With an underlying style little altered by modern times, a fascinating history, and a title to capture the imagination, field watches make for a piece of men’s jewelry with an element of time travel. I love these little time-telling machines. They tell the world about what kind of guy you are. But my passion for military watches isn’t limited to big and luxurious brands.
So, I have collected several watches and ran thrown countless reviews on the Internet to come up with this list. I’m sure with you. These top best military field watches under $200 are the kind that can satisfy your champagne taste without breaking the bank.
Best Military Field Watches – Review
Seiko 5 SNZG09K1
Pros
- Ideal vintage style
- Good lume to read in the dark
- Holes on the strap are protected by a strip of leather to prevent fraying
- The second hand has a smoother movement
Cons
- The crown does not screw down so it may be pulled out unintentionally under water
Specifications
| Case Diameter | 45 mm |
| Bandwidth | 22 mm |
| Glass | Scratch Resistant Hardlex Crystal |
| Movement | Automatic Caliber 7S36B |
| Water Resistance | 328 feet |
About the brand
Seiko was founded in 1881 when Kintarō Hattori opened a watch and jewelry shop in Tokyo, Japan. In 1924, the first watches produced by Seiko appeared. In the 1890s, the success of Seiko’s wall clock business blossomed. Japan’s National Railways appointed Seiko as its official supplier in 1929.
From then on, Seiko has developed into a well-known brand catering to various tastes. I love their technical expertise, fine movements, and the fact that Seiko has something to offer all customers.
Why choose Seiko 5 SNZG09K1?
You would be forgiven for thinking this watch belongs to the World War I military kind. But that makes this watch unique. It offers a vintage vibe for the modern gentlemen.
In the mainstream black-and-white world, Seiko 5 Men’s SNZG09K1 stands out for its green color. Green is thoughtfully executed, with two slightly different hues lending visual accents to the watch. The well-crafted aesthetic fulfills two purposes: ruggedness and legibility.
The simple layout with crisply detailed white Arabic numerals stands out against the dial, making the watch appears simple and easy to read.
These hour numerals and markers have a lovely luminescence, making it easy to make time in the dark. The watch ticks six times per second, which gives a second hand a smoother movement than other watches that tick once per second.
There is one minor drawback on a watch with several nice details. The crown doesn’t screw down, which may increase the risk of being pulled out unintentionally while underwater.
The canvas strap is similar in color to the dial, which helps complement and emphasize the military aspect of the watch. The strap is dual-layered and thick. A strip of leather protects the holes. It prevents the holes from getting frayed over time.
Citizen Eco-Drive BU2055-08X
Pros
- Rugged, military look
- Eco-Drive solar movement (no battery replacement needed)
- Durable strap
Cons
- Strap lacks comfortableness
Specifications
| Case Diameter | 43 mm |
| Bandwidth | 20 mm |
| Glass | Mineral glass |
| Movement | Eco-Drive |
| Water Resistance | 328 feet |
I have always had a soft spot for anything that comes under the name Citizen. Whether you want to perfect the boldly daring image, find a dedicated companion for your next adventure, or search for a sporty timepiece, Citizen has a particular product to fit the bill.
About the brand
The brand is built on the “fusion of technology and beauty” and a deep respect for craftsmanship, which is visible in every detail of its watches. The company was founded in 1930 by Japanese and Swiss investors.
Eiichi Yamada, one of the Citizen’s presidents, understood that Citizen’s future relies on overseas expansion. He created the Citizen Trading Company, which brings the brand worldwide.
Why choose Citizen Eco-Drive BU2055-08X?
Citizen has meticulously designed this watch to facilitate outdoor activities. It features three modest subdials that show an analog day and date and 12/24-hour time.
The great legibility of the hands and the striking contrast between the large black numbers and the khaki-hued case ensure that you know the time after just one glance.
The Citizen Eco-Drive BU2055-08X is water-resistant to 328 feet, making it a perfect companion for swimming and snorkeling, not deep scuba diving.
Citizen Eco-Drive comes with a Cordura strap. Another feature I love about it is Citizen boasts the reputation of making highly durable straps, which is evident in its every product.
Another layer supports this timepiece’s strap and features a stitched pattern, providing better endurance around the holes. On the plus side, it can easily handle extreme weather, but as with other military-influenced straps, it lacks comfortableness.
Orient Defender FET0N003Y0
Pros
- Rugged, military look
- Orient’s In-house made movement
- Another ring on the perimeter for easier time-reading
Cons
- You have to set the day manually if you plan to switch watches regularly
Specifications
| Case Diameter | 42 mm |
| Bandwidth | 22 mm |
| Glass | Mineral crystal |
| Movement | Caliber 46B40 Automatic by Orient |
| Water Resistance | 328 feet |
I owned a couple of Orient watches and wore them with much pleasure. However, as a watch collector, I traded them for other brands to enrich my collection. I don’t own this watch now, but if I have to recommend the best military field watches under $200, Orient Defender FET0N003Y0 will never fail to make it into my list.
About the brand
The history of Orient Watch Company dates all the way back to 1901. Shogoro Yoshida opened a wholesale shop called “Yoshida Watch Shop” in Japan. The shop was a success. In 1912, Yoshida’s business was expanded, and he began producing gold wristwatch cases.
In 2003, the Orient Technical Center (OTC) was founded, and the assembly of luxury watches began. Throughout the years, Orient has won the hearts and minds of watch enthusiasts all over the globe.
Why choose Orient Defender FET0N003Y0 Multi-Eye Function Watch?
Orient Defender FET0N003Y0 has the robustness, strength, and style of a military-inspired timepiece. The case is a matte finish instead of a polished stainless steel one, which makes me think of a bead-blasted case, a pleasant reminiscence of those who came from war. To even further perfect the look, the dial has a matte finish to match the case.
The main index isn’t Arabic numerals but large molded lumed shapes in a slightly off-black color featuring a large white stripe on each—the rectangles and split triangle at 12 look rather aggressive, creating good legibility and a contemporary style.
The markers are pretty thick, which adds a feeling of depth and some texture to the dial. I prefer Arabic numerals since I can make out the time after a quick glance, but Orient has added more details to compensate for that.
Between the markers are small white lines for minutes/seconds. On the dial’s perimeter is another ring featuring a minutes/seconds index to a precision of 1/5th a second and numerals at intervals of 5. This index makes time-reading easier and adds a technical feeling of military aesthetic to the watch.
The Defender is powered by an Orient in-house-made automatic movement, the 46B40 caliber. The “in-house” part is one of the things I love about Orient. It gives a sense of responsibility and innovation to Orient. This is an excellent feature, given the reasonable price of the watch.
As a field watch with a leather strap, Orient Defender has the formal-looking advantage that the strap gives it to accompany you from day-to-day business to business casual. The contrast-colored stitches give the watch a rugged and sporty look, while the leather makes the watch go well with the same color and material belts and shoes.
Bulova 96B231
Pros
- Details are of great quality
- Vintage styling
- Modern sizing
Cons
- No luminous markings on the dial
- The back scratched easily
Specifications
| Case Diameter | 42 mm |
| Bandwidth | 19 mm |
| Glass | Scratch Resistant Mineral |
| Movement | Quartz |
| Water Resistance | 328 feet |
About the brand
Bulova has long held a soft spot in my heart, like many watch enthusiasts. For over 135 years, Bulova has been a pioneering force in the industry. In 1919, Bulova launched its first complete range of male watches and soon became popular with the American public.
Recent decades have seen Bulova win customers’ hearts, minds, and wallets in search of timepieces that encompass classic and contemporary styling and technology yet are priced at moderate levels.
Why choose Bulova 96B231?
Unmistakably inspired by the styling of Bulova archives developed for the U.S. military during World War II, the Bulova 96B231 is a modern reinterpretation of that classic model from the ’40s.
At first, this watch preserves the styling of its iconic predecessor. On the other hand, this new model features some modern touches, which makes it more versatile and can be worn for different occasions.
The crowns at the 2 and 4 o’clock positions are the most recognizable contemporary detail that sets this new model apart. Its elegance is further enhanced by the narrow and steeply sloping coin bezel. It allows a slight distortion from the side and reduces reflection. A field watch should minimize its flares as much as possible!
Bulova 96B231 is handsomely appropriate for many occasions partly because of its no-flashy black leather strap and simplistic cream dial, which never fails to make it into a gentleman’s versatile base collection.
No matter how elegant, Bulova 96B231, at its essence, is still a field watch that puts a heavy emphasis on functionality. Its dial embodies a minimalist arrangement with black Arabic numerals and black-lined hands to ensure legibility.
As with other field watches, the hour and minute hands are lumed, but you should recalibrate your expectation if you expect to read time in the dark easily. There are no luminous markings on the dial, so you may have to put on more effort than just a mere glance if you need to read the time when the light is low.
Victorinox 249087 Original
Pros
- Accuracy and precision
- Durable
- Vintage look
Cons
- The strap looks a bit cheap
Specifications
| Case Diameter | 43 mm |
| Bandwidth | 21 mm |
| Glass | Hardened Mineral |
| Movement | Swiss Quartz |
| Water Resistance | 328 feet |
If I have to sum up all my experience with Victorinox’s watches into just one sentence, it’ll be this: Victorinox is built to last. In fact, with hundreds of quality control tests, which one wouldn’t be?
Despite its humble start, Swiss Army watches have branched into a more diverse array of styles and types, from specialty dive watches to diamond-accented dress watches over the years. Among the inexpensive ones, Victorinox 249087 Original is the most storied.
About the brand
In 1989, the Swiss Army released its first timepiece, the Original, and has made an icon ever since. This timepiece is still made and sold today, making it somewhat like the VW Beetle of a wristwatch. I don’t know about you, but the Victorinox 249087 Original never fails to evoke my nostalgia for the 1990s.
People will judge the brand differently, but most will agree on one thing: Victorinox watches are accurate. It manufactures its own movements and can measure time within a few seconds per year.
Why choose Victorinox 249087 Original XL?
This watch is adorned in black and red, which makes the watch’s overall appearance lean toward the masculine side, but then the round edges and circular shape come into play to restore the balance.
With another manufacturer, this watch may bear the black and white color to perfect its simplicity, but this is Swiss Army, and they aren’t who they are anymore without the deep crimson that is iconic to their classic knife.
The name Victorinox may conjure images of state-of-the-art pieces with many complications. But this particular timepiece’s case is made out of plastic, which may surprise some.
Before you think of anything further, let me remind you that this is a field watch that will accompany you in day-to-day business or some outdoor trip into the wild. The dial is mineral glass, so don’t expect much scratch resistance or anti-reflectiveness.
However, Victorinox’s Original is surprisingly durable with a plastic body and mineral glass. Not so tough to come out of being whacked against the wall intact but strong enough to endure the beating of the weather. This is why Victorinox 249087 Original still makes it into the list of best military field watches under $200.
This is an unpretentious and uncomplicated watch. There is no subdial and no movement window. The crown has only one function is to adjust the time and date, but you can always count on its movement. The Swiss quartz caliber may not be the top-notch one available, but it does what it has to do well to ensure the accuracy and precision of the watch.
The strap comes in 21 mm black nylon, which blends gracefully with the case. The strap’s end is made out of a supple rubber compound to prevent the holes from stretching and deforming.
VERDICT
The overall impression of a watch generally speaks volumes about the personality of the bearers, and our Best Military Field Watches Under $200 above are good examples. They have a rugged and adventurous look in each of them, a call that urges you to put on your hiking boots and head to the wild.
Frankly, they are watches that I couldn’t quite place. They have a tactical style, but their appearance and functionality distinguish them between a pilot and a sports watch. You will get the best of both worlds whenever you wear them.
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