What is a Tool Watch?
Hi WatchCrunchers!
After following along here in the background for some time, I wanted to get started with a question...
What do you consider to be a true “tool watch” in 2024?
My two most worn watches are the Vaer A12 Dirty Dozen and the COROS Pace 3. Here are the specs:
Vaer
Cost: $899
Width: 36mm
Lug-to-lug: 47mm
Thickness: 9mm
Power: Peseux 7001 (manual, 42 hour power reserve)
Accuracy: -1/+3 seconds per day
Functionality: Used for looking and feeling a specific way.
Occasionally used to tell the time during the few moments of the day when I’m not near another device that tells the time more accurately (phone, computer, car, microwave, etc.)
COROS
Cost: $229
Width: 42mm
Lug-to-lug: 46mm
Thickness: 12mm
Power: 30 day power reserve
Accuracy: -0/+0 seconds per year
Functionality: Used for collecting health and fitness information, alarms and timers, GPS navigation, barometer, metronome, oximeter, and telling always-accurate time.
All notifications are turned off.
My Take
Like most of you, I appreciate mechanical watches enough to spend significant amounts of time and money to enjoy them in person and online.
With that said, it’s hard to justify calling my mechanical watches true “tool watch” when GPS watches, like this COROS, exist and are only getting better.
Watch enthusiast and trail runner.
If you use it, it's a tool. From this guy.
To the calculator watch.
Anything I am wearing, during my duty day.
I prefer a bezel, for timing things.
I prefer acrylic for being easier to clean off viscous fluids.
But whatever I'm wearing, is what I'm wearing if stuff goes sideways.
TBS, I do try to plan ahead if I'm aware of a certain event.
I.E. using my Casio Protrek, or adding a compass to my straps for land nav, cardinal directions.
Or if I'm doing a timed/graded PT event a countdown bezel, or a digital timer is handy.
But I use a watch to check the time mostly. And I like to be able to read it without pushing a button....still doesn't stop me from wearing a dress watch on a single pass Haveston, or wearing something so bonkers that it gets talked about more than any watch I wear regularly..... @SpecKTator ...he knows.
Or just double wristing gaudy, gold, #custodesspecial 's to say wear what you want, when you want...👀😁😅🤏🏻😂*
*yes, I wear even these, at work, because life is too short. Also who's gonna mess with a double, skull watch wristing, crazy guy 😆.
If you use it, it's a tool. From this guy.
To the calculator watch.
Bruh, I need more #harambe in my life NGL...👌🏻🔥🤌🏻
Watches are tools, but the fact that they were named 'tool watches' was sort of a misnomer, IMO.
Before the dive, field, GMT Watches of the mid-20th Century, the comparative dress watches & pocket watches were a tool as well.
For the most part, the misnamed tool watches of the mid-20th Century are not used as the tools they were designed to be. They are more jewellry than tool now.
The rugged watches people tend to wear for the rough & tumble jobs like construction on mechanics of this point in history are G-shocks & cheap Casios or their copies/homages.
Watches are tools, but the fact that they were named 'tool watches' was sort of a misnomer, IMO.
Before the dive, field, GMT Watches of the mid-20th Century, the comparative dress watches & pocket watches were a tool as well.
For the most part, the misnamed tool watches of the mid-20th Century are not used as the tools they were designed to be. They are more jewellry than tool now.
The rugged watches people tend to wear for the rough & tumble jobs like construction on mechanics of this point in history are G-shocks & cheap Casios or their copies/homages.
@UnholiestJedi, G-Shocks being homages of mid-20th century tool watches is an interesting perspective.
It makes sense why a Navitimer was a tool watch in 1954. Seventy years later, I agree it's more jewelry than tool.
I wear the same watch pretty much every day, I actually use it to tell the time because I can't always get to my phone, but yeah mostly I use it because it's cool and makes me happy, and it doesn't hurt that it blows people's minds that I really use my watch!
I wear the same watch pretty much every day, I actually use it to tell the time because I can't always get to my phone, but yeah mostly I use it because it's cool and makes me happy, and it doesn't hurt that it blows people's minds that I really use my watch!
@morningwatchmilwaukee, I like your take on it -- being happier and blowing people's minds are great reasons to wear one, especially if it's as nice as an Explorer II!
I end up wearing the Vaer (an Explorer I alternative) for very similar reasons.
@morningwatchmilwaukee, I like your take on it -- being happier and blowing people's minds are great reasons to wear one, especially if it's as nice as an Explorer II!
I end up wearing the Vaer (an Explorer I alternative) for very similar reasons.
My wife wore a Vaer S3 until very recently (when she got a Swatch). I love the brand, Vaer is doing cool stuff.
Love your Vaer my friend
Love your Vaer my friend
Thanks, @ChiefIlliniwek - this version is hard to get these days so I feel fortunate to have it.
Thanks, @ChiefIlliniwek - this version is hard to get these days so I feel fortunate to have it.
Casio A168.
When I was a teacher I’d use it to set alarms for when parts of a lesson were up.
I would also give it to pupils and ask them to time each other on the stop watch for PE and sports. Nothing motivates wee ones to run like beating their friends’ times!
Knowing the time, date, day and month is actually pretty important. Pupils need to write all of this bar the time at the top of their page for each piece of work. If I’m ever asked, a glance at my wrist has it all ready to go.
Other than that, it was handy as an Everyman watch. Nobody at a parents evening is going to bat an eyelid at a Casio. No colleague is going to make unwelcome assumptions about what you’re paid relative to them. No child is going to be able to break it either. If they somehow manage it, it’s another £20 on Amazon!
Welcome mate! I think all watches are fundamentally tools, just at different levels of "tooliness". The G Shocks are the obvious choice and for me, Casio is one of the kings for this!
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome mate! I think all watches are fundamentally tools, just at different levels of "tooliness". The G Shocks are the obvious choice and for me, Casio is one of the kings for this!
I was just posting basically this comment and noticed yours! I think watch and smartwach deserve to be in a different category. But they are all tools of varying degrees. At a minimum they are a tool to tell time. Anything beyond that is either icing on the cake, or the right tool for the job!
Also welcome @Trail_Time!
Great perspective @epochalanalogs, and thank you for the welcome!
I was just posting basically this comment and noticed yours! I think watch and smartwach deserve to be in a different category. But they are all tools of varying degrees. At a minimum they are a tool to tell time. Anything beyond that is either icing on the cake, or the right tool for the job!
Also welcome @Trail_Time!
Totally agree mate!
Welcome fellow Vaer lover!
Welcome to WC
I recognized that Vaer Dirty Dozen. They're a great company and fun to follow (mainly their e-mails).
Got a D5 Atlantic from them and love it.