Tag: Swiss Army Dive 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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Swiss Army Watches – Do They Live Up To The Hype?
by on Jun.21, 2010, under Dress Watches, Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches
One of the most recognizable and well respected brands in the world is ‘Swiss Army’, but it seems that they are far better known for their knives than their watches. Switzerland as a country has always been known for its precision, elegance and beauty, and the fact that the Swiss government itself has a hand in making these products suggests that they are serious about making them as best as they can.
Unlike some watch companies, there is a huge variation of Swiss Army watches available at the moment – from waterproof watches that allow you to dive up to 100m deep with them, to Swiss Army automatic watches that automatically change in conjunction with daylight saving. While make watches that were designed to be worn with elegant suits and tuxedos, they also make timepieces that look far more casual that could be worn with anything, so there’s definitely a large variety available and something for everyone.
These watches are often identified by the white cross over a red background (which is the same logo as their knives have) and throughout the years, it has become a symbol of quality and precision. Swiss Army celebrated its 125th year in business recently, and although the event was very much a look back at many of their successes, it was also a look forward to a no-doubt bright future.
One of the main successes of the company is the special edition watches that they produce every few years (for both men and women). Only a handful (i.e. less than 200) of these limited edition timepieces are ever produced at any one time, so the demand for them is always high (as are the prices).
The standard Swiss Army mens watches start somewhere between $200 and $240, with more expensive models breaking the thousand-dollar mark. It is important to note that while these watches are expensive, they are supposed to be something that you can keep for years to come, so in fact, this is more of a one-time investment than something you do every few years (which is the average lifespan of many inferior watches).
One interesting thing about these watches is that they are only ever available in analogue format (i.e. with the hands pointing at numbers) and that they have never made a digital watch. That being said, they do include many of the features that typical digital watches have (such as a date and month reminder and a stopwatch) so you are really not missing much at all.
It is not only men that Swiss Army makes timepieces for, but women too. Most women like the idea of wearing a watch more as a fashion accessory than as a practical and useful object, and it seems that they fully understand that. By this I mean that their selection of lades watches are stylish and right up to date with the fashion trends of today, and each one retains the famous red and white logo that is now almost a fashion icon in itself.
The basic Swiss watch was designed with the adventurous person in mind, which is why they are suited to those that like to get outdoors. As I previously mentioned, many of them are waterproof (meaning you can go swimming with them on) and lots of them also have a tiny light inside of them so that you can see them in the dark. This type of watch is perfect for those that are frequently out in the dark (such as fishermen and hunters).
Their most popular model currently on the market is the men’s Chrono Classic watch, which can be bought from Amazon.com for around $330.00. It is part of the Victorinox Swiss Army range, and has a classic stainless steel look to it. It is water resistant up to 330 feet and feature luminous hands that glow in the dark.
Their second most popular selling timepiece at the moment is the Class Chronograph Brown Dial watch, which is available for around $275.00. This watch has a fairly more subtle look, as it features a brown leather strap and a slightly less vibrant face. It has a date display that can be easily set by pressing the buttons on the side and twisting the dial, and it is the perfect watch for anyone looking to get started.
The most popular ladies Swiss Army watches on the market are the Victorinox Cavalry watches, which can be found for around $250.00 each. This timepiece has a far more feminine feel about it, as it does not have the same loud and brash features as its male counterparts. Made in Switzerland, it has a scratch resistant screen that is easy to read thanks to the large numbers. Another really popular watch is the Wenger Commando Watch. This is really tough and great for the outdoors. If money is no object and you are looking for the world’s toughest watch, then the CX Swiss Military is the right one for you.
Overall, Swiss Army watches are some of the finest on the entire market, and if you are looking for accuracy and durability these will provide you with everything you will ever need.
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Swiss Army Raid Commando Watch
by Watchguy on Mar.10, 2010, under Military Watches, Sport and Dive Watches
A lot of people who are active in the outdoors are looking for an analogue watch that is a step above the usual Swatch but that can also take a beating. (Just as a side note here, you would be surprised at just how tough the ordinary $30 Swatch with the plastic strap can be – When I first took up Scuba diving 20 years ago I was amazed to see that quite a few divers including a few divemasters used ordinary Swatch watches as a dive watch even though it is not certified to handle the pressure).
The second requirement that many people have is that they don’t pay the earth. In other words they are looking for a quality watch that is better in quality and durability than a cheap Swatch but that won’t cost as much as a Rolex or a Tag. The sweet spot for many people in terms of price is about $300 to $500 for a really functional watch that still looks good and will give a lifetime of service.
I can’t think of a better candidate for the outdoor enthusiast than Wenger’s Swiss Army Raid Commando Watch. This is made by the company that was made famous for making the Swiss Army knife – a brand that has been synonymous with quality for decades, and that has since built its reputation further building a really excellent Swiss Army Watch range.
The Swiss Raid Commando takes its name from the renowned military competition in which members of the Swiss military compete in teams of four in commando type exercises. The competition is a test of fitness, toughness and military skill and pushes participants to the limit in tests of shooting, obstacle courses and deep penetration into “enemy” territory during which time the patrols will advance as much as 120km. They then follow with a “raid” such as an ambush or simulated attack.
The watch that takes its name is every bit as tough as the soldiers who compete. The watch is solid-looking and comes in a variety of styles. The looks of the military-ones with a black rubber strap just shout no-nonsense and toughness and this really tops my list of favourite Swiss military watches.
The dial is very clear and well illuminated. It has a 12-hour chronometer function (stopwatch) and it also has a tachymeter, which allows its user to measure speed over a known distance. When used by a trained and experienced navigator it can also be a useful way of measuring distance – which is helpful for night navigation.
It is waterproof down to 100 meters (330 feet), which means it can be your backup candidate as a dive watch in an emergency (though you would be better off getting something like the Battalion III Diver which is water resistant down to 200 meters or the more expensive Wenger Aquagraph which is good down to 1000 meters). The Commando is covered with a tough scratch-resistant surface which means it should stand up well to the rigors of mountaineering, hunting and other demanding outdoor sports.
Wenger Men’s 70890 Commando Patagonian Expedition Race Chrono Watch . . . . Stainless Steel Case with Polished Black Finish . . Black Dial . . Swiss Quartz Movement . . Mineral Crystal . . Tachymeter . . Luminous Hands… $244.89
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Wenger Men’s 70891 Swiss Raid Commando Chrono Series Watch Casual/Sport watch, Swiss quartz movement, Commando Swiss Raid, Black hands with green luminous accents, Luminous green markers, indices and tachymeter… $249.00
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