Physically demanding jobs require durable watches that can handle more than the usual daily wear and tear. If you’re in the market for a tough and rugged watch, check out this selection of the most durable watches out there.
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The Most Durable Watches for Men and Women – Under $100
When it comes to having a reputation for indestructibility, few watches can beat the Casio G-SHOCK. It’s the watch of choice for countless EMTs, police officers, firefighters, healthcare workers, and military members all over the world. It’s a reliable and affordable timepiece that’s perfectly suited for physically demanding jobs.
Casio G-SHOCK Digital Dial Black Resin – Most Durable Men’s Watch
You can’t beat the iconic Casio G-SHOCK when it comes to tough, durable men’s watches. The story goes that in 1981, the head of watch design at Casio, Kikuo Ibe was inspired to design a strong wristwatch after one given to him by his father fell on the ground and broke. This famously durable watch features a 46 mm case and band made with tough, easy-to-clean resin and scratch-resistant mineral crystal on the watch face. Functions include auto calendar, hourly time signal, countdown timer, daily alarm, 1/100th second stopwatch, 12 or 24 H format, and backlight. Shock-resistant and water-resistant to 200 meters.
Casio G-SHOCK Rose Gold-Tone Dial Unisex – Most Durable Unisex Watch
Get the durability and toughness G-SHOCK is known for in a stylish cream-and-rose-gold design. This shock-resistant analog-digital watch features luminous rose gold hands on a rose gold watch face along with two digital windows to display the day and date. Other functions include a countdown timer, stopwatch, 5 daily alarms, hourly time signal, and 12 or 24 H format. The resin case and strap and scratch-resistant mineral crystal are made to withstand tough situations. Water resistant up to 200 meters.
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Most Durable Luxury Watches: Our Top Picks
Citizen Promaster Dive
For a watch that’s stylish as it is durable, check out the Citizen Promaster Dive line. Using Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, this analog watch is sustainably powered by any light source, eliminating the need for batteries. The 44 mm case is made of silver-tone stainless steel and it comes with a durable polyurethane strap with buckle closure. Hands and time markers are luminous for low-light conditions. With impact-resistant, shatter-resistant, and anti-reflective mineral crystal and water resistance rating of up to 200 meters, this watch can take daily wear and tear and still look great.
Citizen
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Bulova Hack Watch
Bulova’s military-inspired field watch comes with a green leather NATO strap for extra security on the wrist and a round, easy-to-read black watch face with luminescent hands and time markers, and 24 H markers. The 38 mm case is made of gray stainless steel and the glass is scratch-resistant domed mineral crystal, plus the watch has a water-resistant rating of 30 meters. Automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
Bulova
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Luminox Bear Grylls Survival ECO
The collaboration between Luminox and Bear Grylls, a survival expert and former SAS soldier, has produced a line of truly durable men’s watches made for outdoor adventures. It proves that a timepiece can put up with a lot and still have a ton of personality. The durable materials include a 42 mm case made from ocean waste with stainless steel backing, a genuine rubber strap with a steel buckle, and a hardened mineral crystal glass face. Other features: Swiss quartz movement for precision, luminescent watch hands and markers to tell the time in the dark, rotating bezel, and water resistance to 200 meters.
Luminox
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Timex IRONMAN Original 30 Shock Full-Size Resin Strap Watch
The iconic IRONMAN from Timex is a stylish and functional digital watch that’s one of the most durable watches on the market. Shock-resistant and water-resistant up to 200 meters, the 42 mm case and strap are made of resin and the display uses scratch-resistant mineral glass crystal. Features include a stopwatch, timer, lap counter, alarm, two time-zone settings, plus INDIGLO Night-Light with Night Mode. It’s a fun, affordable watch that’s easy to wear and comes with a lot of useful features you can only find in a digital watch.
Timex
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FAQs
What watch do the Navy SEALs wear?
Luminox has produced watches for the Navy SEALs for several years and currently sells a line called “Original Navy SEAL” to the public. But there is no “official” watch that every SEAL wears, and you can find SEALs wearing Casio G-SHOCKs, Seikos, and other durable watches.
Are mechanical watches durable?
The mechanism of a mechanical watch can be considered durable because it can last for decades if taken care of. However, a lot of factors contribute to a watch’s overall durability, including construction and materials.
Which watch lasts longer, quartz or mechanical?
Both kinds of watches can last for decades with proper care. That said, quartz is cheaper and is often used in more affordable watches, which may not last as long due to construction and materials compared to more expensive mechanical watches that are built to last.
Erin Danly is a freelance writer whose work focuses on marketing content and verbal branding for B2B and B2C clients. Before turning to writing, she was a pastry chef and a psychology lab manager at Columbia University. Erin lives with her family in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
