I am looking for some kind of timekeeper that is EMP proof. Like an actual mechanical watch or clock, not a battery powered quartz one. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive one? It seems like real mechanical ones are either vintage or collectible and therefore, expensive.
Mechanical watch or clock?
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Metalheaddoc
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Yes. I think I overthought my question. A bunch of cheap watches in faraday cages would probably be a much better solution.
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We love our Invicta collection. I like the ones that wind with the motion of your arm. Any movement you make keeps it wound up.
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.
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.
Also learn the stars, I believe sailors used to have to learn them for navigation. All the historical period movies can't be wrong.
Tell Time With the Stars?
Out and about at night without a watch or a smartphone readily available? If you are in the Northern Hemisphere use the Big Dipper and the North Star to tell the time.
www.timeanddate.com
Also: How to Navigate by the Stars: 7 Simple Methods
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Do you have any sources for this? I've never heard that smaller items are less vulnerable but I can learn.
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iirc, the hands and numbers glow in the dark for a while after the light is turned off.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
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This could work, but I am anticipating staying in touch with people via sw radio, so would need a more precise rendition of time than "the sun is up".
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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 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.
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If you have a search of the research paper "E1 HEMP Myths", it'll debunk or confirm many myths regarding EMP.
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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.
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.
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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.
![Image]()
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
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
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.
www.gnomonwatches.com
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
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I wouldn't buy some POS from the russia if it was the last POS on earth.
I have one of these:
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.
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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.
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I am the same when it comes to wind up watches. Stop ticking within a couple of hours.
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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
![Image]()
"This is OpEagleEye, you got your ears on? We need to meet at the designated point precisely when the sun is up!"
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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.
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.
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Get a sundial
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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.
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