The Navy SEALS achieved celebrity status after their heroic success of capturing Osama Bin Laden back in 2011. Their team of 25 nailed the mission in only 9 minutes! Soon, people started seeing them as the most fierce and agile military force in the history of mankind.
Those who are into military fashion also started following the Navy SEALS. It’s only normal for us, the watch-buffs, to be curious about their watches. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t want to know what watch do navy seals use?
Well, the Navy SEALs don’t have any official watches. But some watches are unofficially known as Navy SEAL watches. The most common one is the Casio G-Shock DW-6600. This watch perfectly meets the rugged and tough lifestyle of them.
However, during the 1970s, the U.S. Navy SEALs officially issued Rolex Submariner and SEA-DWELLERS. But being an expensive choice, the plan discontinued after a few years.
In recent years, Luminox has designed some watches dedicatedly for the Navy SEALs.
So, historically speaking, these three watches are well-known for being a Navy SEAL watch. However, as Navy SEALs don’t officially issue any watch, there are some great contenders to steal the top stop here.
Many members of the Navy SEAL and a huge number of enthusiasts are seen wearing these watches in public. Take a look –
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | rating | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
Casio Men’s G-Shock DW6900-1V Sport Watch |
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Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy Seal Dive Watch |
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Premium Pick |
Garmin Instinct TacticalT580 |
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SUUNTO Core All Black Military Men’s Outdoor Sports Watch – SS014279010 |
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G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 |
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Budget-friendly |
Timex Full-Size Ironman Endure 30 Shock Watch |
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Top 6 Navy SEAL Watches that You Can Wear Too!
Casio Men’s G-Shock DW6900-1V Sport Watch – Best Overall
Casio G-Shock is the most widely known watch brand for its cult-status of being the toughest option. Even who isn’t a big-time watch enthusiast knows this fact.
The G-Shock cherishes a dream of “creating a watch that never breaks.”
And boy, these watches are tough!
Like I said before, G-Shock DW-6600 is the most famous Navy SEAL watch. But you can’t find these watches (expect from any collector) in the market as Casio stopped the production. But you can find the alternate option!
The G-Shock DW-6900-1V is an upgraded version of the same model that released in 1995.
These two models come with all the features that mattered to the Navy SEALs –
- Ultra-durable
- Shockproof
- Lightweight
- Waterproof
- Cheap
Casio followed the cook-book from the military analysts and came up with the ultimate watch.
I don’t really need to talk too much about this classic choice. Its brand name speaks for itself. After all, it’s a cult classic!
Product Specification – Casio Men’s G-Shock DW6900-1V Sport Watch
- Display Type: Digital
- Case Diameter: 44.6mm
- Case Thickness: 15mm
- Case Material: Resin (Stainless Steel case-back)
- Bezel Material: Resin
- Band Material: Resin
- Band Width: 24.5mm
- Weight: 67g (2.3 oz)
- Clasp: Tang Buckle
- Water-Resistance: 200m (660ft.)
Notable Features
- 200m water resistant
- Electroluminescence (EL) backlight with a dedicated button
- Flashes with buzzer, multifunction alarm, hourly signal
- 1/100 second stopwatch, with elapsed time, split time, and two lap times (1st and 2nd)
- Countdown timer
- Full auto-calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2039)
- AM/PM and 24h time formats
Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy Seal Dive Watch – Tested and Approved by the Navy SEALs
You might have heard this from a number of sources that Luminox ṭis “THE” Navy SEAL watch brand.
Is it true or a myth?
Well, it’s true, in a sense!
Luminox, back in the early 1990s, decided to design a watch that soldiers can use in the missions. They knew that the watch needed endurance, accuracy, and some features that the soldiers feel necessary.
After a lot of research and testing, they came up with Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy SEAL Dive Watch.
In 1993, Nick North, a Navy SEAL, working in the research and development team, started looking for a watch that the Navy SEALs can rely upon. So, they put all the big candidates in a series of endurance tests.
Only Luminox survived the tests.
Thus, the Navy SEALs found their ultimate option.
In 2013, after 20 years of the initial testing, the U.S. Navy SEAL again tested the best watches. Yet again, Luminox was the only watch to survive the series of tests.
Plus, Nick said that members love the design too. It’s true that not every SEAL member loves the analog display. But those who like the analog-style prefers using the Luminox 3001.
Product Specification – Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy Seal Dive Watch
- Display Type: Analog
- Case Diameter: 43mm
- Case Thickness: 10mm
- Case Material: Carbon Reinforced Polycarbonate
- Bezel Material: Carbon Reinforced Aluminum
- Band Material: Polyurethane Dive Strap
- Band Width: 22mm
- Weight: 140g (4.96 oz)
- Clasp: Tang Buckle
- Water-Resistance: 200m (660ft.)
Notable Features
- Multi-jewel Swiss Quartz movement
- Tritium Radioluminescence backlight that lasts for more than 25 years
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on the watch window with anti-reflective coating
- 4-year long battery life
- Date display in the 3 o’clock position
- 24h markers alongside the 12 o’clock markers
Garmin Instinct Tactical – Most Technologically Advanced Option
The last two watches are very rugged and can survive in extreme conditions. True, but we are living in 2020, and those watches don’t have the modern features that one might look for.
Enter, Garmin.
Garmin is the epitome of modern engineering and current-gen watches.
These days, smartwatches and smart wearables are taking over the industry. I am looking at you, Apple Watch, and Fitbit! People are more into these smartwatches for their unmatchable features that help us track everything.
Garmin Instinct offers the best both worlds with an abundance of choices!
There are twenty different varieties of the Instinct series. But only the Garmin Instinct Tactical or the Tactical Solar can meet the requirements for the Navy SEALs.
Okay, let me clarify one thing – this watch has so many features that I would need 2-3 pages to write all of them down. So, I’ll focus only on the notable ones.
Garmin followed 810 military standards (thermal, shock, and water resistance) while designing this masterpiece. The body is made of fiber-reinforced polymer and silicone that can support in any extreme condition.
The Navy SEALs need to be prepared to conduct missions in any corner of the world. They can rely on multi GNSS trackers (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) for navigation. Then, there are ABC sensors (Altimeter, Barometer, and three-axis Compass) to support navigation.
If you get lost, you can rely on the TRACKBACK Routing feature to follow the same route to the start.
This particular Tactical version comes with features like –
- Stealth mode (stops storing and sharing GPS and connectivity data),
- Jumpmaster mode (high altitude release point calculator),
- Projected waypoints
- Dual-format GPS (with both latitude and longitude references)
- Night vision compatibility (dual-view mode and night mode is easily readable with night vision goggles)
- Connectivity with dog tracking devices like Astro and Alpha
These features make this watch a perfect partner for the Navy SEALs.
Plus, there are all the common features that you can find in the top-shelf watches. Like –
- Smartphone connectivity
- Satellite communication for weather alerts, SOS messaging, and GEOS 24/7 emergency response
- Heart rate monitor
- Stress tracking
- Built-in apps to support running, hiking, mountain biking, swimming and many more
What more can I say?
Product Specification – Garmin Instinct Tactical
- Display Type: Digital (Transflective MIP)
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Thickness: 15.3mm
- Case Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
- Bezel Material: Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
- Band Material: Silicone
- Band Width: 22mm
- Weight: 52g (1.8 oz)
- Clasp: Tang Buckle
- Water-Resistance: 100m (330ft.)
Notable Features
- Transflective Memory in Pixel display, a type of LCD display
- Features eight different sensors
- Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity
- Nine different tracking features
- Up to 14 days battery life
- Comes with health monitoring, daily connectivity, safety and tracking, tactical, activity tracking, gym and fitness, training analysis, and outdoor recreation features
SUUNTO Core All Black Military Men’s Outdoor Sports Watch – SS014279010 – Best for Trekking and Hiking
In recent years, SUUNTO has become a popular brand among the adventurers, especially hikers and trekkers.
Among all the models from this Finnish brand, the SUUNTO Core SS14279010 is the most well-known model.
This is because of the ABC navigation and weather functions like temperature and storm alert. These features are so valuable while you are hiking through unknown and uncertain paths.
However, it’s not a dedicated military watch but an adventure watch.
Still, I would call it a strong contender for a Navy SEAL watch.
Why?
SUUNTO Core is a very rugged watch. The carbon fiber composite case and the aluminum bezel cover combination gives the watch great endurance. Only the durability and the navigational functions are enough to put is as a top choice for the Navy SEALs.
However, I was really surprised seeing the water-resistance rating. The 3ATM resistance rating is unbelievably low for an adventure watch.
SUUNTO, if you are reading this review, please fix it!
Product Specification – SUUNTO Core SS014279010
- Display Type: Digital (Matrix)
- Case Diameter: 49.1mm
- Case Thickness: 13mm
- Case Material: Carbon Fiber Composite
- Bezel Material: Aluminum
- Band Material: Silicone
- Band Width: 24mm
- Weight: 64g (2.26 oz)
- Clasp: Tang Buckle
- Water-Resistance: 30m (100ft.)
Notable Features
- Comes with ABC navigation (altimeter, barometer, and compass) feature
- Sunrise and sunset indicator for over 400 locations
- Gives weather report – shows temperature and storm alerts
- Depth meter for snorkeling (Avoid using the watch while snorkeling or diving)
- Multilingual menu, there are four language option – English, French, German, and Spanish
- Rotating bezel with Compass markers
- Comes with 10 different style variation
G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 – Best Solar Powered Watch
Do you remember the G-Shock that I mentioned in the first place? Like I said, that watch was a classic choice.
However, the DW-6600 and DW-6900 both models are very old, released in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
If you are looking for the same toughness but with modern features, you should consider the G-Shock Rangeman DW-9400. Casio released the watch in 2013 comes with all the necessary features.
For example, like other modern military watches, DW-9400 comes with the ABC navigation (Altimeter, barometer, and compass) system. Plus, it can read the temperatures and offers sunrise and sunset data too, based on your location.
Rangeman DW-9400 comes with automatic time and calendar feature. That means, the watch automatically shows the local time based on the time zone.
One of the major issues that military personnel face is the mud ruining the watches. G-Shock offers mud, dust, and dirt-proof casing, so you can use it in any kind of environment.
Overall, I would say that G-Shock DW-9400 is everything and more compared to the classic G-Shock models.
More: Vincero Watches Review: The Italian Masterpiece
Product Specification – G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400
- Display Type: Digital (LED)
- Case Diameter: 55.2mm
- Case Thickness: 14mm
- Case Material: Resin (Stainless Steel case-back)
- Bezel Material: Resin
- Band Material: Resin
- Band Width: 20mm
- Weight: 93g (3.3 oz)
- Clasp: Tang Buckle
- Water-Resistance: 200m (660ft.)
Notable Features
- Solar-powered quartz movement
- Triple sensor design (altimeter, barometer, and compass)
- Temperature indicator
- Functional in 31 time zones with MB6 automatic time update
- Stopwatch, countdown, and alarm features
- Sunrise and sunset indicator
- One-touch time recoding and elapsed time recording
- Able to record 40 distinct data
Timex Full-Size Ironman Endure 30 Shock Watch – The Budget-friendly Choice
One of the most important features of a Navy SEAL watch should be budget-friendliness. It helps the SEALs to replace the watches easily.
From this perspective, no other model can compete with the Timex Ironman. Despite the lower price tag, it comes with all the crucial features.
That’s why Navy SEALs love the watch so much. Many SEAL members have been seen wearing the Timex Ironman in public.
One of the interesting design choices is that Ironman comes with a nylon strap and Velcro attachment. So, the watch fits perfectly to all wrist sizes.
The resin case and acrylic lens give great sturdiness.
Plus, the 100-hour chronograph and the 24h countdown timer prove to be very useful.
Overall, I would call it a great “basic” option with the impressive build quality.
More: Naviforce Watch Review: The Best Entry-Level Watch Series?
Product Specification – Timex Full-Size Ironman Endure 30 Shock Watch
- Display Type: Digital
- Case Diameter: 42mm
- Case Thickness: 14.5mm
- Case Material: Resin
- Bezel Material: Resin
- Band Material: Nylon
- Band Width: 18mm
- Weight: 50g (1.76 oz)
- Clasp: Velcro
- Water-Resistance: 200m (660ft.)
Notable Features
- ISO standard shock resistance
- Day-date-month display
- 100-hour chronograph, 24h countdown timer, and stopwatch
- Daily and weekly alarms
- Indiglo backlight
What to Look for in Navy SEALs Watches?
What features are absolute musts for a navy SEAL watch?
I can think of many, but only one feature stands as an absolute must.
It doesn’t need to have functions coming from a sci-fi movie, it doesn’t need to be fashionable, and it certainly doesn’t have to have camouflage!
So, what is it?
Durability!
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Navy SEALs live extreme life, and without the durability, their watches would break-off every other day. Certainly, they can use luxury dress-watches, but those watches should be kept for occasional usage only.
Secondly, their watches shouldn’t be only a device to track time. It should offer more so that it can be a reliable utility for their missions.
That’s why features like stopwatch, countdown, and chronograph are so important. It’s not mandatory, but features like compass, altimeter, and barometer can be very helpful.
Most of the modern military watches include these sensors.
Finally, the Navy SEAL watches should have a reasonable price-tag. Their watches should offer a certain level of value. They don’t need brand appeals of Rolex or Omega to become a Navy SEAL watch.
In fact, the U.S. Stopped issues Rolex Submariner only because of the price issue.
Expendability is a crucial factor.
So, what watch do navy seals wear?
They wear anything that goes with their “tough and dependable” image. For example, the celebrity ex-Navy SEAL, David Goggins, wear Kobold Transglobe. This is a luxury watch with a hefty price tag of $4650!
Omega Railmaster, Breitling Chronomat, or Luminor Submersible could also be great options, but these too expensive.
More: Swiss Precimax Reviews: Is It Worth the Price?
Conclusion
A true Navy SEAL watch has to have a balance between durability, functionality, and pricing.
So, what is the best Navy SEAL watch?
No matter what, we can’t ignore the classic Casio Men’s G-Shock DW6900-1V Sport Watch. They rely on this dependable watch in many cases while on a mission. That’s why it sits on the first place today.
Then comes the Luminox Men’s 3001 Quartz Navy Seal Dive Watch. It was built dedicated to the SEAL members and the only watch to pass the Navy SEAL’s durability tests.
Finally comes the most advanced modern-day tactical option – Garmin Instinct Tactical. There is no other watch in the current market that can match the functionality of this masterpiece.
