Dependable beater.......what's your go to?
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Joe Prenelle
Hi, I'm from the east coast of County Durham in north east England, my interests include cycling, guitar building and rock music. I've had a wrist watch obsession since early childhood.
North East, UK
Member since
Last active: 2 weeks ago
7.50” / 19.05 cm
Nice Duro, I have this GShock as a dependable beater
I have an MDV-106 and love it, so it doesn't get "beater" duty per se. My go-to bona fide beater is my 15 year old, resin cased Timex Expedition, whose model number I don't remember. This watch has taken every kind of abuse and neglect I've thrown its way without complaint and has accompanied me to the opposite side of the globe and back twice, as well as across Canada several times. As the ads used to say, "Takes a lickin' ... " 👍
I like both.
I know a guy who's been recommended by a debt collector who's a friend of a friend of mine and, oh..wait you mean a watch?
Sorry, wrong discussion.
I’ve got 2 of them.
I have a couple of beater watches..
Vintage beater, dressy beater, beater beater.
Nice Duro, I have this GShock as a dependable beater
Spot on, just the job 👌
Possibly controversial take: I don't believe in "beaters."
Like - the concept assumes that people wouldn't wear most of their watches in most situations, and, to me, if you can't wear your watch, then what's the point?
I understand if you have a dress watch or a Richard Mille and you don't want to change your oil with it, but if I paid $4k for a Tudor "tool" watch and I had to take it off when I pulled weeds, I would start to wonder what exactly it was that I paid for.
I know a guy who's been recommended by a debt collector who's a friend of a friend of mine and, oh..wait you mean a watch?
Sorry, wrong discussion.
Meow!
Possibly controversial take: I don't believe in "beaters."
Like - the concept assumes that people wouldn't wear most of their watches in most situations, and, to me, if you can't wear your watch, then what's the point?
I understand if you have a dress watch or a Richard Mille and you don't want to change your oil with it, but if I paid $4k for a Tudor "tool" watch and I had to take it off when I pulled weeds, I would start to wonder what exactly it was that I paid for.
I think the idea is a watch you would use in extreme circumstances. Not a daily but something you wear occasionally when doing extreme sports of heavy building work or similar. Not disposable but a watch that's tough and cheap.
I think the idea is a watch you would use in extreme circumstances. Not a daily but something you wear occasionally when doing extreme sports of heavy building work or similar. Not disposable but a watch that's tough and cheap.
What is an "extreme circumstance" in the modern world? People wore Seikos through wars 50 years ago. What is anybody doing now that would require them to put on a special watch that they "don't care about messing up?" It's contrary to all the marketing we're fed about these watches being made well.
Possibly controversial take: I don't believe in "beaters."
Like - the concept assumes that people wouldn't wear most of their watches in most situations, and, to me, if you can't wear your watch, then what's the point?
I understand if you have a dress watch or a Richard Mille and you don't want to change your oil with it, but if I paid $4k for a Tudor "tool" watch and I had to take it off when I pulled weeds, I would start to wonder what exactly it was that I paid for.
It all depends on the type of watches that you like and how you want to treat them.
I mostly wear vintage yellow gold watches - zero dust or water resistance as the crowns and cases don't even have basic rubber o-rings. They're also total scratch magnets as gold can seem as soft as butter. If I'm caught in a really heavy thunderstorm for more than a few minutes I'll also take a vintage watch off and put it inside my wallet in a breast pocket. Ideally wrapped in a plastic bag if I have one on me.
So for me a range of "beaters" makes sense for the scenarios where the vintage watches are completely inappropriate. Stuff like beaches, watersports, backcountry camping, diy and gardening. I don't deliberately mistreat them, they're just better tools for those jobs. A Casio F91w would also be fine for all those scenarios.
I can also understand why someone who'd bought a beautifully finished Tudor or Grand Seiko would prefer to minimise the scratches it acquires by wearing a beater watch for manual labour.
It all depends on the type of watches that you like and how you want to treat them.
I mostly wear vintage yellow gold watches - zero dust or water resistance as the crowns and cases don't even have basic rubber o-rings. They're also total scratch magnets as gold can seem as soft as butter. If I'm caught in a really heavy thunderstorm for more than a few minutes I'll also take a vintage watch off and put it inside my wallet in a breast pocket. Ideally wrapped in a plastic bag if I have one on me.
So for me a range of "beaters" makes sense for the scenarios where the vintage watches are completely inappropriate. Stuff like beaches, watersports, backcountry camping, diy and gardening. I don't deliberately mistreat them, they're just better tools for those jobs. A Casio F91w would also be fine for all those scenarios.
I can also understand why someone who'd bought a beautifully finished Tudor or Grand Seiko would prefer to minimise the scratches it acquires by wearing a beater watch for manual labour.
Vintage totally makes sense as something you wouldn't want to "test" and I am the same way with my older dress watches (though my 1970's Seiko Turtle I treat harder than anything.) If we're talking modern watches though, I think they should be versatile and adaptable or they really are just an affectation.
Modern watches are adaptable, versatile and will withstand hard wear just fine.
It's entirely personal preference whether you want to treat them hard or keep them pristine.
Live and let live.
🔥
It all depends on the type of watches that you like and how you want to treat them.
I mostly wear vintage yellow gold watches - zero dust or water resistance as the crowns and cases don't even have basic rubber o-rings. They're also total scratch magnets as gold can seem as soft as butter. If I'm caught in a really heavy thunderstorm for more than a few minutes I'll also take a vintage watch off and put it inside my wallet in a breast pocket. Ideally wrapped in a plastic bag if I have one on me.
So for me a range of "beaters" makes sense for the scenarios where the vintage watches are completely inappropriate. Stuff like beaches, watersports, backcountry camping, diy and gardening. I don't deliberately mistreat them, they're just better tools for those jobs. A Casio F91w would also be fine for all those scenarios.
I can also understand why someone who'd bought a beautifully finished Tudor or Grand Seiko would prefer to minimise the scratches it acquires by wearing a beater watch for manual labour.
Exactly
What is an "extreme circumstance" in the modern world? People wore Seikos through wars 50 years ago. What is anybody doing now that would require them to put on a special watch that they "don't care about messing up?" It's contrary to all the marketing we're fed about these watches being made well.
Its a circumstance where you don't wish to risk your daily wear or better watches. Today most armed forces probably wear G-Shocks or other types of beater watches. Basically it's your least cared about or toughest watch and that is obviously different for everyone.
Its a circumstance where you don't wish to risk your daily wear or better watches. Today most armed forces probably wear G-Shocks or other types of beater watches. Basically it's your least cared about or toughest watch and that is obviously different for everyone.
I get what you’re saying, but if if wearing my watch is a “risk” then, for me, it’s that’s not a watch I want to own.