European tool watches
Hello there! I'm new here, so please pardon (or redirect) me if I'm posting the wrong place!
I'm looking for inspiration for European (or at least sold from a distributor within the EU) field or tool watches. Automatic. I've scouted the market for quite a while now, but I might have overlooked some cool watches. So I'm hoping some of you can help! Ideally around 1000 euros.
Apart from inspiration, I wouldn't mind a discussion about what constitutes a hardy watch! I think surface hardening is almost a must, but depends on the whole package of course. There's quite a few European (mainly German) brands doing this luckily. Another must is a screw down crown I think, and a movement that's realiable and easily repairable like the Sellita SW200.
My troubles is with my need for a date complication. I have a huge crush on the Circula ProTrail. It just doesn't have a date display!
I've looked at Dekla, Archimede, Sinn, Circula, Davosa, Formex, CW and more. Have I missed any? 😀
Laco makes pilot/field watches, they're from Germany.
https://www.laco-watches.com/en/index
How about Hamilton? They’re well known for field watches. I have a Khaki Field Automatic that’s my favorite.
Sounds like you've done plenty of research and thinking - well done!
Sellita movement is an excellent call for long-term serviceability - they currently supply parts to independent watchmakers and even when the parts run out there will be millions of donor movements to cannibalise for spares.
Personally, I wouldn't be too hung up about a screw down crown (ducks for cover). It's quite hard to accidentally pull out a crown, especially if it has crown guards which is likely on a tool watch.
Re: your other requirements I'm not into tool watches so can't contribute that much.
I would say that Sinn have an excellent reputation. Glycine might also be worth a look as they use Sellita and are good value when discounted. E.g. The Combat line. I've found it cheaper to buy them from the US even with import duties into the EU.
Two more suggestions (potentially around 1000 pre-owned):
You can't get more of a tool watch (imho) than the Mühle Glashütte Rescue timer:
Or for a prettier tool watch, how about the Fortis Flieger:
A couple of recent threads related to this.
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Aether/posts/field-watches-2-228898
https://www.watchcrunch.com/UnholiestJedi/posts/white-dialed-field-watches-off-the-beaten-path-edition-229263
These don't have the European focus, but some good options in there for you.
Echo/Neutra based in Italy area pretty safe bet I got this Averau 39 Big Moon for around 800€.
100m wr with a screw down crown, date complication and a moonphase (okay maybe not essential but it looks cool), a wearable, to most people, 39mm diameter, 46mm l2l and 13.5mm thick. It uses a Sellita SW280-1 movement. Echo Neutra also have a few nice looking divers and other tool watches, they all come with easy to source third hand Swiss movements
Thanks for the replies everybody ❤
The threads from the past few days have nice suggestions, but mainly for a non-EU market. I think American microbrands are bringing some nice things to the field watch scene these days, but it's just too much hassle to import it. Or at least none of them has impressed me enough to go through the hassle 😉
And good point with the screw-down crown versus crown guard, thank you for that!
As for Mühle, the Rescue-Timer is probably the coolest watch on the market! I'm also rediscovering the Echo/Neutra. Although they have a few design choices I disagree with, they're also bringing something new which one can only appreciate.
Also Hamilton makes cool watches indeed, but I'm affraid I disagree with the Powermatic movement.
Maybe take a look at this:
https://www.hanhart.com/en/product/pioneer-one-2/
https://britishwatchmakers.com/
The Pioneer One is beautiful too! I wouldn't call it a field watch as for the functionality, but an everyday watch that kan take a bit more than the usual.
It seems the combination of hardened case, screw-down or crown guard and a date is hard to find. Dekla Turbulenz and Archimede Outdoor does it all, but I don't think I will bond with the design.
I really like the Archimede 200-series, but they need either a crown guard or screw-down crown for the peace of mind of a tool watch.
MAT watches out of France