Tag: CX Swiss Military Watch
The Wide Range of Swiss Military Style Watches
by on Jul.05, 2010, under Mechanical Watch, Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches, Watches of the World
Among Switzerland’s most famous brands is the wide range of military style watches that are produced. These draw on both Switzerland’s heritage of watch making and fine craftsmanship as well as on its tradition of independence and neutrality. Switzerland’s military has long been revered across Europe and the rest of the world and it has long been the country’s guarantee against invasion by its bigger neighbors. As such Switzerland has always ensured that its citizen soldiers have been well trained in marksmanship and tactics and equipped with the finest equipment. And Switzerland’s gift to the world has been the innovation and attention to detail that goes into items such as Swiss Army knives and Swiss Army Watches.
The best-known military style watches are clearly those associated with the Swiss Army knife, which made by two Swiss companies, Victorinox and Wenger. The two companies merged a few years back, yet still operate under different names in many parts of the market. That said, both offer unsurpassed quality and reliability. Victorinox and Wenger Swiss Army watches offer a really good blend of features and price. One of my favorites is the Wenger Commando Watch. This is a really rugged and tough watch. It also has a brilliantly lit up display that makes it easy to see at night. Two other favorites of mine are the Wenger Ranger Watch and Battalion Diver Watch, which is also made by the same company. The Victorinox Swiss Army Infantry vintage watch is also a really beautiful and classic timepiece with a real old-style look.
Both Wenger and Victorinox offer a really wide range of watches so that you can usually find something to fit almost any pocket with prices starting at under $100 and going up from there.
There are however quite a few other companies that you can look at when looking to buy a Swiss Military Watch. Most people overlook firms such as Hanowa, which makes a really high quality range of watches sold under the Swiss Military brand as well as the more exclusive Swiss Eagle watch brand.
Even tougher (and more expensive) is the range of watches produced under the CX Swiss Military brand. These are some of the world’s toughest watches and have stood up to all kinds of tests including being dropped out of airplanes, blown up with high explosives and shot at with a shotgun. They survived most of these tests whereas other watches just got smashed to pieces.
If you are looking for a cheap military-style watch then you could consider Invicta. These are Swiss-made watches but they have a bit of a mixed reputation when it comes to reliability. I don’t endorse them wholeheartedly but some people swear by them. That said, you can’t say they aren’t cheap. Some Invicta military watches can be bought for under $50. And although this blog is really all about Swiss Watches, there are also some other really popular manufacturers of military watches. Citizen has an eco-drive military watch that also has a really clear face with an easily-to-read dial. It also never needs its batteries changed,
Features of a Military-Style-Watch
Apart from the obvious point that most people buy Swiss military watches because they look good, some of the better ones also have some features that provide real tactical assistance. In this I’m thinking of a watch with a dial that is easy to read and a face that is not confusing. You also want something that is self illuminating, so you can see it even in the dark, and you almost certainly want a watch that will not beep and give away your position.
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CX Swiss Military 20,000 feet: the World’s Toughest Watch
by on Mar.19, 2010, under Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches
A lot of watches are made pretty tough these days. Even cheap quartz digital watches or almost-throwaway watches like $25 Swatch watches can take a heck of a lot of abuse. A secret I picked up when I first started Scuba diving was that a lot of the older professional divers out there didn’t bother with fancy and expensive diving watches, they just used cheap little Casio and Swatch watches and seemed really happy with them. So for basic wear it is true that most of today’s watches will routinely stand up to abuse that would have quickly killed our grandparents’ watches, even if they might take a few scratches on the way (a real downside of the cheap Swatch, with its plastic face, in my view).
That said, there is a certain satisfaction that one derives from wearing a really high quality, well made watch. It is more about knowing you are wearing an art work, or an engineering marvel, than it is about really expecting to put your watch to the supreme test. And if that sort of thing appeals to you then you have to be impressed by the CX Swiss Military 20,000 feet Watch, which is without any doubt the world’s toughest watch.
This thing holds the world record for the deepest dive. It has also been blown up with dynamite and just kept ticking. If that isn’t enough the guys who make the Swiss Military Watch have dropped it out of airplanes, stomped on it and done just about anything you can think of to get it to stop working. In one video the company blasts it with high powered fire hoses at Zurich airport, in another they place it just a few feet from some explosives in what they call a “real live test” in a quarry. They also placed another watch (they don’t say who) alongside the Swiss Military Watch. The Swiss Military watch was fine, the competitors one was blow to pieces. In another test they put the watch in a shooting range and blasted it with a three rounds from a12 gauge pump action shot. And it just laughed at the abuse, picked up a few scratches and carried on ticking. Another competitor watch was completely destroyed. In a third test on its own ordinary 1000m certified dive watch, the watch was also completely smashed. So if you plan to get shot, blown up, dropped out of a plane or hosed down by a fire engine and want your watch to keep on ticking, then the CX Swiss Military Watch is the one for you.
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Owning a Swiss Military Watch: A guest review
by on Jan.23, 2010, under Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches
Swiss military watches come in a wide range of prices and features, not to mention brands. I think that when it comes to quallity, you can’t beat Swiss, even though there are quite a few other military style watches made by other countries such as Germany. The Swiss have made fantastic products for a very long time, and even though you can buy a great many cheaper watches out there, the Swiss military watch still reigns supreme. Take a quick look at where to buy them, and how much you should pay, as well as some really special reasons for owning one in the first place.
Why a Swiss Military Watch?
Swiss watches run like, well, clock work. You can’t beat the price, and they last forever. They never lose their ability to keep time, and are immune to an insane amount of damage, taking punishment over the years you would not believe possible, for example, I had mine slammed between a truck and a twelve hundred pound horse, with me in it no less. Trashed the cell phone in my pocket, put a dent in the truck, knocked the wind out of me, but didn’t even crack the face on the watch. That is why you want a Swiss military watch; they last longer than almost anything. And mine isn’t an unusual story, you will find tons of similar stories posted all over theInternet.
Where to Find the Best Deal on the Best Watch?
You can find great Swiss watches all over the Internet, as well as many fine department stores, and I have even seen them offered at Costco for a really great price, so finding a good buy isn’t really that hard. I think the best place to find them though is online, and whereas it is true you don’t get to “feel” the product, most companies guarantee that you will like the product and so will take it back should you not like it once you get it home. EBay is a great place to start; they will have both new and used watches for you to peruse. Amazon.com is another great site to shop, and I was surprised at how many products they were offering, and also how good the prices were.
What Company is the Best?
There are quite a few good companies out there, but I like Wenger the best, makers of the original Swiss Army Knife. That is the particular watch that got slammed into my truck the day a client’s ornery horse decided to take us down, and it is still working today. They are easy to read, affordable, and hold up to an impressive amount of moisture and wear. I have never heard of one wearing out, come to think of it, and buying one means you never have to get a new watch. Ever. Hanowa also makes a range of great Swiss Military Watches that are widely praised for toughness and reliability.
Among the toughest watches in the world are CX Swiss Military Watches from Montres Charmex. Their 20000 feet watch is waterproof down to 7,500 meters and holds the current world diving record. They also equip a number of special forces as well as paramilitary forces including the SWAT Team in Cologne, Germany as well as the Close Protection Team (CPU) working with the United Nations in Kosovo. How tough are these watches? One was thrown out of an aircraft flying at a hight of 1,500 meters (about 4,500 feet) by a German Special Forces parachutist. The watch survived!
Occasions to Consider a Swiss Military Watch
My husband received one from his parents when he graduated from high school, one from my parent’s when he graduated from university, and one from way back when he was in cub scouts. They all still work perfectly! The gift is best given to a young man I think, at his wedding, that would be a good time to give a young man a watch like this (and a little funny too, if you think about it) and these also make a really thoughtful retirement gift for someone you care about. Young boys think these are the very coolest gifts, they will stare at them, completely enamored for a long time, the gift makes them feel important and big, two things boys love to emulate. We gave each of my nephews a Swiss Military Watch when they started scouts, and they just loved theirs, it is one of their few true treasures.
Guest post by Natasha D.
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