Maybe not the typical question on here. But I am rapidly approaching the end of the academy, and I am considering buying myself a nice watch I can wear on duty as a ‘graduation gift’ to myself.
My question is, how have your watches held up for you on patrol as far as damage and the ilk?
It’ll help me determine a good price point… Aka, nice enough to last, to want to wear everyday, etc. But not so expensive I regret it if something happens to it lol
Comments
I think your are looking for r/gshock
No issues with an Apple Watch. Holds up just fine.
Garmin is always a great option, I’d say none of the gadgets on it are super useful unless you are a game warden or up in the hills a lot. But I’ve had one for two years now I love the look.
Everything breaks. And I mean everything. Now some departments have a policy that if something breaks on duty, they will replace it. Just wouldn’t make that a habit.
I knew guys that wore everything from a $29 Timex up to a $1,700 Marathon. But mostly, G-Shock watches were the watch du jour for the masses.n
If you are afraid of breaking your new, nice watch, with a $120 G-Shock, you can’t go wrong.
Garmin. Broken a couple rubber straps in scuffles but otherwise fine
The most “expensive” watch you should get is like a garmin. Something rugged that can take a beating and definitely waterproof. If its not the rain or water, it will be you washing it because you got something gross on it. I think most guys just had Gshocks or something.
Big dawg I run a Casio like god intended.
Had a few G-Shocks, then stopped wearing a watch and just used my phone.
I wear the same Garmin 245 on and off duty. No issues except had to replace the wrist bands after the watch got torn off in a fight. Definitely get a screen protector too.
Rolex has been just fine. Fights, pursuits, and endless hours of paperwork.
I run the Garmin Tactix 8 with Applied Ballistics (snipery stuff). It’s awesome for everything to include stuff you’ll never do.
Rolex submariner a little worn but over all has held up nicely
I quit wearing a watch on patrol when I started carrying a Motorola V60 flip phone about 2002.
I’ve been a gshock guy. My first one is about 10 years old. Other then replacing the strap due to age. Still works and looks great.
Id lime to get a smart watch, but none of them really do anything for me style wise.
I started with a hardcore Gshock. Then I got a Garmin smart watch for golf, and now wear it 24/7. Works great, And haven’t destroyed one yet after a few years.
https://preview.redd.it/k544x39fncte1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81b9250f2d5f4067c41b763428c6e854edf929a1
Garmin fenix 7. Has it about 3ish years now. Always wear it. It gets abused, scratches all around the outside, but glass is still great. Before this I had one of the Samsung watches that didn’t hold up nearly as well.
Everything still works.
I’ve been wearing a $9 Suunto core knock off I got from Amazon for over 5 years. Wouldn’t you know it’s the only one I haven’t broken or scratched.
I only used 2 watches on duty. The first was a Cassio G shock I bought in late 1983 after I finished the academy. They were pretty new back then and I think it was under 20 bucks. I replaced the band twice and retired it in 2005 after Katrina because the face got banged up pretty good. I used the second one until I retired at the end of 2023 and never replaced that band. The second one was around 40 bucks if I remember correctly. I also used the for scuba diving both on and off the job
G-Shock is the generic choice.
I wear a timex ironman and just replace it every 2 years or so.
I personally wouldn’t spend more than ~$100 as even the highest quality watch will shatter if you land on it wrong.