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Recommend a Nice EMP Proof Wrist Watch

24K views 62 replies 50 participants last post by  copper13  
#1 ·
I haven't worn a wrist watch in years. You know, the cell phone does it all for me now. So, I was thinking, it might be nice to have a nice analog wind-up, or otherwise, wrist watch if the SHTF in an EMP event. I'm assuming that any watch that's battery driven would have circuitry that would fry. Can you recommend such a wrist watch that's good and economical?
 
#4 ·
My dad was a watch repair man for over 70 years. He worked on 1000's of high dollar wrist and pocket watches. I learned how to change the balance staff in my 1902 17 jewel Elgin 12 size pocket watch that is in a gold hunter's case. It had the fanciest dial of all, better than any in his personal collection of more than 500 pocket watches.

If you get a self winder wrist watch take it off if you do anything like heavy work. Running a sledge hammer or a splitting maul will kill the watch's self winding mechanism. I did in a Seiko that way.

Sundial and an hour glass, perhaps a water clock or a wind up timer.
 
#7 ·
I think look for an analog watch that has a 3volt button cell instead of a 1.5volt button cell in it. reason? analog watches dont have microchips and lcd screens in them it has gears instead. A 3volt watch will be more derated at a higher value which means it can take an higher voltage induced from an emp attack.

I dont know of any that dont run on battery.
 
#10 ·
Sure. Knowing the time has always been beneficial in history. Look at the Incas or Egyptians, the seafarers, etc. Having a watch sure beats reading the sun and the stars like they did. Hell, you might even be able to tell what day of the week it is, or the season. Or you could sinc you comms with your HAM radio buddy in another state, or know it's shift change for the watch. Yes, knowing the time can be useful.
 
#23 ·
You can buy a used Rolex for a fair price nowadays. I personally wouldn't trade my all stainless Rolex datejust for anything. Solid as can be, all stainless, sapphire crystal and no batteries needed. What else could you want from a SHTF watch.

You also mentioned nice. To me nice = something you can dress up with but my practical part says it needs a practical purpose besides looking nice.
 
#25 ·
If there is an EMP blast

Who cares about a watch when there is no power anywhere? What would time matter for, what would you be late for? Any halfway outdoorsman can tell rough time by position of sun and stars/moon position.
But in answer to the true question, I have a Timex wind-up watch that I wear, it belonged to my grandfather, father now me. It still keeps perfect time after 50 plus years. No magnets, no batteries just springs and gears. I am sure it isn't worth a whole lot money wise, but to me it's like gold.
As a back up a nice wind up pocket watch.
 
#35 ·
Who cares about a watch when there is no power anywhere? What would time matter for, what would you be late for?
This question gets asked periodically. The ability to tell time might be more critical than you have imagined.

We'll meet tomorrow.
What time?
During "light".

When will they be here with the supplies?
During "dark".

Wait three hours before you approach the house.
Uh oh.

How long are our patrols?
Two hours, but we have no way of determining time because someone figured there'd be no need.
 
#27 ·
Though not the most accurate I've owned,I wear a 40+yo self winding Tag Heuer that was my dad's.
I should really get it tuned up.
Sometimes it's fast.Sometimes it's slow.
The mineral lense is scratched to heck,and the radium paint needs redone.
I also inherited his 45yo gold Omega selfwinder,with the floating hands.
It could stand a tuneup as well.
Their both antimagnetic,antishock,and water resistant to 300m.
 
#31 ·
The seiko number 5 is would by a pendulum weight that swings in circles inside. It has a clutch to prevent overwinding. They are typically under 100 bucks.
The only weakness this watch has is the standard band pins. When one breaks the watch falls off usually unnoticed by the owner. There are aftermarket bands that fix this.
Seiko number 5.
 
#32 ·
I like the old old watches - the kind you have to wind up by hand. My mom has a J.W. Benson hunter of some sort (its not one of the 5 main types) from her ggrandfather. It is 115 - 120 years old, and still runs when wound, though it has not seen regular use in 80 odd years.
It is worth far too much, though, and is a pocket watch, not a wristwatch. Would work great with a suit, if I had one.

I want to get one of their wristwatches, should be 200 - 500, and is a collectible/investment.