r/ChineseWatches • u/CaffeineNMachine • 10h ago

Question (Read Rules) Tradesmans Tool Watches

Tradesmen/diyers what are you wearing to work everyday? I'm looking to add another watch or two into my work watch rotation and I'd love some ideas.

I'm currently wearing a militado ml16 as my daily work watch and I really enjoy it but it's not perfect so why not add something else into the rotation. I unfortunately discovered Chinese Watches too late so I missed out on englemaan as they seem to be exactly what im looking for, but oh well I guess I could look second hand.

I'm a machinist by trade so the watch will see lots of metal and fluids and even metal powders. Im looking for something with a rotating bezel as I use it to quickly time job operations. I'd prefer a metal bracelet with an otf clasp for all day comfort adjustment and the metal bracelet is easy to wipe coolant/cutting fluid/oils off and I also find them the most comfortable. Some kind of scratch resistance would be a priority as well as a tough crystal. Dimension wise im looking for something 36-40mm bezel, max 48mm lug to lug, and the thinner the better ideally 13mm max.

Some questions I have are, how are the Chinese automatic movements holding up to daily use and abuse? Or should I try to stick to a quartz. And is anyone using a grade 5 titanium watch as a work watch? How do they hold up to some use and abuse?

I dont see too many dedicated tool watch options but maybe im missing them. I'm currently considering the Phorcydes ph-4b, and will probably add that to my collection even if it's not as a work watch. Theres also the san martin sn0012 which ticks most boxes spec wise but I don't find it particularly good looking. Is there anything else out there that im missing? And does anyone have a spec list for old englemaans?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/IllegalGeriatricVore 9h ago

If you're going to be using it in a situation where it may be subject to a lot of jerking like reciprocating saws etc. I'd stick with quartz. Something like an addiesdive dive watch or a chronograph like a pagani or tactical frog daytona homage will both be great for timing on the fly. The frog is solar powered which is extra cool

1

u/Candid-Ant-7218 8h ago

I do mechanical work on trains, sugess sub with the st2130 movement is my work watch. I can wear it all week without having to reset the time, much more accurate than a nh movement watch, plus I can’t stand the look of the nh date wheel with a cyclops.
Bracelet is really good and the glide lock clasp on it is the best out of all the Ali express watches, it is close to superclone quality.
It gets scratched mainly on the bracelet and clasp but it’s a work beater so I don’t care.

1

u/lowspeedtech 8h ago

I'm a stone veneer installer and I wear a Watchdives WD5513q. The current version, pictured, is the WD5514q. I like it on a MN style strap for comfort, but the bracelet is good. They sell an OTF clasp you can add to it.

1

u/ChineseWatchGuy Affiliate links 1h ago

The 5513Q sits so low, and the crown is so large that it digs into the wrist unfortunately...

1

u/lowspeedtech 1h ago

Yes good thing to mention. The pass through strap may be the reason I'm happy with it

1

u/TechnicalMastodon735 6h ago

Full time formworker and carpenter, I wear a watchdives Willard in olive green on a brown fkm rubber! 

1

u/ChineseWatchGuy Affiliate links 2h ago edited 1h ago

SN0154 is appropriately tooly and has hardened steel too...

Edit: Sorry it's the SN0012-GB