Jamie Weiss
Wristwatches generally serve one main purpose: telling the time. Some show the time in other parts of the world, some show how fast something is moving, or some simply show the current time in a very attractive way. Since the first wristwatch, one of the limits that has always been pushed is durability. Humans, by nature, also push themselves harder and harder. We like to climb the highest mountains, dive into the deepest parts of the ocean, and even fly into space, and we like to take our watches with us at all times. In all of these adventures, you need something durable; something that will perform the basic function of telling the time even when exposed to the harshest conditions. Here are some suggestions, most of which are affordable and won’t strain your wallet.
Casio G-Shock GW-9400Y-1ER Rangeman
This isn’t a surprise; you can’t have a tough watch list without a G-Shock, right? So we’ve chosen perhaps the toughest G-Shock of all: the Rangeman, worn by Chris Hemsworth in Extraction, and more importantly, on the wrists of real-life tough guys. It’s not just a tough-looking watch; it’s also the watch of the modern explorer, and the Rangeman comes equipped with a full toolkit of technical gear for those traversing uncharted territory.
With an altimeter, compass function, temperature and air pressure readings, it’s ready for any situation, wherever you go. And it’s solar powered, so you’ll never have to worry about running out of battery. In terms of overall ruggedness, it doesn’t get any tougher than this, with a hollow core guard construction for shock and vibration resistance and a durable resin outer shell. Honestly, any G-Shock is a good choice. G-Shock is the do-it-all watch we know and love, with unparalleled shock resistance, durability, best-in-class features, and for the price, it’s nearly unbeatable. Price: $330 USD
Seiko Prospex SNJ025 “Arnie”
A faithful reproduction of the cult-favorite Seiko H558-5000, the Seiko Prospex SNJ025 “Arnie” pays homage to the famous Hollywood watch while bringing it into the 21st century with some nice quality-of-life updates. Though he favors AP and Panerai these days, this chunky Seiko was worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in several blockbusters, notably Predator and Commando.
Keeping the chunky 47.8mm case with the same prominent case guards and ana-digi layout, this modern Ernie now comes equipped with a solar-powered movement, a full auto-calendar accurate until the year 2100, LED backlight, alarm and power-saving features. The H851 caliber is accurate to ±15 seconds per month and will run for six months on a full charge, or up to 23 months in power-saving mode. It’s big, it’s tough, it’s extremely capable, and it’s a watch worthy of pop culture. Price: $525
Luminox Navy Seals 3502.L
It’s no secret that elite special forces put themselves through some of the toughest conditions, but arguably the toughest of them all are the U.S. Navy SEALs. They’re known for their tenacity and extraordinary levels of training in the toughest conditions, so it makes sense that they have the right watches for the job. Working directly with the Special Forces, in 1992 Luminox developed a watch that was tough enough to withstand the harsh conditions and serve them well in nighttime missions.
The Luminox Navy SEAL 3502.L is the company’s best-selling tough watch, with a massive 45mm case (that would seem small to most burly Navy SEALs) and made from durable, lightweight Carbonox material. The black and white dial offers great daytime visibility, but at night it benefits from tritium lume, which, unlike glow-in-the-dark pigments like Superluminova, glows continuously without needing to be “charged” for up to 25 years. Inside is a basic but reliable Swiss-made quartz Ronda movement. This watch doesn’t need to be flashy; it just needs to be durable, accurate, and reliable. Most Navy SEALs will get wet from time to time, so the Luminox has made it water resistant to 200 meters. Price: $595 USD
Victorinox INOX Carbon Mechanical
Best known as the makers of the original Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox also makes Swiss watches, with the INOX being one of their best. First launched in 2014 to celebrate the brand’s 130th anniversary, the INOX took seven years to develop from the ground up, and Victorinox put the watch through 130 of the most rigorous tests imaginable. Although originally released in steel, Victorinox now offers the INOX in a carbon fiber composite case, making it one of the best value carbon fiber watches on the market.
Speaking of value, the INOX Carbon is available with either a quartz or automatic movement; we chose to feature the latter. Inside is a Sellita SW200-1 movement, which even comes with a caseback, which is surprising considering how much abuse this watch can withstand. During testing, the INOX was dropped from a height of 10 meters onto hard ground to test its shock resistance, attached to an Olympic bobsled and dropped down one of the fastest tracks, subjected to extreme vibration, and even run over by a 64-ton military tank. The best part is that Victorinox is selling it bundled with a Swiss Army knife and a Pelican-style case. Price: USD 1,310
Marathon Anthracite GSAR 41mm
Marathon’s SAR (Search and Rescue) watches were first introduced in the 1990s and are still in use today. Issued to government officials and operatives in the United States and Canada, they are manufactured to military standards. These Swiss-made diver’s watches are available in 36, 41, and 46mm sizes and are built to be extremely tough. First released in 2018, this model features a black 316L steel case with anti-reflective ion plating and is designed for tactical night missions. This coating gives the watch a stealthy anthracite look and also makes the watch more durable and robust.
The bezel is also ion-plated and machined thick enough to be operated even with thick gloves on, as is the oversized crown. It also has tritium lume, is powered by a Sellita SW200-1, and is water resistant to 300m, making it a serious diver’s watch. You can even get a watch that is completely unarmed and has “US Government” engraved on the dial, just like military issue. Price: $1,800 USD
Sinn U50 Hydro Tegiment
German brand Sinn is best known for its instrument watches (particularly those supplied to German emergency services and special forces) and their TEGIMENT case hardening technology, which significantly improves the scratch resistance of watch cases. Essentially, Sinn uses low temperatures to diffuse carbon into the surface of a few microns of the watch case, gradually creating a layer of scratch-resistant material. The advantage of a TEGIMENT case is that it is chemically part of the watch, rather than a coating that can peel off or deteriorate over time.
One of Sinn’s latest models, the U50 Hydro Tegiment, combines a German submarine steel case with Tegiment technology with another revolutionary technology: Hydro. Sinn Hydro watches have a case filled with oil, which significantly increases their water resistance and pressure resistance. The U50 Hydro Tegiment can withstand diving depths of up to 5,000 meters. Thanks to the oil, all Hydro watches are quartz-powered. If you’re looking for a tough watch, nothing beats the reliability of quartz. The oil prevents fogging and makes the watch easy to read from any angle. Ultra-tough case, extreme water resistance, easy to read… what more could you ask for in a tough watch? Price: USD 3,190
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL
Well, now we have something completely different: the IWC Big Pilot’s Watch is already a pretty tough watch, but the experimental Big Pilot’s Watch Shock Absorber XPL takes that performance up to 11. Released in 2021 and eight years in the making, the Shock Absorber XPL features a unique construction in which the watch’s movement is suspended within the case by what IWC calls the SPRIN-g PROTECT system, which uses a cantilever spring made from bulk metallic glass (BMG).
As a result, the Shock Absorber XPL is one of the most shock-resistant watches on the market. Shock tests conducted at Cambridge University’s Cavendish Laboratory have proven that the movement can withstand accelerations of over 30,000 g. By comparison, the maximum g experienced in a bad car accident is around 200 g. Other notable features include a Ceratanium case with rubber case guards and a movement with a 5-day power reserve. This is a total overkill watch, but it’s also very cool and very sturdy. Price: USD 87,000
