When it comes to our list of the best military watches money can buy, it goes without saying, that expertise is key. While Man of Many has had the chance to get their hands on every watch on this list (often thanks to their friends in the industry), they’ve also turned to the wider public for their overall ratings. Man of Many’s lists takes into account three major perspectives to determine the overall rating, quality, price point, and availability. As one of the best watch blogs on the internet they have the knowledge to determine what makes a good military watch, but in addition to their own opinions, they take into account reviews via industry leaders such as Time and Tide, HODINKEE, and Worn and Wound.

Here’s our list of the best military watches. May they serve you well when you need them the most.

The Hamilton Field Khaki is a Swiss-made watch that boasts a rich military heritage. Formally an American brand, Hamilton was an official supplier to the US army, with the Field Khaki being a recreation of its most famous 1960s military model.

In Britain, the G10 military watch is a legend, with the first iterations issued to the British Army in the 1960s. When Hamilton withdrew from the competition to win Ministry of Defence contracts its UK Managing Director launched his own brand, CWC. As an ex-serviceman he understood just what the military needed in a watch and since 1980 CWC has supplied the British Army with over 200,000 G10 watches.

Timex prides itself on offering excellent value for money when it comes to watches. Remember, Timex was the brand that famously sold 6 million units of its $1 watch. Times change, but Timex still gives watch fans a great deal. The Expedition Metal Field is a perfect example – a handsome vintage-inspired military watch for less than sixty bucks.

If it’s authenticity that you look for in your military watch, then what better than a brand created by a WW2 pilot? Helmut Sinn flew under the radar so to speak, with his watches sold in small numbers directly to customers. That was until his watches were worn by German astronauts in the 80s and 90s.

Swiss luxury brand Blancpain has a history stretching back over 200 years, but it’s best known for its iconic Fifty Fathoms model, a dive watch originally made for the French navy’s elite SCUBA squad, the Nageur de Combatand. Built to the specifications laid down by the Navy, this distinctive watch launched in 1953, a year before the Rolex Submariner.

For many watch geeks, this is the holy grail of military watches – Rolex’s military-issued Submariner. The Submariner is a highly desirable watch in its own right, but this British Navy edition is special because the MOD did something you’re not supposed to do – they asked Rolex to alter a watch design. The new watch was made in small numbers, with only 1200 ever issued. Of these, less than 200 are thought to have survived.

Built to government specs, the TSAR Military Diver from Marathon is designed to aid with search and rescue missions at sea. Water-resistant to 300m, powered by a quartz movement and equipped with tritium gas tubes for the built-in glow, this one’s a true lifesaver. Marathon is a true favourite among military-grade watch brands, without a doubt one of the best tactical watches.

The standard Casio G-Shock enjoys a massive following thanks to copious functionality and a downright indestructible build, and the 6900 Military variant ups the ante accordingly. Accept no substitutes. This is one elite tact watch worth snatching up.

A striking piece from one of the best military watch brands, the Luminox EVO Navy Seal packs a highly legible luminescent dial and unidirectional bezel inside a hefty 44mm Polyurethane case. Of course, it’s water-resistant, getting you down to lower than 600ft beneath the surface.

The Marathon Pilot Navigator is designed primarily for pilots and paratroopers, with the exacting government specifications to show for it. Featured on the watch are self-illuminating tritium gas tubes, a high impact fibre shell case and Swiss-made ETA F06 high torque quartz movement. Meanwhile, a 6 ATM rating means this quartz military watch stays intact in the face of rapid pressure fluctuations.

Equipped with a range of features, the Luminox 8841.KM.SET Recon III Chronograph sets white and gold markers against a black dial within a substantial 46mm case. That’s joined by three chronograph sub-dials and a range of indicators on the bezel. Indeed, this tactical watch is a dizzying myriad of information.

Designed for hikers and outdoorsmen (in addition to military personnel), the Suunto Core includes an altimeter, a compass, a barometer and a weather indicator among other things. Available in the striking shade of Military Black, this handy high-end EDC watch will even notify you when storm clouds are approaching.

From the Traser H3 Military P6600 Type 6, expect Ronda Quartz movement with day-date function, scratch-proof crystal sapphire and a bidirectional, rotating steel bezel with a Trigalight insert. Also featured is a steel inner case, carbon fibre outer case and black NATO strap. It’s a textbook EDC watch while also being a go-to in the quartz military watch department.

At the higher end of the price, spectrum is the Cockpit B50 chronograph from Breitling. The military watch pairs analog and digital displays inside a 46mm case of lightweight titanium. Additionally featured are duo time zone and perpetual calendar complications, two alarms, a countdown timer, an electronic tachymeter and so much more. Get on board with this elite digital tactical watch for the toughest of men.

What, you thought we were done with Casio? Not without mentioning the G-Shock GA100L-8A, we’re not. In addition to their durable construction, these tough watches for men offer a full auto-calendar via an analog-digital dial with an LED display. Giving the piece some extra tactical allure is a khaki shade on the case and strap.

Kill two EDC birds with one stone by scooping up the Surefire 2211 Wrightlight Series. Affixed to the side (and available for separate purchase) of the legible watch face is a trusty, water-resistant LED light. Try a high-end military watch that will get you out of any conflict.

Between its round, black dial and stainless steel case, the Eco-Drive from Citizen keeps it classic. However, don’t take that minimalist aesthetic to mean the high-end watch doesn’t perform its durable duties. Specifically, the piece hosts solar-powered Japanese-quartz movement, a mineral crystal date window and water resistance to 100 metres.

For those seeking simplicity, consider the Seiko 5. Within its 37mm stainless steel case you’ll find a black dial, luminous hands and Arabic numerals. Priced to move, the watch is powered by a 21-jewel movement and protected by scratch-resistant Hardlex crystal.

Made of patented stainless steel, the Bertucci A-2T Field Watch features a screw-down crown and case back, scratch-resistant mineral glass crystal, quartz movement and an ergonomic design.

Of course, not all military watches are created equal, nor are all military watch brands. Don’t be the guy to get duped by clever marketing and end up with some lifeless clunker around his wrist. Check out our guide to the best tactical watches instead. The ones that won’t save your life will at least step up your game in the EDC watch department. That’s called win/win. From army-style watches to other high-end tactical watches, let’s present our guide to the best tactical field watches.

At their cores, military watches are geared toward people who live on the edge of survival. We’re talking soldiers of fortune, paratroopers, marines, extreme sports junkies and anyone else who might need to hop out of a plane or plunge into the water at a moment’s notice. To be clear, that doesn’t mean a regular Joe can’t reap plenty of enjoyment from a solid tactical watch, it’s more to say that tactical watches themselves should be judged according to how well they perform their intended duties.

Whether you’re G.I. Joe or Average Joe you’ll want the same thing from your military watch: supreme functionality and resilience. To heed the call, a number of the best military watches incorporate prime materials and a wide range of built-in tools. When looking for a quality tactical watch, you should consider the following:

As you might expect, there are tons of variety to be found when comparing one military watch to the next. However, for the sake of simplicity, the tactical watch category is frequently broken down into three types: