Looking for a new watch? The military watch is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. They’re big, bold, and look good on your wrist. And they come with numerous functions. Although marketed as a military watch, you don’t need to be in the military, or into extreme sports such as diving or mountain biking, to wear one of these watches. A military watch is perfect when you want accurate timekeeping with a few extra features, such as a chronograph function, compass, or being able to tell 24-hour military time.
There’s no bling and shine in military tactical watches. They’re stylish and minimalist, with large watch cases big enough to accommodate all the unique features. We’ve reviewed some of the best military watches on the market. When you’re looking for a watch that inspires confidence, the military style watch is the perfect choice.
When you’re looking for a new watch for yourself, or as a gift for someone else, our list of Top 10 Best Military Watches can help making the decision buying easier. You’ll find watches on our list that have all the features you’re looking for…at the right price.
- The 10 Best Military Watches
- Casio Men’s G-Shock Military Series Watch
- Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Watch
- Fanmis Men’s Military Watch
- Timex Men’s T42571 Expedition
- Casio DW-9052-1CCG Military Watch
- Casio EAW-MRW-200H-1BV
- Timex Men’s Expedition Scout 40 Watch
- Casio Men’s GD100-1BCR Watch
- Timex Men’s Expedition Field
- Suunto Core Military Watch
- Military Watch Buyer’s Guide
- Conclusion
- Expert Tip
- Did you Know
The 10 Best Military Watches
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Casio Men’s G-Shock Military Series Watch
G-Shock watches are great timepieces – and this Casio Men’s watch is at the top of the list. Designed to withstand both vibrations and mechanical shock, this watch will go anywhere you take it. The stainless-steel watch case ensures durability and strength in the Casio. You’ll love the big size of this watch – at 50mm it’s just the right size for the multiple features, yet not big so it gets in the way of any activities.
The resin watch band is just as durable as the watch and has a buckle closure so there’s no risk of it falling off. The reason we like resin watches -they’re comfortable and lightweight – an important feature for a heavier military watch.
We like that this watch isn’t just functional, you can wear it anywhere, not just when you’re outdoors or doing sports. And the electroluminescent back light is ideal for telling time both day and night.
| Display Type | Analog and Digital |
| Water Resistant | 200m |
Pros
- Tough and durable
- Multiple features
- Shock resistant
- G-Shock watch
- 10 yr. battery
Cons
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Watch
Military watch and smart watch in one? That’s exactly what the Samsung Gear Frontier watch is all about. With this watch you can call, text, and get phone notifications, just like you can with your smartphone. The bezel dial on the Samsung is classy and easy to use, letting you use a bunch of apps. You’ll be able to customize this watch – both the watch band and the watch face can be swapped out to suit your style.
Be prepared though, with so many different designs and colors available, you’ll have a hard time making a choice. Built for toughness and durability, you’ll be smiling when you’re wearing this military watch…and checking your messages while you’re hiking a rugged trail.
When you’re wearing the Samsung Frontier, you can keep your phone in your pocket! Not many people wear watches anymore to tell time. We like that this military watch is giving timepieces the comeback.
| Display Type | Digital |
| Water Resistant | No |
Pros
- Built in GPS
- Health app included
- Military and smart watch in one
- Compatible with iOS and Android smartphones
Cons
Fanmis Men’s Military Watch
Don’t let the casual style of this Fanmis watch fool you. It’s a military watch at its best. The many functions make it ideal for the outdoor player, including a compass, barometer, altimeter, and even a thermometer. One more cool feature to mention: it will even provide you with a weather forecast!
The Fanmis comes with a durable black silicone watch strap – it’s tough while still being soft and comfortable to wear. The watch face is just as durable, protected by a shield of mineral crystal. If you’re buying the Fanmis as a gift for someone else, be prepared. You might just want to keep it for yourself.
The military design of the Fanmis can’t be beat. It’s looks great on your wrist whether you’re in the office or doing any number of outdoor sports. We like the pedometer feature, perfect for runners who track their time and running speed.
| Display Type | Digital |
| Water Resistant | 30m |
Pros
- Shock and water proof
- Includes stopwatch and countdown
- Keeps 12 and 24 hour time
Cons
Timex Men’s T42571 Expedition
Timex has been building watches for years. And there’s a reason for that. They know how to produce top quality watches that look good and keep time accurately. The Timex Men’s T42571 Expedition is perfect for men who are looking for a military style watch.
The Arabic numerals on the watch face are big and bold, easy to read when you’re on the go. Made with durable and quality materials, and with a scratch resistant mineral glass face, you’ll have this Timex for years to come.
It’s a good thing whenever you can buy a watch and change its appearance simply by using interchangeable straps. You can choose from fabric straps to plastic to leather, all with straps that are quick release. We love how affordable these straps are, so you can buy more than one and have a few to choose from.
| Display Type | Analog |
| Water Resistant | 30m |
Pros
- Uses Indiglo back light technology
- Beautiful silver tone coloring
- Interchangeable watch band straps
- Includes 24 hour military time
Cons
Casio DW-9052-1CCG Military Watch
This Casio military watch is tough and durable, and built to last. It comes with more features than you’ll be able to use -stopwatch, countdown timer, an auto-repeat function, and an auto calendar. If you’re looking for a watch that can stand up to everything you throw at it, this is the one for you.
The resin strap is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. And the watch itself is lightweight despite being a fully packed military watch. This military watch gets a lot of great reviews. And we agree. It’s top of the line when it comes to affordability in a men’s tactical digital watches.
This Casio is really easy to use – you won’t need to get out the instruction manual for this military watch. We like how practical this watch is and how stylish it looks. It’s perfect for work or play.
| Display Type | Digital |
| Water Resistant | 200m |
Pros
- Water and shock resistant
- Great looking and affordable
- Both 12 and 24 hour timekeeping
- Auto calendar to 2039
- G-Shock
Cons
Casio EAW-MRW-200H-1BV
If you’re looking for a sporty military wrist watch that’s water resistant, stop looking right here. The Casio has a 44mm watch face and features large, luminous hands and markers to help you tell time easily. Some military watches are too heavy. Not so with this Casio – at 39g it’s lightweight to wear all day.
The stainless-steel watch case fits snuggly and slimly on your wrist, so it doesn’t get caught in clothing. You won’t have to worry about damaging this watch. The mineral crystal watch face ensures protection from scraps and scratches. And let’s not forget about the style of this military watch. The matte black color is appealing and stylish.
You’ll be able to wear this Casio for all kinds of water sports, such as swimming, surfing, sailing, and snorkeling. The rotating bezel dial is bidirectional, so it’s easy to use even when you’re in the water.
| Display Type | Analog |
| Water Resistant | 100m |
Pros
- Ideal for water sports
- Rotating bezel dial
- Includes a date and day display
- Japanese quartz movement
Cons
Timex Men’s Expedition Scout 40 Watch
Classiness in a military watch, that’s the Timex Expedition Scout. This is a solid watch that delivers a lot of quality and functions for the price. Featuring bold Arabic numbers on the 12 and 24 line, these markings are easy to read during the day. And in the dark you can use the Indiglo back light to see clearly.
Timex is known for always being accurate when it comes to telling time, and the quartz movement on the Scout is a great testament of this accuracy. Fashionable without being at all flashy or pretentious, you’ll look good wearing this watch.
This Timex is a smart and snappy military watch. We love how great it looks when you’re wearing it. It’s available in numerous different watch faces and watch straps, so you’ll be able to come up with a color combination that matches your mood.
| Display Type | Analog |
| Water Resistant | 50m |
Pros
- Genuine leather watch strap
- Both 12 and 24 hour markings
- Chronograph functions
- Mineral glass watch face
Cons
Casio Men’s GD100-1BCR Watch
A men’s military watch not only needs to have timekeeping features and functions, it needs to look great as well. You’ll find that in this Casio watch. The black watch strap goes well with the black matte watch case. When you need accurate time, the Casio never fails to keep up with accuracy.
It also comes with five separate alarms for you to set throughout the day. With a 7 year battery you won’t have to worry about running out of power. This is the ideal military watch when you want a great quality watch but don’t want to spend too much.
The negative display of this Casio is easy to read – the black background of the watch face nicely highlights the digital display. We like the slick look of this military watch, it’s just the right size on your wrist without looking too bold and attention-grabbing.
| Display Type | Digital |
| Water Resistant | 200m |
Pros
- Comes with five different alarms
- Calendar display up to 2099
- Digital G-Shock
- Automatic LED back light
- 7 yr. battery
Cons
Timex Men’s Expedition Field
The Expedition Field watch is a classic outdoor watch that has a simple and reserved style. The black steel watch case is tough and hard-wearing. The watch face itself is protected by crystal glass, making it resistant to scratches and scraps. And the crystal is coated with an anti-reflective filter so even in direct sunlight there’s no glare on the watch dial. The Expedition Field isn’t just for timekeeping – there’s a 30-minute chronograph movement.
This watch is easy to set, without a lot of instruction. Just pull out the crown and turn clockwise to set the time. Then set the date, followed by the chronograph setting. And you’re ready to go. This is the perfect timepiece for anyone wanting Timex tactical watches that have a classy look to it.
The soft leather watch strap on the Expedition Field military watch is pliable and super comfortable to wear. It molds nicely to your wrist, keeping the watch nice and snug so it doesn’t interfere with any clothing you’re wearing.
| Display Type | Analog |
| Water Resistant | 50m |
Pros
- Chronograph movement
- Indiglo back light for night vision
- Genuine leather watch band
- Accurate quartz movement
Cons
Suunto Core Military Watch
Great outdoor watches with a military style don’t get much better than this Suunto Core watch. It’s the kind of outdoor watch that you take with you no matter where you go or what the conditions are. The Suunto watch comes complete with a compass that includes information about the weather, a barometer, and an altimeter.
Made with rigid stainless-steel, the watch case is solid yet lightweight. The sapphire crystal glass makes it even more durable. When you’re ready to start exploring the great outdoors, you know you’re ready for this military watch.
With the Suunto watch, you can choose from a stainless-steel or aluminum case. We like how great they both look. We also like the comfortable elastomer watch strap that adds even appeal.
| Display Type | Digital |
| Water Resistant | 50m |
Pros
- Tough and durable
- Stainless-steel or aluminum case
- Elastomer watch strap
Cons
Military Watch Buyer’s Guide
So, you want to buy a military watch? But just what exactly is a military watch and what should you be looking for when you buy one? Military watches are all about functionality. And they look like they mean business without any elegant slim, features. Just a few years ago, military watches were considered to be outdoor watches that were worn with precision and accuracy in mind.
Now they’ve become popular not just for all the unique features they have, but also for their durability and their style. Let’s take a look at some of the top features you’ll find in some top quality military watches.
Durable and Resilient
Made from stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium, military watches are highly durable. If it’s in your budget, titanium watches are ideal for withstanding all kinds of weather conditions. Most of the straps on military watches are durable as well, made from leather or nylon.
Night Vision
Top rated military watches come with night vision. Using H3 tritium technology, you’ll be able to read your watch even on the darkest night.
Run on Solar Power
Many military watches run on solar power rather than a battery. And they can work for up to 4 months before needing to be charged.
Water Resistant
These days most watches have some level of water resistance. Top quality military watches are resistant for up to 300 feet, which makes them ideal for diving and extreme water sports.
Sensor Functions
If you’re into outdoor sports and activities, you might find that the sensors on a military watch come in handy. Some sensor functions include an altimeter, barometer, and compass.
Accuracy of Keeping Time
Quartz or automatic time movement…military watches are available in both. Quartz is more ideal if you rely on the accuracy of time, as automatic watches will lose seconds each day.
Chronograph Function
Many tactile military watches have up to 4 sub dials, providing extra precision and timing. This chronograph function is a great feature if you’re a runner and need to track multiple times.
Bigger Watch Case
You’ll find that the watch case size on military watches is bigger than other watch styles – most military watches will be 42mm and larger. One of the reasons for this is to accommodate all the functions and sub dials. Another reason for the bigger size is so that the numbers are larger and easier to see in all types of light and weather conditions.
Large Numerals
The numerals on military watches are large and readable. For analog watches, the numbers are usually big, black, and bold. As well, there may be smaller numerals for telling time according to 24 hour military time.
Types of Military Watches
You’ll be able to find great military watches wherever time pieces are sold. Different brands and different styles, we can break military watches down into three main types.
Heavy and Durable Military Watches
These heavy-duty watches have a lot of features and functions, all the way from G-Shock watches to those that can tell you what direction you’re driving.
Pilot Military Watches
Pilot watches have big, readable dials. They’re resistant to atmospheric pressure, which is why many pilots own this type of watch.
Field Military Watches
Of all the military watches, the field watch is the slimmest and often most stylish. The dials on these watches are simple, with multiple dials providing all kinds of timely information.
Brand Name Military Watches
There are some superior military watch manufacturers whose names you’ll easily recognize – Bell and Ross, Casio, Timex, Samsung, and Marathon Watch Company. When buying a military watch the first thing to watch for is if you’re buying a genuine watch from one of these manufacturers. If you don’t know what you’re looking for you may be convinced to buy a watch of lesser quality just because the price is right.
Know how to tell a fake watch from the real thing. For a watch to be marketed as a military watch it needs to be extremely durable and scratch resistant. What else should you be looking for?
Compare Military Watch Brands
Take the time to compare brand names and look at the quality of each. Some watch makers, such as Casio, produce stylish military watches of great quality. Timex watches are great quality as well, but their style is uniquely different from Casio. Decide what features you’re looking for in your watch and then take the time to compare brands and styles.
Quick Tips for Military Watches
Our buying guide has everything you need to know about buying a military watch. Let’s sum it up with some final tips for buying the perfect watch:
- Ensure that it’s water resistant to at least 50m.
- For durability and strength, it should be scratch resistant.
- Check for shock resistance if you’re going to wear it when doing sports and other activities.
- Do you need it to be Bluetooth enabled?
- Are you looking for a watch made with quartz or high quality sapphire crystal for precise accuracy?
- Are you looking for digital or analog?
- Choose all the functions you need, such as a thermometer, an alarm, a tachymeter, or a compass.
Conclusion
Shopping for a new watch can sometimes be a little overwhelming and confusing. You have to decide what type of watch you want and what style. Then you have to determine what features you want and need. And then there’s the price. How much can you spend on a good watch without going over budget?
If you have the answers to these questions, watch buying can go from frustrating to fun. You’ll know exactly what you’re looking for and start reading reviews from other shoppers. If you’ve narrowed down your choice to a military watch, there are some unique features that you’ll still need to choose from. Military watches can go from simple to utterly complex.
Don’t let this stop you from finding the right military watch. Our list of Top 10 Best Military Watches can help you find the right watch for you. We’ve reviewed watches with simple dials and watches that have more features than you’ll know what to do with. It doesn’t matter what type of military watch you’re looking for, you’ll find one on our list.
Expert Tip
If you’re going to be wearing your military watch when you’re near or on the water, be sure to choose a watch that has a water resistance of at least 50m.
Did you Know
During War II, military watches were extremely popular, for good reason. British watch makers, such as Omega, Jaeger, and Rolex, were almost unable to keep up with the demand.If you liked our article on military watches, please share and comment below what your favorite product is.
