Standard Issue: Field Watches
Standard Issue is a new series covering style, EDC, and grooming products. Thoughtfully curated by our team, each article will provide a list of preordained essentials worthy of any guy’s collection.
One of the anchoring styles for a guy’s watch collection is the field watch. After all, it brought timepieces to the wrists of men all over the world. Prior to soldiers sporting them during WWI, wristwatches were considered women’s jewelry.
In this edition of Standard Issue, we’re covering field watches. Ten worthy pieces, all price points represented.
Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
Americans mastered field watches and the Swiss mastered mechanicals. The Swiss-made, American-designed Hamilton Khaki Field is a top-of-the-line classic military timepiece. It’s based on their 1960s design, from the retro 38mm case to the NATO strap. It runs on the 80-hour H-50 caliber, a hand-winding movement that’s fun to tinker with.
Bulova VWI Special Edition HACK Watch
There’s much to love about the Bulova VWI Special Edition HACK. It embodies a handsome military style, including the 24-hour middle track, a double-domed crystal, and nostalgic font. Not only does it pay homage to its trench lineage, but 10 percent of its proceeds go to the remarkable Veteran’s Watchmaker Initiative. They teach disabled war veterans the in-demand and high-paying art of watch-making. Functionally, this charmer features a hacking automatic movement.
Marathon Watch General Purpose Quartz
A reliable tool watch, the Marathon General Purpose punches above its price point. Its tritium gas tubes are self-illuminating, so it’s as if its lume is powered by magic. Its Swiss construction is 100 percent to military standards, and its crystal is a scratch-resistant sapphire. Style-wise, it’s a classic field, but the mostly black aesthetic makes it slightly modern-looking.
Weiss Standard Issue Field Watch
The Weiss Standard Issue Field Watch’s beautiful face design is truly artisanal. It’s sleek for a military watch, but perfectly robust. Not only is the style sophisticated, but so is the construction. It has black oxide-treated hands, a hand-painted naval brass-finished dial, and a hand-stitched strap of your choice material.
Merci LMM-01 Field Watch
If you seek a high-functioning military timepiece that’s also fun-looking, go for the Merci LMM-01 Field. Its light palette and contrasting bold lines are legible and illustrative, while its stepped bezel and domed crystal are elegant. It runs on the unique VH31 quartz movement, which boasts a mechanical-like sweeping second hand.
Oak & Oscar Olmsted 38
With its high-level craftsmanship, the Oak & Oscar Olmsted 38 has a muted cool-guy aesthetic, perfect for urban jungles and actual jungles. The sandwich dial is accented by the bright orange second hand and is protected by double-domed sapphire. Choose a sporty stainless steel bracelet or a rich Horween leather strap with hand-beveled edges.
Centric Instruments Field Watch MkII
The Centric Instruments Field Watch MkII has rugged military features with added sophisticated touches, making it versatile enough for the office or camping. These include the center dial track, steel-bordered date, and leather strap (especially slick-looking in black). It’s a bit like a military watch in a tuxedo.
MVMT Field Trek
A bang-for-buck outdoor piece, the MVMT Field Trek has a contemporary and authoritative matte aesthetic. It features a beautiful brushed gunmetal ion-plated finish for extra durability. Meanwhile, the green accent lumes add visual pops and legibility. Of course, it runs on an always-accurate quartz movement.
Vaer C5
The Vaer C5 is delightfully retro, a cross between the original Submariner and the original Explorer. This American-made timepiece has 100 meters of water resistance and is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire. The best part is its easy strap-change capabilities, which makes it like having four watches in one.
Boldr Venture
For those seeking the most durable of the field watches, I direct you to the Boldr Venture. Not only is it made of titanium, which is stronger than steel and almost half as light, but it runs on the robust Seiko NH35A automatic movement. It’s also just a handsome timepiece that comes in four cool-looking colors called Carbon Black, Jungle Green, Navy Blue, and Sand Storm.
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