Ain’t owned a watch for years but thinking of buying something robust for out and about. Surrounded by Omega Geeks at work and don’t wanna pay Seamaster cash but would consider something around the £150 mark. Liking the G-Shocks with the auto updating time, tilty light but there is a big cost range. Heard that the resin straps can be cack so that bothers me a bit.
Must be very scratch resistant, very waterproof and digital as opposed to analogue display.
Any suggestions.

Yup G-Shock is the watch for you, I’ve had one for 8 years. Still on the original battery and strap. I wear it for everything but best (I’m also an omega geek!). I’ll have another G-Shock if this one ever dies.

Chatforumtrackworld

I have a couple of nice watches yet I’m strangely fond of my casio plastic watch bought it for using on the bike and never had a problem with it.

Can’t go wrong with an Ironman
Then see if you can find a UK supplier for a much better strap

Had mine for at least 10 years – it’s been scuba diving many times, and everywhere I’ve been on my bike.

(then you can send me what you saved from your £150)

Cheers, want it for when I ride my bike so it counts in bike forum, pedantrackworld;)

It would appear that Nato Straps are the same as the Waterborne ones
Fitting them is not intuitive, so see this video

And make sure you get the correct width strap for the watch.

I have this one

http://www.firstclasswatches.co.uk/casio-g-shock-pilots-watch-gw-3000b-1aer-p-6426.html?utm_campaign=Google+Product+Search&utm_medium=base&utm_source=google&correct_country=222&gclid=CNDqx5aO_b8CFaHacgodR3AA8w

It’s survived several crashes, I swim in it and it is always the correct time plus it never needs a battery change. 🙂

Ok, so it’s £30 over budget, but what about a Suunto Core?
Looks a bit nice than a G-shock IMHO..

clicky thingy

Why not an Omega? We all pay silly money for bike bits and watches like that dont depreciate like a stone unlike bikes.

I spent a while looking for a G-Shock I liked for everyday use – in the end I went for this…

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Casio-G-Shock-DW-5600MS-1-DW-5600MS-Multi-function-Alarm-Watch-Brand-New-/231286515688?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&hash=item35d9c027e8

Cheap, digital and waterproof.

i thought this was the standard STW watch…

jam bo, what is it?

OP is the watch for everything or mostly riding?

Must be very scratch resistant,

Avoid anything made by citizen. Really good watches but the crystals are comically scratch prone.

the catchily named seiko snda57p1

You can’t really go wrong with a G-Shock.

I have three, one getting on for 15 years old, and I have had no issues with straps degrading or splitting.
If comfort is the worry get one with wings that give a nice angle between the watch and strap – super comfy.

The casings can get “resin rot” but thats only an issue on really old watches.

Good place to start:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f43/start-here-choosing-your-g-shock-850524.html

My current everyday watch is a GW7900-1ER, ticks all the boxes for me, chunky, tough solar, auto update, countdown timer and stopwatch.

For completeness in this kind of thread, may I add:

Cheap, light, slim, waterproof, accurate. The perfect cycling watch. not as (obviously) robust as a G-Shock, but then they’re so slim that they don’t catch/whack on anything anyway.

Wear this one when doing sporty stuff, and spend the change on something more aestetically pleasing (‘cos lets face it, G-Shocks are ugly) for socialising/work/whatever.

I really like the 5600, 5610 variants of the G-Shock probably because I had one when I was 12. I probably wouldn’t bother with radio time setting and go for a standard version.

Link

Slight aside, does anyone wearing a watch these days also go anywhere without their smartphone?

Good place to start:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f43/start-here-choosing-your-g-shock-850524.html

Blimey!

-1 for the Suunto Core.

Mine is about 2 years old now and has a bank of faulty buttons – I can turn the light on on the face but any of the buttons to the right are un-responsive, so come the next time I need to update the time it’ll be worthless.

Shame really as I love the styling of it.

And yeah. my smartphone tells the time, but I don’t have it strapped to my wrist like you do Malvern Rider 😉

I understand the comments about buying something nice like the Omega but can’t justify spending £1500 on a watch and buckets of cash on bikes as well.
Liking the Suunto and will have a read up on it, looks really good piece of kit and different which is also appealing.
Watch is for wearing at work, on the bike, dag walking, camping etc so needs to be robust, waterproof etc. don’t need altimeters, temperature, stopwatch etc.
The G Shock GR-8900A-1ER seems excellent value and I can get it for less than £70, down from £120, swaying towards that one at the moment.

And yeah. my smartphone tells the time, but I don’t have it strapped to my wrist like you do Malvern Rider

Close 😉

@IHN

Water Resistant != Water proof

Also, the depth ratings on watches are for static pressure – i.e. not moving. A 50 metre rated watch could be compromised by a fierce current, or vigorous wrist movements (Ooeer!)

@johnnywhitesox Nice choice, keep in mind the 8900 series are big! You need a manly arm to pull it off.

The dimensions are on Casio website

Avoid anything made by citizen. Really good watches but the crystals are comically scratch prone.

Disagree

Have a Promaster Auto (similar tp Seiko auto diver but a tad smaller) worn on bike, at work, on beach and not a scratch on it. The only marks on it are where I forgot to screw the crown down properly, water got inside and when it dried out left water marks inside – as soon as I work out how to remove the crown stem, I’ll take the workings out and clean it, but hey…)

Hundred quid would get you a modded Seiko customised to your design.

If you’re ever in the USA, Walmart is cheap for G-shock. Currently starting at $41.25. (£24.50)

Just about to click the button one similar to this from Yokobies.

But with a flat crystal, and a black strap.

$155 (£93)

I am a big fan of Nixon

http://www.watchshop.com/Nixon-Watches.html&anadigi=digital

tootallpaul – Member

Just about to click the button one similar to this from Yokobies.

I heard Harold was on holiday for a lot of August so you may have to wait.

I don’t mind waiting- but he responded very quickly earlier, so he may not have gone yet!

+1 IHN

Like you OP I’m not kind to watches, and I know a few people who are a bit too into their timepieces…

I’ve got a Posh Citizen and a Nice “Storm” watch both bought for me as gifts, I really like both, but I barely ever wear them for fear of destroying them… I certainly wouldn’t wear them to work.

99% of the time I wear cheap plastic Casio FW-91…

But yeah why would you put £150 worth of what is essentially “jewellery” in harms way on a daily basis?…

As nice as some (not all IMO) of the G-shock watches look, I’m not sure I’d pay £80+ to own one, when many of their cheaper watches are about the same functionally…

Spend £140 on a “for best” watch if you like, and then a tenner on a sacrificial day to day job…

And don’t go trying to keep up with the office tarts…

F-91W’s are £6.99 in Argos at the mo.
You’d have trouble buying a classic anything for that price.

For the full experience, go to Argos, fill in the slip with the silly little pencil, pay cash and wait for your number to be called.
🙂

Don’t need another one, but will be picking one up tomorrow anyway.

Skagen? Not too dear (£100ish) but really nice looking and mine’s managed two years (I’ve just broken the glass now though it still works fine and hasn’t leaked) – that’s at least double what any other watch I’ve had has lasted.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skagen-809XLTTM-Carbon-Fiber-Titanium/dp/B001WAKR3C

EDIT – just had a quote to replace the glass – £45 all in

What Rusty said. I’ve never managed to break one whether riding, showering, washing or fixing the car, climbing etc. My old mate Osama liked his so much he bought all his mates one. Survived loads of cave bivvies to boot.

The G86 is my current watch of choice:

Like an F91W but a much better light.
Not as classy though and nearly twice the price.

I bought a G Shock and really like it.
Glad I scratched the itch.

But for 90% of the time it’s just not as convenient or comfortable as the G86.

For the full experience, go to Argos, fill in the slip with the silly little pencil, pay cash and wait for your number to be called.

Worth having a spare, and for some reason recreating the full late 80’s/early 90’s shopping experience appeals to me too…

The perfect endorsement…

My g shock is cracking on 5 years old as a “work” watch. Spends its life strapped on my arm in the inside of tight aircraft servicing panels. Therefore covered in engine oil, hydraulic fluid and getting bashed and battered. Resin strap is no issue. Battery still going strong, the backlight is like a landing light its so bright.
Looks wise I wouldn’t want to wear it out, its brilliant utilitarian watch though

I’ve had a G-shock Mudman g900 for about 10 years, same strap same battery and no complaints. But I do love my Luminox 8800 as the tritium cells make it lovely to look at when it’s dark.