date are essential for me. And the bezel is a handy timer without adding chrono weight and bulk. Funny, I mostly wear the Seiko 5.

Very nice video, as always, but I do have a bone to pick with it. You can't really talk about field watches loke Hamilton without acknowledging the many Seikos and Citizens. The Alpinist immediately comes to mind, but Seiko has been making field watches of different kinds all throughout its history. The Seiko 5 Sports SRPs, SARGs, HAQ Brightz, there are and have been tons of them. These have served as reliable workhorse beaters for many, many watch wearers through the years.

Timor Heritage ATP (reissue) at 36.5mm is a really great field watch aesthetic. I enjoy it on leather or a Forstner metal band. My only gripe is the big crown, whose shape and position have caught on a sweater cuff a couple times and been pulled open. anOrdain Model 2 at 36mm is a sweet, modern field watch, its crown is protected, and it sits close to the wrist. Both bring a lot of joy.

Thank you ❤. Not only have you treated me with another great video but you’ve also covered my absolutely favourite watch style. I like sports/divers watches (who doesn’t), I appreciate nice chronographs, but eventually my heart always goes to the simplest watches of all - field, no date, brushed. I love mechanical watches but I don’t want to loose on accuracy. That immediately sends me up the market. Somehow I didn’t connect with Sinn, my first proper field watch was Longines Spirit Titanium. Near perfect - light, accurate, legible, but - just as your theory says - it was too much. Too much gilt, too much detail on the dial. Great watch, but 6 months later I had to find it a new home. Months or research and trying different models at ADs allowed me to narrow the list down to two pieces- Tudor Ranger and Omega Railmaster. I love them both, both have what I’m looking for in an everyday watch. Keeping in mind my recent failure with Longines I decided to go with simplicity and buy a Ranger. Omega RM still catches my eye whenever I see it, but after nearly 7 months with Tudor I feel I’ve made a right choice. Love this little watch to death. Also, to your point about dress and field watches being close to each other - fully agree. Looking for a more formal watch I went with Omega Seamaster 1948 70th Anniversary Limited Edition. “Town, sea and country”. Almost field, but still very much a dress watch. Love this topic, thanks for sharing. Cheers.🍻

Great channel, arguably the most informed and seemingly least influenced out there, I congratulate you. However you have missed the Seiko SARB017. Arguably the purest and most functional field / alrounder of them all! Love the content 👌

Amazing how you can talk for a quarter of an hour about this topic, with excellent and well thought through arguments. Well, my personal best field watch is a Norqain Neverest (Zermatt special edition). OK, by your definitions it is not a field watch as it has a rotating bezel and a "glacier" looking dial, but it certainly looks, feels and wears like a true field watch.

Awesome explanation of tool watch . Love your channel. Thank you 😊

Many, many watches perform perfectly for their design principle. Keeping time. I bought a simple Citizen Eco Drive when I first knew about them more than 20 years ago and it still works perfectly. I've change the bands twice. It is like the perfect marriage and I have no reason to change.

I’m happy with my Orient Mako 2. I’ve regulated it to within 1 sec/day. It’s ugly, durable and reliable. For $200, I don’t care if it gets trashed.

My favourite field watch in your comparison is the Tudor Ranger. It's the cleanest looking and is totally what the Rolex Explorer lost when it swapped out the printed numerals on the 1016 for the applied white gold. The Sinn 556 with the oversized numerals is also one of my favourite field watches for about half the money of the Tudor.

CWC G10. Field watch perfection to me. I can't get over how pure it feels.

We need to point out that the Explorer was not on Sir Edmund Hillary's wrist when he climbed Mt. Everest and that Rolex had to retract the statement after his complaint. Even worse, there was not Explorer at the time and the the watch given to him (but not worn) was an OP.

I have worn field watches daily for decades. Most recent is a Maratac ‘large pilot’ that came with a field style dial for that particular run. Love it, probably my last daily watch unless I lose or destroy it.

I have and wear three different Hamilton automatics, one for dress, one sailing (Navy Pioneer), one all the rest of the time, the KhakiField model. They have been very reliable and get noticed, especially the Limited Edition Jazzmaster (2018). As an outdoors person I value the reliability. These replaced two Tissot quartz watches which fogged up because the kid that replaced the battery last time wrecked the gasket, I was out sailing and it just quit. These automatic field watches don’t have the issue of battery failure and humidity leaks. No battery to fail at -30C. Shockproof, easy to read at a glance, second sweep hand, smooth metal bracelet that stays closed. Not fancy, but they work in my real world.

I bought the Hamilton Khaki Field primarily because it was the Captain America watch. I wear and love it because it feels and looks like it was 3x the cost. I'm constantly impressed how I can glance at it and still think to myself, "This only cost $500? This watch is fantastic!" I expected it to be a "beater", throw it on a camo nato for thematic reasons and go mow weeds. But this is so nice I don't want to risk tearing it up. Even my metal CasiOak is too cool to really want to risk banging it up. A piece of junk Timex would work, but then...I can't bring myself to wear a Timex. I do have SOME standards.

I love my Explorer 124270. It's a simple, elegant easy to read, 36mm watch. I feel very comfortable wearing it dressed casually, or when wearing a Tuxedo. And I'd feel the same about any field watch, a watch that doesn't shout look at my precious metal and diamonds is way more classy that what your see on any famous rap artists wrist. I did ask my AD about the white gold indices because I thought they were steel and they said they weren't white gold. Really enjoyed this video btw. 😀

I bought a smaller watch when I was working in an analytical chemistry lab. The watch was inexpensive and all the things I needed. That was a Casico. It lasted for over twenty years.

Great video again from my #1 YT person. Delightfully refreshing to hear clear and structured thought 👍 I loved my Hamilton Khaki. I thought I was getting a 2824, but instead had the very first Powermatic out. Terribly unstable timekeeping. Ruined a great watch. I had to chuckle that you came down for the Tudor in the end. I picked up my 224270 up yesterday! After "only" a six month wait. So cheers 🤦

My Khaki field mech in black PVD has been my working partner(law enforcement) for about two years now. Love the simple legible design. Sure a g-shock would do the job but the feel would be very different.

I bought a plain brown bag watch for actually being in the field. A tool watch is a watch that gets scratched and doesn't become a bummer. It tells a story. I have a Seiko Field Sport Automatic w/ the NATO strap. Personally , I want the date and time on the watch. For when you're in the field for long days. My next field watch will be the Hamilton Khaki, even though it doesn't have the date. The Hamilton keeps with the plan.

I love field watches... My favorites are Hamilton Expedition & Spirit Titanium...

Great thoughts! I might add that I think a field watch should have antimagnetic properties. Since a field watch is so simple, I think it needs to be resistant to the 3 things that affect a watch in the field: shock, water and magnets.

I work in supply chain and my field/tool watch I wear is a Vostok on a nato strap. I've beat the crap out of it and it still works just like the day I bought it.

Really very, very good. Great debate. I love Field Watches because of their simplicity and durability. I'll have my burger from the van outside the nightclub as you say.

Thank you - a work of clarity. But as asked, for me a Hamilton Khaki. I would take down a mine, cross a desert or climb a mountain. Strikingly plain and handsome too.

Hi! I would toss my Omega Railmaster with its charcoal dial in the ring. IMHO the Railmaster is an understated luxury tool watch. The 3, 6, 9 and 12 non applied numerals and the cross hair give it its field watch vibes. The case and bracelet is all brushed and the crown has got a decent size. Best wishes, Claus