All you need is to look up. If the big glowing ball is there, its working time, when its gone, its sleep time.

 

I live in a place that has full cloud cover over 260 days a year. This doesn’t work.

 

Gotham Watch Company....
Mechanical pocket watches......I have several...wind once a day....keeps time to a minute in 7 days
SS and waterproof.....

 

Men's Wind-Up Watch

This Reliable Watch Keeps Accurate Time Without Batteries

www.vermontcountrystore.com

This is the one my husband has and likes.

 

From what I've read about EMPs smaller items are less likely to be damaged unless the burst is very close by and very powerful so I went with a Citizen Garrison Eco-Drive which has kept great time for the last 3 years and back then cost less than $100.

We also have an old hand wound wall clock that is about 100 years old.

 

I love my citizen garrison eco drive. Best watch I've ever had.

 

i keep Illinois bun 60 hour 21 jBunn special around and Hamilton 992b here is the deal the Amish have Jewlers for pocket watches, one of the Amish vices is rebuilding rare pocket watches, staffing Telegraphing's bow laths tools off grid iv seen it ,

 

The vintage Enicar, Benrus and Camy watches from the 1950's-1970's are great watches.......you can buy them restored on ebay for $75 or less. I own about 50 of these and they are all awesome! If you want one let me know!

HK

 

biggest deal with mechanical watches is magnets yes cell phones lap top ect can magnetize your watch mess it up bad, so they demagnetizer watches with a tool that shoots out a emp blast

 

Get some of each while its easy. I might look into getting another mechanical just to have. I have a Seiko automatic or self winder. The watches that I use are Casio solar and atomic time. Rotate with a couple to keep them charged up during the winter. Always have the exact time

 

I wear an Invicta Pro Diver. They are around $120 dollars, and mine is very good quality. I love it.

 

Looked them up on Amazon.Tons of different models some quartz some self winders. What model do you have

 

Had several of these Westclock wind up travel alarm clocks when we were kids. Simple, cheap, and a very protective clamshell case. Still many online for $10-$20.

Westclox Travel Alarm Clock Wind Up Vintage brown Folding Case works. | eBay

Westclox Travel Alarm Clock Wind Up Vintage brown Folding Case works.

www.googleadservices.com

 

iirc, the hands and numbers glow in the dark for a while after the light is turned off.

 

I got a Seiko automatic. It's kind of thick. I think it's a Chinese knockoff - but I've had it for 30 years, and it keeps on ticking, so if it is it might be better than the jap version. I don't know what I paid. Like $50 in the mid 90's.

 

As already said an emp is unlikely to affect a quartz watch, HMT from India are basic mechanical watches that were designed for the common man/woman and are pretty hardy. Vostok from Russia again pretty hardy but you're potentially going up in price. Tandoori from china uses a Seiko movement and sapphire lens and are pretty reliable. Seiko have a solid reputation but again you're going up in price.

The question is, how much do you want to spend?

 

Do you have any sources for this? I've never heard that smaller items are less vulnerable but I can learn.

 

I mean....it seems like lots of people have an appointment or something they need to get to after SHTF, and they don't want to be late.

I live in a place that has full cloud cover over 260 days a year. This doesn’t work.

I find that extremely hard to believe, but regardless....

Pro tip: If you aren't in the city or producing any light, and can SEE the cloud cover, or the fog, or the rain, or your hand...then that big glowing ball is probably on your side of the planet, and it's probably daytime.

Follow me for more lessons about the world and how it works.

i keep Illinois bun 60 hour 21 jBunn special around and Hamilton 992b here is the deal the Amish have Jewlers for pocket watches, one of the Amish vices is rebuilding rare pocket watches, staffing Telegraphing's bow laths tools off grid iv seen it ,

That was interesting. What language was that?

Looked them up on Amazon.Tons of different models some quartz some self winders. What model do you have

I have a 26974, and a 26973. My wife has a 12287 and a 25682. All budget price models of a budget line maker, under $60 when I bought them.

Funny thing, I still haven't gotten them into the water.😅

 

I mean....it seems like lots of people have an appointment or something they need to get to after SHTF, and they don't want to be late.

Grid is down.
Let's say your teenager is going to a friend's house a mile away and he knows to be home by 5 so you don't worry Having a clock (or watch) that works would go a long way towards keeping things safe.

Or since pretty much every home in this rural area has a mechanical clock we can agree over the radios to meet at a set time.

 

If you’re looking for inexpensive why not just buy a handful of quartz watches, wear one and store the rest in a cheapo faraday cage. If you’ll be storing them for years you might want to remove the batteries and/or get extra batteries. Mechanicals and automatic watches should be serviced every 10 years or so depending on environment and quality of the watch. I have mostly midrange autos(Hamilton, Marathon,etc.) but I also have quartz watches I think the one I wear most for hard use is Casio ProTrek: 3sensor Solar Multiband. I don’t plan to rely on the compass altimeter or thermometer but it keeps good time even without the satellites after SHTF.
I think a midrange quartz with extra batteries might be your best bet. Keep in mind that some Solar watches are not serviceable but most have a battery that can be replaced.
I don’t worry too much about EMPs so I could be wrong but I guess a small metal box would protect your watches.

 

If you’re looking for inexpensive why not just buy a handful of quartz watches, wear one and store the rest in a cheapo faraday cage. If you’ll be storing them for years you might want to remove the batteries and/or get extra batteries. Mechanicals and automatic watches should be serviced every 10 years or so depending on environment and quality of the watch. I have mostly midrange autos(Hamilton, Marathon,etc.) but I also have quartz watches I think the one I wear most for hard use is Casio ProTrek: 3sensor Solar Multiband. I don’t plan to rely on the compass altimeter or thermometer but it keeps good time even without the satellites after SHTF.
I think a midrange quartz with extra batteries might be your best bet. Keep in mind that some Solar watches are not serviceable but most have a battery that can be replaced.
I don’t worry too much about EMPs so I could be wrong but I guess a small metal box would protect your watches. View attachment 564905

Yes. I think I overthought my question. A bunch of cheap watches in faraday cages would probably be a much better solution.

 

You could check out Vostok watches. Cheap but decent mechanical and automatics made in Russia. The Vostok Scuba Dude has a good reputation as a tough and inexpensive watch that still looks good and is reasonably accurate. And it’s something a little different than the usual watches.

The best suggestion is the guy who said to put a few quartz watches off to the side if you’re worried about a EMP. Even the best mechanical or automatic watches don’t keep time as good as a lower end quartz watches and quartz will be a tougher watch.

 

You could check out Vostok watches. Cheap but decent mechanical and automatics made in Russia.

I wouldn't buy some POS from the russia if it was the last POS on earth.

I have one of these:

RATIO: Ratio Pilot Watches

Collections of all Ratio Skysurfer Watches

www.amazon.com

It works okay but you need to wear it in order to keep it wound. I bought a watch winder and that works too.

All my other watches (10 of them) are quartz.

 

If you have never worn a mechanical watch you might be in for a surprise.

I was issued a wind up watch in the Marines. It would stop after being on my wrist for a while. Thinking it was defective, I surveyed it at supply. The replacement did the same thing.

Apparently something about my body causes them to bind up or something.

A battery powered watch works fine.

 

If you have never worn a mechanical watch you might be in for a surprise.

I was issued a wind up watch in the Marines. It would stop after being on my wrist for a while. Thinking it was defective, I surveyed it at supply. The replacement did the same thing.

Apparently something about my body causes them to bind up or something.

A battery powered watch works fine.

I am the same when it comes to wind up watches. Stop ticking within a couple of hours.

 

I seriously doubt any of the wavelengths an EMP pushed would be able to affect any wires or electronics as small as a watch.

Also, isn’t a watch basically a small faraday cage? Yes, I know it’s not sealed as well as what people want…but I’d bet money it’s enough.

 

When looking for a mechanical watch there is really one thing to look at. Who makes the guts, or movement is watch nerd lingo. There are movements that are sold to all kinds of makers, these include some you might not have seen before like ETA and Miyota, others you might have like Seiko. The other type movement is an "in house" movement. You are really only going to see these on more expensive watches. This is a movement that is only used by that one watch brand. My Tutor (slut sister to Rolex) uses an inhouse brand.

The plus with a movement that everyone uses is everyone knows how to service them, and likely has the parts to service them. There is not much new in watches so any good person can service provided there is no broken parts.

This brings up another thing that you need to know going in, this is a machine with gears and moving parts. Even the most expensive Swiss certified Chronograph will not hold time like that $9.99 hello kitty watch in the walmart checkout line. It is just the nature of the machine. That does not mean it will not keep time, it means it might loose a half a sec a month or so where a quartz will not.
The mechanical watch being a machine it needs to be serviced like a machine. Every once and a while, 5-10 years it will need to be serviced. Generally this is a tear down clean and re lube. If you buy a $250 Seiko be ready to spend a bit more on having it serviced, it is just the name of the game.

Personally I love mechanical watches, I would have to to have one that costs more then my first car on my wrist. I love the machine aspect of it, there are gears and such in there all set just perfect to keep the time. It really is a personal thing. Your cellphone will always have the time, but that is just not the same. It is really jewelry and don't kid yourself that it is not. The days of the tool watch are over.

That all said.





In the world of watches there is one automatic (watch that winds itself by the movement of your arm) that is a go to in the "inexpensive" watch world.

Seiko 5

5 Sports | Seiko Watch Corporation

For over 50 years, Seiko 5 Sports has delivered consistently high levels of reliability, durability, performance and value that have endeared it to lovers of mechanical watches worldwide. Today, with the creation of a new design and a broad new collection, this much loved timepiece is re-born...

www.seikowatches.com

Years ago they called them auto 5's. IMHO you don't need to look anywhere else for a mechanical watch. The bang for the buck is just the best, nothing else will come close.

Second place I would toss in the Timex automatics, they use a Miyota movement that is rock solid, you should be able to grab a 5 or timex automatic for sub $300

Automatic Watches for Men - Self-winding Wristwatches

Shop automatic watches for men at Timex! These self-winding men's mechanical timepiece is designed to hold the power to keep running for 40 hours. Shop now!

timex.com

After that you will move into the $500 range and that will open up a few different areas. You can move into a great many more areas.

If you want to move into that $500+ range you can get some very cool things. Here is a good site that has some of the more smaller brands, some larger ones as well like Ball, but some really good smaller brands. Most of the mechanicals here will use an ETA or Miyota movement.

Personally I have had the hots for one of the Steinheart homage Rolex watches, the new ones are just so darn large and I have very small wrists, so I can't really pull off a larger watch, hubcap on my arm is what it looks like. Look through all the different makers on the site, there mechanical section only includes manual wind watches IIRC not the automatics.

Gnomon Watches - Seiko, Citizen, Hamilton, and Other Renowned Brands

Here at Gnomon Watches we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the finest Authentic German, Swiss & Japanese Watches, Mechanical Watches and quality accessories and watch straps to buy online and our boutique.

www.gnomonwatches.com

 

Seiko 5
Years ago they called them auto 5's. IMHO you don't need to look anywhere else for a mechanical watch. The bang for the buck is just the best, nothing else will come close.

In Jan of 2013 I bought a Seiko 5 Solar new for $100!
Still running. Still keeping excellent time.

 

Was browsing watches because of this thread and found a Casio for about $14. Looks like it will be easier to see the time while driving. Takes me a bit to focus on the digital. I think this will be easier to glance at. For $14 can't go too far wrong

 

Do the hands glow in the dark? That is a helpful feature I have found in all of my BC watches (BC = before cell phone). If not, I am guessing with a few simple tools, you could take the crystal off and put a dab of paint on the 3, 6, 9 and 12, as well as the minute and hour hands.

 

A few years back I told my wife that I'd like a watch, and I wanted one that was simple, mechanical, and not expensive.
At my next birthday I recieved a Seiko (Series 5?) that was nice. It was simple and mechanical and I have no idea what it cost.
Less than a year later the watch stopped working and we sent in in for repair. We received a note back saying the watch had been damaged due to "impact" and they would not be repairing it. They never returned the broken watch, and I was really disappointed in the "service" aspect of the company.
So forward to last year, and my wife gave me a Praesidus Type A-11 watch as a gift, (again simple and mechanical and I have no idea what it cost) and so far it has been great. Absolutely no issues or complaints after a year. The Seiko never made it that far.
And that is the total of what I know about watches.

 

You sent it to Seiko? That is rather odd. They generally deal only with resellers. I have had seiko's for 40 years, going back to the Willard, you can see what I mean about a larger watch on my small wrist

I have several others, you just do not send them back to Seiko.

I don't have a good photo of my old daily, the sea urchin, this is the best I have.

I was wearing this auto 5 when I hit a deer on my Kawasaki 650 Versys. Busted 3 ribs, broke both thumbs. I was all geared up so no road rash. What did happen is somehow the watch got ripped off my arm and was laying with the glove in the center of the road. The watch does not have that much damage to it as well. It still keeps great time, and I will never polish out the scuffs.

This is all that happened to my wrist, I can't imagine the force to bend the spring bar or how even it came off. No idea what it got caught up in that would do that.

Personally I am pretty sold on Seiko. They are also a great brand if you want to fly under the radar. If you watch says Seiko on it you could be wearing a $300 watch or a $8000 watch. Only a real watch guy would know. The same thinking goes with brands like Ball, Tudor and a few others. Sometimes you don't want people to know what you have on your wrist.

 

You could always get yourself a big old grandfather clock. Not so portable but sometimes people just don't want them when moving.

 

Get a sundial

 

For decent automatics (movement wound) the Seiko 5 series is still available from Walmart or Amazon for between 140 and 185.
move had Tissot watches for 26 years and no mechanical witch will beat a quartz, but all of mine are good for +/-5 seconds s day. All are sapphire crystal as I’m hard on watches.
even the 79 Nautical uses a seiko Nh36 auto wind action. The bands and crystals just don’t hold up for me

 

The issue with any manual wound or rotor based automatic watch movement (clock or wrist) is the hairspring getting magnetized, or damaged by magnetic pull, and to a lesser extent the balance shaft. If this occurs the watch will not keep accurate time. The solution is demagnetization.

The reason most of these watches reference trains is because an engineer of a train needed to keep accurate time to avoid collision. This was actually a problem. Later it became an issue with research scientists.

For reference, a MRI is between 5000 and 15000 gauss (some newer 30,000). This is why you can’t wear metal in them. 15,000 gauss is 30,000 times the strength of the earth’s magnetic field.

When a magnetic field is introduced to a watch the hairspring can freeze for a moment and the watch can loose time. The same can happen with shock or extreme temperature changes. In extreme cases the magnetic field will stretch the hairspring and damage it.

To combat this, new higher quality watch movements, have hairsprings made out of silicon and anti-magnetic metals, like Nivachron (Swatch Groups proprietary name for their product). Rolex‘s version is called Parachrom Bleu. These hairsprings come in various grades, depending on cost of the watch and build spec. Not only are they amagnetic, they are also more resistant to shock and extreme temperature fluctuations. They also increase cost, especially silicon.

Companies like Rolex (Milgauss rated to 1000 gauss) and Omega (Railmaster or Aqua Terra 15000) are rated to 15,000 gauss). These are build purposely built watches, designed to withstand gauss loads, for industries, that have their employees exposed to high magnetic fields. The watch cases are also constructed of anti-magnetic materials. The new Tudor BB METAS cert are also tested to 15,000 gauss.

These watches are tested by COSC and METAS for accuracy standards and are rated for the specifications. Most modern high end Swiss movement or Japanese movement (Grand Seiko) watches are at least 1000 gauss ratings. These ratings will be found in the specifications.

Like quartz, cheap mechanical automatic watches, with ferrous metal hairsprings, and watch cases will be damaged by high magnetic fields and electric pulse. Your cheap (and expensive) Sekio and Citizen automatic watches will be affected. The question is, how close to you have to be and for how long does the exposer have to be for damage to happen?

In reality, EMPs effects are not going to damage your clock/watch. It’s not going to short them out, digital, or damage the hairspring, magnetic field. If you’re close enough to the source, for it to affect your watch, the electro magnetic field is going to be the last of your worries. Radiation will be your issue.

If you don’t believe this, the Omega Railmaster is one of the best automatic ‘tool’ watches you can get. Well, use to get, as it was recently discontinued. They are around $3200 used and $5700 new (assuming you can find one). A Casio G Shock will also outlast you for thousands less. Buy a $150 cheap Orient mechanical automatic, put it in a cheap HF Apache box and bury it. When the would ends, you can charge people to tell them the time.

I collect watches and this crap interests me. I own a Railmaster. Not because I and afraid of EMP, but because it’s a great watch.

If you’ve ever wondered why a high end Swiss Watch cost what they do, here’s a small part of it:

 

Only thing wrong with omega is it is owned by Swatch. And I can't stand that comapany.

Give me a Glycine first, I know they are owned by Invitica, but at least we have a full understanding of that company, and they are not pure Jerks (I have other words I could use but trying to keep this PG)