Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

A place to discuss other watch-brands
suicidal_orange
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1406
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:20 pm
CW-watches: 6
Location: Somerset

Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by suicidal_orange »

I'm looking for a beater for work which means miles of offroad cycling to get there followed by high risk of damage and inevitable contact with oil as well as plenty of water. One day I drove in and forgot to take off my C65 and it now has a dent in the bezel and a scratch on a lug so wont be doing that again #-o

I'm assuming (because searching for 'cycling' and 'watch' only suggests fitness/GPS watches) that an auto is a bad idea for the cycling part and I would prefer a proper face to digital as it's easier to read bouncing along in bright sun. The obvious choice would be a g-shock but they're all so tall they surely invite damage and they're big too (at 43mm the C65 is about as big as my wrist can handle) Maybe they wear smaller than they measure? I would go and try one on but that cant be for a couple of weeks thanks to covid restrictions then working hours.

Also considering just picking up a well used, metal cased 'dress' watch, though they tend to come on leather and that's not going to like getting messy...

Any thoughts would be appreciated :)

Edit: Having reviewed lots of suggestions and given it more thought I've come up with this list of requirements:
£500 budget, significantly less is good
Used is good so I don't have to feel bad adding the first ding/scratch :oops:
Not automatic (unless special anti-vibration tech is involved, which will probably blow the budget)
Crown protection
Recessed crystal, more likely to be scratched than smashed so sapphire is best?
Strap can't be fabric or leather due to getting wet/oily hourly - it will stink! Rubber is easier to clean and harder to damage, I usually prefer bracelet
I'm not a fan of the dual 12/24 hour dials popular on field watches
Second hand and date are not required
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33795
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Something like an Orient Mako? About 40-41mm, not too tall. Pretty bombproof. On bracelet or, like mine, some kind of performance strap (Hirsch Tiger on this one, though a CW hybrid would do the job).

Image
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Ian Mc
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1018
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2016 8:27 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: Cumbria, UK

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by Ian Mc »

Victorinox inox?
Pretty tough, tested by running over with a tank!
Time keeps on slipping into the future
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 35163
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
CW-watches: 34
LE-three: 1
LE-foura: 1
LE-fourb: 1
LE-six: 1
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

Do you have any constraints on budget or preference on new vs pre-owned?

My immediate thought is an Elliot Brown; any of Canford, Bloxworth or Holton.

Off-road cycling? Not an issue due to being quartz but more importantly having a steel and elastomer shock protection system.


Bloxworth

Image


Guy


Sent from my Xperia 5 using Tapatalk


In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)

Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
User avatar
StrapMeister
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 3833
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 11:29 pm
CW-watches: 2

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by StrapMeister »

^^^good choice from Guy on the Elliot Browns :thumbup:

Sounds to me that like you need a field watch.
How about a Newmark 52 https://newmarkwatchcompany.com/newmark52field/
...and if you enter the code 15APRIL you'll get an extra 15% off :wink:

Due to the case design it wears bigger than the 38mm diameter suggests - I'd say nearer 41mm.
It a quartz, has crown protection, the lume is excellent and is very legible.

I've just bought this one (albeit 2nd hand) and am very happy with it (much to my surprise as I generally find anything under 40mm too small)
Newmark 52 01.JPG
suicidal_orange
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1406
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:20 pm
CW-watches: 6
Location: Somerset

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by suicidal_orange »

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to work now so will look properly later.
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Tue Apr 06, 2021 12:02 pm Do you have any constraints on budget or preference on new vs pre-owned?
On one hand this will be my most worn watch, on the other it's going to get damaged so the justifiable budget varies wildly depending how I look at it. I'd say £500 max but much less would be good. Used would probably be better so someone has done the initial damage and I don't have to feel so bad about it!
User avatar
H0rati0
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 2314
Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2018 7:49 am
CW-watches: 4
Location: Alpenvorland

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by H0rati0 »

Take a look at the Seiko 5 - plenty to choose from and extreme VFM. If you prefer quartz then Seiko Kinetic or Citizen Ecodrive means no messing with batteries, again plenty to choose from, tough and reliable.
"There is no beginning to enlightenment and no end to training" - Dogen Zenji (1200-1253)
User avatar
ajax87
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3454
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:47 am
CW-watches: 7
Location: West Michigan, USA

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by ajax87 »

I’d think maybe something titanium? Lightweight for all the activity.

2 options sprang to mind for me:

Rze Resolute. 40.5mm, hardened titanium (harder than SS to resist some scratches and dings?) Reliable seiko movement. Can come with the hardened titanium bracelet too. For less than $500 USD.

D49F130A-31C8-4931-94B5-EB8E3BC1802F.jpeg


Citizen eco drive titanium if you didn’t want automatic:

83A9D07A-0761-4622-A606-15B547D6E9A9.png
Alex
C5A Mk1|C65 316L LE|C63 36mm, GMT, Elite, 2023ish FLE|C1 Moonglow|Omega Seamaster DeVille|Speedmaster Racing|MoonSwatch Mercury|RZE Endeavor|Tudor BB58 925
User avatar
Noush
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1331
Joined: Sun Jan 19, 2020 12:30 am
CW-watches: 2
Location: Blue Mountains Australia

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by Noush »

Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic although they also do a manual, strangely for more money.
This one has done long term work duty in a splashes, bumps, bruises, scratches environment (salami factory) and has an 80 hour movement with barely a mark on it. 100m WR. <USD400 at Jomashop.
hamilton-khaki-field-automatic-mens-watch-h70455533--.jpg
Chris
"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans" : John Lennon.
exHowfener
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1018
Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 6:26 pm
CW-watches: 1

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by exHowfener »

Seiko 5 sports would be a good choice. If it doesn't come on a suitable strap, Barton are a good budget choice - the silicone take contact with fluids well for not much money.

If you want a "field watch" why not go for the real deal? I wear a CWC quartz while out gardening, though the face can scratch easily. Or, for an automatic watch that can probably take any abuse you subject it to, is water resistant, and not much money - buy a Vostok, a tube of polywatch and put the £430 you save (!) towards something nice for after work.
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left
User avatar
Amor Vincit Omnia
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 33795
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:34 pm
CW-watches: 4
Location: Norfolk, UK

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Just a thought...if quartz is not an issue, how about a CWC G10? Tough and simple.

https://www.cwcwatch.com/collections/ge ... tery-hatch

Image
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time


Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
User avatar
rkovars
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3256
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:56 pm
CW-watches: 5
Location: New England, US

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by rkovars »

Not sure if you are keen on importing from the US but Vaer Watches has some great choices for tough watches. Both mechanical and quartz. Lots of different styles to choose from.

Image
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.
Jack London
User avatar
magicman
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 3879
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:45 pm
CW-watches: 2
Location: Loughton, Essex

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by magicman »

Timex Expedition perhaps, around £50

Regards Steve
Selling Tudor Pelagos 39
kiter65
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:45 pm
CW-watches: 0

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by kiter65 »

This one...in the S/C :D

Image

Image
User avatar
Robotaz
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 1182
Joined: Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:56 pm
CW-watches: 3
Location: Tennessee

Re: Looking for a small(ish) beater, preferably analog

Post by Robotaz »

Pulsar (made by Seiko) has some very good values.
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post