10 Best Military & Mil-Spec Watches From $100 & Upwards: Divers, Field, Pilot, Reissues & Vintage

In today's #WatchTalk episode I'm joined by watch expert and entrepreneur Marc Frankel of Long Island Watch for a chat on our top 10 military and mil-spec watches. We discuss their history, what they offer in terms of functionality, value, and design, and what we love about them. From well known watches and legendary icons, to more obscure and underrated options, we cover a lot in this episode including divers, field watches, pilot watches, vintage timepieces, and a few honorable mentions. So grab a drink and join us for another laidback watch chat, and don't forget to share your suggestions in the comments below.

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Spoilers Ahead!
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Watches discussed in this video: Hamilton Khaki Mechanical 38mm, Bertucci DX3, Bertucci A2T Highpolish, Bertucci A2S Ballista, Benrus DTU-2A/P, Benrus Type-I, Benrus Type-II, G-shock Military, G-Shock DW 6600-1, G-Shock GG-B100, G-Shock Mudmaster, G-Shock Master of G, G-Shock Gravitymaster, Seiko 7A28 7102 (Gen 1), Seiko Diving Computer M726, Seiko "Kamikaze Watch", Marathon GSAR, Marathon TSAR, Marathon Navigator, Marathon Multipurpose Field Watch, Bulova Accutron Astronaut, Bulova A-11 Hack Watch, Bulova MIL-SHIPS-W-218, Omega 30T2 aka "The Spitfire watch" (CK2292), Omega CK2129 (Weems Watch from Dunkirk film), Omega Dirty Dozen, Omega Seamaster 300m (ref. 165.024) British Royal Navy.

Honorable mentions: Panerai Luminor, Squale 1521 50 ATMOS Marina Militare, Citizen NY0040 Marina Militare, Yema Superman French Air Force, Eterna Kontiki (IDF), Tudor Submariner Marine Nationale, Hanhart Pioneer Tachytele Chronograph.

#top10 #watches #hamilton #seiko #casio #gshock #bulova #benrus #citizen #marathon #yema #eterna #bertucci #hanhart #tudor #omega

[rgbenge]

Best milspec has to be GShock. I got one and used it in Desert Storm, lasted another 10 years on the original battery. Literally bombproof. Love the channel.

[teddybitner]

Spent 26 years in the Army, but never was issued a watch. Kept breaking watches on jumps until I bought a G-Shock, which was great. Thanks for this video!

[LOVES-A]

I've got my grandfather's BULOVA G.I. issue that he wore throughout Europe during WW II, later the watch went to KOREA, VIETNAM, and the middle East, on the case back it has the numbers for Type, Mil spec, Part, Serial, Order, and Stock.
It still runs and has only ever had the crystal and mainspring replaced, and
the lume no longer is visible.

[jakesantos]

I look forward to this monthly release between TGV and Mark more than any other video on YouTube. It always sends me down so many rabbit holes and inevitably adds another watch to my list. Thank you, gentlemen.

[SgtHooch]

Most of the enlisted personnel wore G-Shocks during time in the Army. They were around $20 at Post Exchange. It was also my first big boy watch, after years of Swatches and Fossils. Timex Iron Man was also popular. I noticed many of the Warrant Officers (helicopter pilots) wore Omega Speedmasters. I remember thinking they must make a ton of money. I was all of 20 years old and had no idea. I once saw a colonel buy a Rolex Submariner. Back then, PX's sold them with a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. Which was smart because soldiers would figure out a way to flip them if they could buy more than one. Great video, fellas.

[bobsmiley]

I was enlisted in the army and also a commissioned officer and pilot. Was never issued a watch but man I wish I would’ve been. Some sweet stuff you guys covered.

[flemmingsorensen]

What I miss these days in "the watch world", comes flowing back when I listen to you two. I truely appriciate these videos: they are fun, respectfull and highly motivating.

[vktravellog]

These two genuinely love to talk about watches and we get to be a fly on the wall listening to what they are saying about watches 😊

[mchockney]

Sinn is a brand I would definitely include. Quintessential german toolwatch brand with tons of history. They are, for example supplying legendary german special unit GSG 9 (Sinn UX), as well as german KSK special forces.

[David-nxvm]

Great episode. Even though i wasn’t in the market for a field watch I figured “it’s TGV and Marc, I’m in”. Hugo was a bonus. So, retired military here, and I survived an acquisition tour. Procurement buffoonery is mostly driven by the Federal Acquisition Regulation or FAR requirements, and those are imposed by Congress, not DoD. Insistence on MILSPEC creates a level playing field for all bidders and reduces the risk of protest, plain and simple. It’s as complicated as it is to defend against lawsuits. Any DoD person with an IMPAC card can go into any GSA store on any installation and use their funds to buy anything in stock, including watches. You’d better be able to defend your decision though. Many can’t and end up in serious trouble. You can also use your IMPAC card at AAFES, NEX, MCX — the exchanges, and buy merchandise that’s not stock-listed, also including watches. Same cautions apply. In that scenario, troops could get Bertucci issued to them, just not through the DoD supply chain. Bertuccis are great. I have an A2-T and sent one to our son, who is in the Army in Korea. Btw, cell phones can affect the accuracy of radar altimeters if they receive or transmit 5G signals, because of where 5G is on the spectrum relative to radar altimeters. Most critical in reduced visibility or when shooting an ILS approach.

[MRSY]

As I watched this video while wearing my 1983 Reissue CWC Diver I was hoping to hear CWC name get mentioned but never the less I again enjoyed being entertained and informed by the two of you and look forward for the next video discussion. Hopefully CWC will get a honourable shoutout next time :)

[Kasaner]

These intros never get old. TGV you are a fine comedian and finer watch enthusiasts! Cheers

[fungus]

I think Hugo can have his very own YouTube channel ! Absolutely brilliant !

[jrbutler]

One that I just recently discovered and was issued to the Navy Seals back in the 70’s and 80’s is the Chronosport Sea Quartz. Issued by the Seals, made sort of famous to the rest of us by the original Magnum PI, it’s a good looking but obscure little watch that’s not quite as affordable as many of the ones your brought up in this list.

[rangorango]

this was fascinating, now getting into vintage military, and its really cool, appreciate the history and organic discussion

[mobylife]

Been in the military in Norway for years now and this is something nobody seems to know: No one wears a watch with hands. Everyone wears a digital one bc it so much easier to read the time. If its 3.27 digital its 3.27. Reading it with hands takes some more seconds to read and even then you might not be 100% sure its 3.27. This includes for basicly all of Europe as far as Ive excperienced atleast

[mitchbohnstedt]

Great take guys. I had 22 year career in the US Army, I’ve always been a watch nut. As a lieutenant in the early 80’s, I served in the heavy mechanized Infantry and we faved G shocks to put up with large caliber main-guns that we fired inches from our watches. I also had several Seiko dive watches. I still have a 6309 out of nostalgia. I also liked my G shock when serving as a paratrooper. Later in my career, I did some service related diving. Ironically, I used a Citizen dive watch with an analogue depth gauge. Later, once I was no longer in the combat arms, I bought an Omega Seamaster chrono. Interesting Note: Military watches were always issued at the unit level. However supply officers would never issue them for fear that the troops would break them, steal them, or lose them. I the several units that I commanded, I had to inventory the various Tmex, Hamilton, and Benrus watches but, as they were accountable items, I always agreed with the supply guys that messing with them just wasn’t worth the hassle. 😃 Cheers.

[yusufalhajj]

Yessss! Love these episodes! NGL I’d watch an episode for every one of Hugo’s top ten suggestions 😂

[AndrewPullens]

That was fun and informative. And, appropriate for Memorial Day weekend.
I served 20 years active duty in the US Army, starting in 1982. I always wanted to get an official issue watch, but never did. It was only recently that I was able to find and buy a vintage Hamilton GG-W-113. It's appropriately from 1982. I remember those cheap plastic Timex watches in the PX. I never wanted one. So, most of my career I bought and wore Seiko field watches. (Something you guys did not mention was how popular Seiko was with the military, especially in Viet Nam.) I do have a Timex MK1 mechanical. The newer ones are great little metal body, hand-winding, pieces. They look very similar to my GG-W-113. I also have the Marathon GPM (mechanical, not the quartz version). It feels like the true successor to the GG-W-113. I know G-Shock is very popular, especially now. I was never a big fan of digital watches and was not combat arms, so didn't need that level of durability. My Seiko field watches worked out just fine.

[twyx]

Hugo and Marc have good chemistry. This collab needs to happen!