The Best Field Watches of 2024
Field watches are perhaps the least understood category of tool watches, partially because there are no precise requirements. The first versions were pocket watches converted to wrist pieces by soldiers in the trenches and on the battlefield during the first World War—grunts had a hard time trying to pluck a watch from inside their jackets while aiming down a barrel.
By WWII, the wristwatch had become an essential piece of frontline gear and a number of makers around the world were creating simple, functional pieces specifically for military use, which is a tradition that continues to this day. That's why the Rolex Explorer is our best overall pick for the best field watch—it's one of the most rugged and capable timepieces ever made.
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Best Overall Field Watch: Rolex Explorer
Probably the most important quality in a field watch is reliability, something the Rolex Explorer has in spades. The bidirectional self-winding 3230 movement is accurate to -2 and +2 seconds per day and is protected from impact by high performance shock absorbers. The Explorer is available in both 36mm and 40mm sizes and like the other Rolex professional models, the Oystersteel case and bracelet are highly corrosion resistant. It will keep on keeping even in the toughest of environments. All in all, it's one of the most rugged, capable timepieces ever made and perhaps the ultimate go anywhere, do anything watch.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Rolex 3230
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 36mm, 40mm
STRAP: Stainless-steel bracelet
Best Automatic Field Watch: Tudor Ranger
Sure, Tudor’s Black Bay banks more hype but don’t sleep on the Ranger. It’s a boss-level field watch from the house of Wilsdorf. Want to go swimming? No problem, it’s good for 100 meters, which is deeper than most of us will ever go. The self-winding, in-house MT5402 caliber is good for 70 hours on the nightstand and it comes with a five-year warranty, just like big brother Rolex. Trust us, it’s handy. While field watches aren’t typically worn on a bracelet, Tudor makes a great one. We’d buy it that way and throw it on a strap when we head into the great outdoors.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Tudor MT5402
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 39mm
STRAP: Nylon, leather, stainless-steel bracelet
Best Heirloom Field Watch: Weiss 42mm Standard Field Watch
Made in the U.S., Weiss’s field watch is built to last. The company mills each case from individual blocks of 316L stainless steel and every dial is machined from a solid piece of naval brass, then painted by hand. The face is protected by a double-domed and anti-reflective sapphire crystal. A second crystal on the back allows the wearer a peek at the manual wind Weiss Watch Company Caliber 1001 mechanical movement, a modified ETA 6497 that is finished and assembled by hand. It’s a simple, understated piece that wears equally well with a suit and tie or jeans and a T-shirt.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: ETA 6497
DIAL: Black, White, Sand, Blue
SIZE: 42mm
STRAP: Canvas, leather
Best Military-Style Field Watch: Christopher Ward C65 Sandhurst Bronze Series 2
The cool thing about bronze is that it will develop a unique patina over time whether you wear it hiking through the woods or camped out at your office desk. Christopher Ward got the sign off from the British Ministry of Defense for this 38mm tribute to the 1969 Smiths W10 field watch of yore. The updated piece features arrow hands coated in gold and filled with Super-LumiNova while old radium BL grade X1 lume is applied to the indexes and dots above the Arabic numerals as well as the triangle at 12 o’clock. Inside beats a Swiss-made, chronometer-certified version of the Sellita SW200-1, which means it’s good for a 0 and +5 seconds per day variance. A screw down crown helps give the watch 150 meters of water resistance and the back is stamped with the British Army’s logo.
CASE: Bronze
MOVEMENT: Sellita SW200-1
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 38mm
STRAP: Canvas
Best Elegant Field Watch: H. Moser and Cie Heritage Centre Seconds
The H. Moser Heritage Centre Seconds manages to evoke the vibe of a first generation of utilitarian wrist watch but with a healthy dose of elegance and panache. The case, crown and wire-style lugs are clearly inspired by early 20th century converted pocket watches, as are the thick Arabic numerals. But for added depth those numbers are applied in three dimensional "Globolight," a ceramic infused with Super-LumiNova for long lasting low-light legibility. The 42mm stainless-steel case houses a time only, in-house movement that spins the hands around a stunning blue fumé dial. All in all it’s a sophisticated, luxurious take on the iconic tool watch style.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: HMC 200
DIAL: Blue
SIZE: 42mm
STRAP: Leather
Best EDC Field Watch: Hamilton Khaki Field Watch
Hamilton makes their archetypical Khaki Field Watch in both 42mm and the more traditional 38mm size. Either way it’s one of the coolest watches in the brand’s catalog. Both feature a classic dial design and hand-wound, time-only movement that is good for around 80 hours with a fully charged mainspring. The stainless-steel case and sapphire crystal combination yield 50 meters of water resistance. You get the choice of nylon NATO, leather strap or bracelet. We’d go with the bracelet, which goes against the grain with field watches. But NATO straps are cheap and good bracelets at this price point are hard to find.
CASE: Stainless steel
MOVEMENT: Hamilton H-50
DIAL: Black, white
SIZE: 38mm, 42mm
STRAP: Nylon, leather, stainless-steel bracelet
Best Field Watch for Pilots: Zenith Pilot Automatic
There’s a good deal of overlap in the requirements for field and pilot watches. Both need to be able to take a fair bit of abuse while still telling the time accurately and consistently. They both also need to be easy to read, day or night. The Zenith Pilot Automatic checks those boxes and more. The black ceramic case and black corrugated dial are stealthy while the large Arabic numerals and hands are painted in white for high contrast. They’re also chalked full of lume for when the daylight fades. Powered by the high-frequency, automatic El Primero 3620 movement, the Pilot Automatic is water resistant to 100 meters and comes with two Cordura-effect rubber straps—one in black and second in khaki. So it will look the part whether you’re in the trees or sitting behind the controls at 30,000 feet.
CASE: Ceramic
MOVEMENT: El Primero 3620
DIAL: Black
SIZE: 40mm
STRAP: Rubber
More Field Watches We Love
What Is a Field Watch?
Field watches are essentially tough as nails and easy to read. Most examples deploy large numbers and hands coated in luminous paint for low light visibility. Another key feature is a stop-seconds function for synchronizing with others or against a reference time ala an atomic clock. Some display a 24-hour ring for tracking military (a.k.a. Zulu) time. Typically, they don’t offer delicate complications (extra functions) since they can be easily damaged and difficult to repair.
It’s that simplicity coupled with their rugged, utilitarian nature as well as their minimalist design that make field watches great for wearing day to day, whether you’re climbing a via ferrata or just hiking off to work.
So, for anyone looking for a great field watch to add to their collection, here are 10 of our favorite options to consider.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been collecting watches for nearly as long as I’ve been able to tell time. Around the age of 10, I started disassembling pocket watches to see what makes them tick. Today, I feel naked if I accidentally leave the house without a watch on my wrist—so I’ll go back and get one. (Is it horology or is it OCD, only my shrink knows for sure.) Currently my cache includes a variety of vintage and contemporary pieces from micro brands to G-Shock. Most days I wear an Explorer II (Ref. 226570) but my grandmother’s Mickey Mouse watch will always be my favorite.
