What's the automatic equivalent of a G-Shock?
As the title suggests, I'm curious what fellow watch-crunchers (is that a thing yet?) think is the automatic equivalent of the Casio G-Shock. They last forever, often include stop watches/timers, can be dressed up or down, and can (hypothetically) withstand whatever you put them through.
I guess any equivalent would need to withstand these stresses and be as versatile/robust. I think it'd also need a dive bezel (because the pushers on a chronograph make the watch inherently vulnerable). I'm looking for a TRUE automatic GADA (and I mean literally ANYWHERE and ANYTHING).
I worry that the nature of any automatic/manual mechanism makes them inherently less robust than a G-Shock...but I welcome everyone's thoughts!
Just a humble enthusiast. It all started with a Tissot.
I like my Seiko srpe 57k1 as my gada. It's a tough little watch, goes good with formal or dressy occasions. Good lume for dark, 10 bar and a variety of styles to choose from without breaking the bank.
How about this? Luminox Carbon Seal 3800. No real life experience of this but it looks pretty tough
Victorinox Inox Automatic
No elapsed dive bezel, no chrono , but marketed to withstand anything and everything.
No automatic will be as "robust" a G-Shock though.
There is no true analogy to a G-Shock in the world of mechanical movements. While they are pretty hard to break on the wrist, the drop on the bathroom floor might very well be too much for a mechanical watch.
that being said, I think Ball watches are basically built to withstand something ridiculous in terms of shock resistance.
Vostok amphibia. Built like a tank. If you kill it buy another as they are cheap as chips. I doubt you’d kill it unless you really tried
I’ve heard of two such watches, but they are expensive.
The IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL
and the Richard Mille Rafa Nadal 35-03
I don't really know of any automatic or mechanical watches that would be as tough as a G Shock in a similar price range, but I do know of an analog quartz watch that is a good alternative; a Bertucci field watch. They have a range of models, including some with the Ameriquartz movement and a chronograph model. The one I own has a sturdy resin case and comes on a tough three ring nato strap, and it has been a great camping and outdoor watch that has held up as well as my GWM5610.
I guess you could say the Speedmaster Pro that went through a battery of tests and was flight qualified by NASA in 1965 was the G-shock of mechanical watches of its time.
As for today, *shrug* :)
There isn't a mechanical equivalent of a G-Shock. Mechanicals are compromised with regard to shock resistance and durability by the hairspring and escapement. G-Shocks have been developed without these compromises to be technically and functionally superior. Some mechanicals might look tough. G-Shocks are tough - they are the real thing.
Most people don't need anything near the capability of a G-Shock, but want the name/look, so realistically a 5KX/SKX/SNK would achieve the same end result. You'd know the time, and get the same level of "cred" from the watch community.
A Casio, or Timex digital would meet the needs of 90+% of people who wear a G-Shock, and for less money.
It may be a delicate luxury flower today, but I still say the Speedmaster was the most rugged chronograph NASA could procure back in 1965. :)
Luminox Master Carbon Seal watches. Being in the Army, I have an older version of their seal watches and let me just say….I have broken many watches in my profession, but I have had this luminox for a while now, gone through many deployments and exercises even in the remote Alaskan wilderness and it has worked perfectly with no issues still today.
How about this? Luminox Carbon Seal 3800. No real life experience of this but it looks pretty tough
I have one of this and being in the military I can tell you that they definitely work in extreme condition.
I agree with @foghorn the INOX. I heard I think on Teddy Baldassarre that they tested it by running over it with a Tank.
Perhaps the Bremont MBI would be up to the task. If I remember correctly, t’s a watch designed to withstand the shock and forces, being ejected from a jet via a Martin Baker ejector seat….. It’s also anti magnetic and lots of other cool rugged things.
…..One slight catch though, I think I read that in order to purcase one, you had to first have lived through an ejection in a MB ejector seat.
Edit: I found it on their website, it’s the MBI that’s only for people who’ve been ejected, the MBII is available to all!
https://www.bremont.com/pages/explore-bremont-partnerships-martin-baker