Replies

1. 
   boilerbay | Dec 14, 2009 05:06pm | #1

   Bones,

   I know this isn't fancy but his watch is going to take a beating and will probably get broken. Give a good one with a cheap Timex (wind up with a stem reset and a strong fabric band) as a bow on the package.

   Have him keep it at home and take the Timex. Although I don't wear it and it works like the day I got it at the base exchange, I still have one that went through more than just a "licking" and kept on ticking in Vietnam. No night light, no batteries, just junky good.

   Of course there's always your basic combat version of the Blancpain 1735, Grande Complication at $800,000 and the....

   God Speed to your son,

   Boiler

2. 
   ring | Dec 14, 2009 07:37pm | #2

   I second BB's suggestion. Your son's last concern should be over breaking some fancy watch.

   I haven't the slightest idea where to get it in the US, but in my experience here (in Israel), Rangers or scouts need to have their watches covered so they cannot accidentally reflect any light. We have special leather straps with covers that everyone uses.

   Best of luck to your boy...make that "your man".

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

3. 
   kenshep | Dec 14, 2009 09:45pm | #3

   Hi Bones,

   Seals wear Luminox watches.  I'd give my son this watch to  celebrate his service and to make sure that he had a good timepiece.  Land navigation requires a good watch to estimate distance traveled.  Lot's of gizmos available today, but batteries die or electronics fail in the sandy desert.  If he has to go cross country he'll need one.  I suggest the protective velcro band that encircles the whole watch too.  No sun glare of the watch face that way.

   http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/luminox-navy-seal-diver-watch-black-blue-steel.aspx?a=590186

   Ken

    

4. 
   chaim | Dec 14, 2009 11:59pm | #4

   Get him a Casio G-shock they work great and aren't expensive I used one through my service and ware one every day at work.

   Good luck and G-d speed to him!

   Chaim 

    

5. 
   EricArey | Dec 15, 2009 12:21am | #5

   I just finished 26.5 years in the Air Force. I have always been partial to Rolex: either, Submariner, GMT Master II or Deepsea.

   Buying a new table saw, instead of Rolex for my retirement gift to myself.

   For now buy him the tough cheap watch. There are so many to choose from. Once he makes NCO or goes for the commission, get him the nice watch, Rolex or Breitling to name a few. Kids/young men this age tend to break and loose things.

   I have had to settle for Swiss Army. Nice, tough and have found great deals on eBay.

   Eric, retired Major
   USAF, USAF-Reserve, Iowa Air National Guard

6. 
   Napie | Dec 15, 2009 12:22am | #6

   Rolex Submariner in stainless, tough as nails. I bought one the year I enlisted and i still have it on every day 30+ years later and it has seen really hard use. I know it is a lot of money but what else can you use every day for that long and still sell it for more than you paid for it?

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/14/2009 4:25 pm ET by Napie

7. 
   Ray | Dec 15, 2009 02:12am | #7

   I'd recommend a decent self-winding watch that is waterproof.  Not necessarily a diver's watch, but crawling around in the swamps does tend to wreck cheap watches.  I wore a Seiko 5 in Vietnam, poor thing got ruined in an auto accident about 5 years later or I'd still be wearing it.

1. 
   pcott | Dec 15, 2009 03:36am | #8

   Its funny, my dad got a timex watch from my sister about 30 years ago.It saw hard use, he never took it off, and it still works great today. Granted Timex is not as special as a Rolex, but i think they are dependable, hardworking watches.

8. 
   stantheman | Dec 15, 2009 03:40am | #9

   bones

   congrats to your son.  Its a honor just to get selected to try. 

   Take a look at these two websites:  Brigade Quartermaster, and US Cavalry.  That should give you an idea of what looks the part. 

   I infer you want something he can take to the field.  I agree on the cheap but sturdy:  no metal bands, just leather or plastic.  no shine, and analog if he can read them.  Maybe the Rolex when he graduates.

1. 
   bones | Dec 15, 2009 05:12am | #10

   Thanks to all the replies.  I will check out all the brands and models. Unfortunately the rolex is out of my league, but maybe if he does well and makes it I can do something along those lines.  ...Advice is a form of nostalgia.  Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off , painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth –  lyrics from the song wear sunscreen

9. 
   user-6714243 | Dec 18, 2009 06:38am | #11

   After 15 years in the field out of 25 years service. I would suggest 2 good G Shocks, one as a back up both with velcro face covers.

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Dec 19, 2009 10:05am | #12

   Maybe too late Bones but... I wore a water-proof, wind-up G-G shock Timex in Vietnam with an illuminous face. Monsoon season.. mosquitoe repellent.. dirt and grime were non issues. I passed it to someone the day I got a final ride from the boonies back to base-camp for processing home. That young gentleman from Cleveland, Tn. returned that watch to me about 8 months latter when he got home.

   You don't need an expensive watch in combat.. you just need one that takes a licking as mentioned and keeps on ticking... accurately! I personally wear a water-resistant to 50 M..battery operated (about 10 years from my experience with them) Casio with a rubber wrist band. Having compared that $25 watch to a Rolex here's what I found. The Rolex is much prettier and will lose only about 2 seconds a year to the 3 seconds the Casio loses. And the Casio cost about $2880 less on average when I last looked at Rolex prices. Probably more now as I don't bother looking at prices since I already have a great watch that get's er done! ha.. ha...

1. 
   boilerbay | Dec 19, 2009 11:44am | #13

   Sarge,
   I don't wear my good
   Sarge,

   I don't wear my good watches anymore. As a matter of fact, I don't wear any of them anymore. Nothing is that important to me that I have to pay attention to the time. There's always another train. Then theres those grabby machines in the shop. Anyway,I just have to count the sunrises to know when to put the next coat of BLO on :)

   Took a licking and still ticking. Although not with the same regularity. I'm loosing about 1 minute a day. CRS.

   Take care

   Boiler

10. 
    bones | Dec 21, 2009 04:07pm | #14

    Thanks to all for the suggestions. I ruled out the Rolex, just not in my league. I looked for a G-shock, and could only find a digital, and he specifically did not want that. I ended up at Cabella's and purchased a Luminox. It's a nice piece and I hope it will serve him well.

    http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0045410615520a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all_NYR&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ne=46&nyr=1&QueryText=luminox&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=53&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1