What is a good military or tactical watch?

The type of watch that is becoming more popular on our site is the military or tactical watch. It is mainly the look and appearance of military watches that make them so popular. But it's not about looks alone. Military watches are also called 'tactical' watches because they have very specific functions to help military or law-enforcement professionals do their important jobs. But what makes a watch truly military or tactical?

It's all in a name

You can often recognize a military watch by its name, for example the Khaki line from Hamilton or the Navy Seal watches from Luminox. They were developed especially for a specific army or navy unit.

We owe the wristwatch as we know it today to soldiers from the First World War. Before that time, almost all men's watches were pocket watches. Of course, in the heat of battle, it wasn't practical to take your watch out of your pocket first. That's why soldiers received mass-produced wristwatches as part of their equipment.After their return home, the soldiers kept wearing their watch and so the wristwatch soon replaced the pocket watch with the general public.

Watches in camouflage 

Military watches usually have a dark, subdued color that matches the uniform of the military unit for which the watch is intended. For example, khaki for the army and black for the Special Forces. They are also often inconspicuous watches that are still easy to read.

In addition, a good tactical watch must be able to withstand a knock and be resistant to water, dust and temperature changes. Also, the movement must be extremely reliable. Any deviation can cause life-threatening situations.

Did you know that many watch functions that we consider normal today have were first developed for military use? For example, the chronograph with tachymeter or the hack function.

How do you recognize a military watch?

Each purpose-built tactical watch meets at least these requirements:

• Non-reflective (camouflage) case in earth colours, brushed steel or black,
• Few external protrusions that can snag on clothing and equipment and protected (screw) crown,
• An unobtrusive dial with high legibility of the indexes and hands,
• High-quality lighting and/or luminescent hands,
• At least 100m (10ATM) water resistance,
• Anti-reflective (sapphire) crystal or plexiglass,
• Shockproof and resistant to magnetism and temperature fluctuations,
• Water-resistant strap made of metal, fabric or rubber that is easily adjustable and protected against loosening,
• Proven military background, (in the past) really used by soldiers.

Whether it is basically a diving watch, pilot watch or outdoor watch; Genuine military watches often have a long history and are extensively tested 'in the field'. That explains the sometimes higher price of these watches.

Shop military watches

Whether you are looking for a practical watch with a military background or have simply fallen for the rugged style, you can find our complete collection of military watches here.