Reply With QuoteI have.Originally Posted by chutley
They're military....
So who's actually served on this forum then?
And if you have, what is the enduring attraction of military watches?
I have.
They're military....
I have served too. Don't particularly like military watches though. They're too military I guess.
I ask because most in the military are not impressed with the issue stuff. My G10 sat in a drawer for years. Same as most of the other issue stuff.
Things got better after 2007 when we started to get better stuff to go on ops with. But still didn't wear my G10!
I haven't, I just like the fact that there is a limited issue and they are individually numbered, its interesting to see what has survived and what has come out of the sock drawer.
I did a few years in the Fleet Air Arm. An aircrew mate was issued with a white dialed Lemania on Bonklip which I admired tremendously. Another aircrewman on our SAR flight had a black dialed Lemania which was odd for the RN, but as we now know could have been a 6BB/ RAF issue. All FAA aircrew officers wore Lemania's in those days as it was before Hamilton/CWC/Newmark/Precista's were issued. I used a few Nero Lemania stopwatches for maintenance work. If there was a 'spark' in those days, I would say it was the white dialed Lemania on Bonklip.
My own watch at the time I recall was a Smith's Astral.
Terry
I have served
I completed my colour service last year. I m not into military watches either, probably as when I was a RQMS I was responsible for accounting, ensuring regular service , storage and investigating losses.
However if I find a 70s issue SBS rolex in a Dorset car boot sale my view my change !
I served too and although I have a G10, it's not something I wear too often
I also served.
I served did 4 years active duty then 18 years in the Reserve retired in 2002 from the US Navy.I proberly like them becouse I was never issued one in all those years now I got a fair collection of them.
I serve but didn't receive a watch:( . I hope I'll get one before I retire. :(
Still do.
Military watches tend to be basic, easy to read and have no extra bling. The ideal being function over form.
Same reason I like (some) dive watches.
There are not supposed to be bling, they are not fashion items.
But that was a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away! Or at least it feels that way nowadays.
When I was in the army you needed to have dirt or at least in appropriate pictures of the OC or CQMS to get your hands on an issue wrist watch.
I can't remember what I had, but I got a watch.
When ever I broke the crystal or flooded it it was down to the Q Store to one for one it for another!
Kind regards
Chris in Melbourne
Kind regards
Chris
I was in the Royal Navy, and a Navigator. So was this:
Great watch to have the date too!I was in the Royal Navy, and a Navigator. So was this:
King regards
Chris in Melbourne
i was in the girl guides does that count? lol
Yes I spent a chunk of my life in the RAF, but that was a long time ago and my watch affliction is relativly new. That beeing said there is somthing about RAF/FAA issued watches that I like.
RN Chris.
Terry
Could I ask that we raise a glass to those currently deployed on Operations and unable to enjoy the Christmas festivities with their loved ones
Cheers
RIAC
100 percent absolutely!!!
And lest we forget all those who never returned.
We owe them all our thanks / best wishes.
Greg.
I was. This was me in Vietnam in early 1967 wearing the 1966 Caravelle you see on the green NATO strap further below.
I've bought and sold many military watches, but my favorite - - and the one I wear quite frequently - - is this Vietnam-era military issue watch made 11 months before I entered U.S. Marine boot camp. Besides feeling great on the wrist, it keeps excellent time (as does my old Caravelle!) and has great wrist presence.
I did but i was never issued with a G10 watch. A mate had one and i loved it. The thing i like is the pure functional lack of bling they have. The plain black dials with luminous white markings and hands. Always easy to read. Durable and reliable with acrylic crystals on the G10s. I have four now. Two CWC auto divers, 1 with date as a beater and one without for best! Two mechanical CWC G10s, 1 auto date and one hand wound no date. I love them. I would like a CWC no date chrono and a current issue quartz G10 for complete happiness. Great stuff!
Served 12 years. Being a lowly grunt, I was never issued a watch. I can claim active service on a couple of occasions, but was wearing a store-bought Timex while I was doing it.
I do like military watches now, but don't get hung up on 'issued' or any connection with a specific conflict. Most people I knew wore £1.99 petrol station digitals while actually fighting.
The joy of a good military watch is it's fiercely function over form. Like a good rifle, i want to think I can hammer a tent peg in with a real military watch. or at least open a bottle of beer...
Don't get me wrong, I still really, really want that black face Omega. Everyone would have loved to be a pilot...
18 months boys' service and 9 years regular. Contrary to popular belief watches were never issued on a permanent basis, each unit had a fairly small number to be issued on an "as required" basis and then signed back into stores when not required. Unless of course the quartermaster was your friend and then you probably had one on permanent issue ;-).
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
I served and was only issued with pain on a regular basis ;) in fact I never knew anyone to be issued with a watch aside from a few special boys who had been in long enough to know the tricks and issued themselves almost anything. Although I too wouldn't mind finding an issued sub at a carboot for peanuts. A Gshock got me through my time it was regularly washed in the machine with the rest of my kit :oops
Both issued and still in my possession!
Last edited by Skier; 11th June 2014 at 21:19.
No pain, no gain. Pain is a mere sensation.
When I joined we were beasted from a.... hole to breakfast time
When I was a grunt in the Marines 45+ years ago, they only issued watches in the infantry to squad leaders (sergeants) and above. Why would a lowly dumb ass like me need a watch???
Loving these stories, keep them coming guys.
dscn4215.jpg
this is what i had dring my service , 6 years ago :)
Served 4 years from 1995, but danish forces had to buy their own watches, so if I remember correct I had a shitty Mora quartz:-)
Martin
I served 14.5 years including boy service and during that time was never issued a watch although they were available from the CQMS. It was less bother to use a 5 quid Casio.
'O' Level on Monday
Train on Tuesday
Dotted Line on Wednesday
Time Expired 39 years later
and I only joined to see if I liked it!
Military timepieces, what's not to like (although the watch is a civvy version and not the real deal).
Last edited by JWL940; 29th December 2012 at 17:18. Reason: Spooling mastike
4 years, USCG. I generally used a pocket watch, or the radio room clock.
Best wishes,
Bob
Pain is weakness leaving the body was one I frequently heard along with "it's only pain" it's funny how at the time I thought it would kill me now i look back fondly my glasses aren't rose tinted they're bloody burgundy but I loved it.
That'll explain my CO wearing one, given the Cath Kidston cover on her Blackberry I don't imagine it's due to a preference for simple and uncomplicated design!
Is she a AGC or Signals CO?
RIAC
Ha, the usual suspects!
- - - Updated - - -
Ha, the usual suspects!
Ha, the usual suspects!
- - - Updated - - -
Ha, the usual suspects!
I was in the RN from 1992-1998. I found myself a 1992 RN-issued CWC Diver firstly because i really like the watch itself but also wanted something a bit personal. I've also got a 1992 RN-issued G10 :)
My main attraction is the rarity factor. You see many non-issued RN Divers but its not very often that an issued version pops up.
Royal Navy 1975- 1986. Gunnery and Missiles but sub specialised as a ships diver in 1981. At the time watches were signed out as needed, we were issued Rolex ND's but we found them crap in practise, most of us bought Seiko divers due to better lume etc and we thought they were cool. Along with everyone else, I used to think anything issued by the 'Pusser' had to be crap.In later years we got to use CWC RN divers, they were a little better. I still have one of the Seiko's I used to dive with but sold my Seiko original 6309 to cannop on here. Kev
pmsl . thanks for the laugh lysander.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Approaching 26 years in the RAF. I have been issued 2 watches (below) and haven't worn either for years. The first was issued to me on commencement of Advanced Flying Training in 1988, the second in 2001 as a replacement when the first didn't follow me home from Kosovo (it appeared some months later along with my passport, ID card and glasses!)
Ooh er! APR85 to SEP88, JPH and RECTS at Cranners, I may even have pulled your top pin...........Sir.
Yes, 12 years and a day.
Yes, did 22 years in RAF never got issued with a watch, but if I had, it would had to have been handed back with the rest of my kit on discharge.
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