Watches with features - do you use them?

[CommanderJameson]

We've all got watches that do things over and above telling us what the time and date is right now.

So, what features of your watches do you use, and what for?

I'll start: I use the rotating bezel of my professional diving watch for the highly taxing and important process of timing the boiling of eggs.

And other foodstuffs.

(I'd use the countdown on my G-Shock, but by the time I've dredged up how to work it from the depths of my memory, I could have rotated my bezel (ooer) a dozen times)

I'm not sure I've ever used a chronograph to time anything; although I do like making all the hands return to zero.

[Johno]

14 rounds of bike racing to go to this year and that's why I had to have a chronograph, use it mosts race weekends to time gaps.

It's not split second, but accurate enough to give a clear indication and yes, it does get used in the kitchen as well.

[Freddie von Rost]

Timing the sunday roast, car journeys,(sad, but true) and just for the fun of returning the chrono hand. So, err, no.

Theoretically I could time the re-entry of a space capsule or wear it on the moon, but I suspect this is unlikely to happen.

Which is nice.

[Ikemi]

I use the chronograph for timing car journeys, the time elapsed throughout a working day since I pressed the chronograph start button (Sad, but good to see most of the working day over and done with!) and anything else that may require timing ...

The local time function on my Citizen does come in handy when on holiday, but nothing a few twists of the crown on most watches wouldn't do

Never really used a rotating bezel for anything other than spinning in meetings whilst thinking! Hehe!

[ShadownINja]

Bezel to mark second time zone.

Chronograph to measure heart rate. Really can't see it being used for timing anything over 1 minute because the sub-dials are so small.

[Ikemi]

ShadownINja said:

Really can't see it being used for timing anything over 1 minute because the sub-dials are so small.

Ah, you need a Tag Calibre S

[celticpilgrim]

I used the countdown timer on my G-shock as a car park reminder..

[Steve-B]

I use the countdown time on my Breitling Aerospace to mark the starts of sailboat races in Sydney. I use the stopwatch to measure split times on marks too. I use the 2nd time zone setting to know what time it is to call our Sons in back in the UK. Never ever used the alarm, too sound a sleeper ;-)

[Asterix]

Use the Chrono on the Carrera quite often and all the watches for tiing stuff when cooking.
The moonphase on the PML is a lovely feature but of little relevance
The one that has already had very specific use is the JLC Reverso - When traveling I have simply forwarded the back face to the timezone and left the other one on Dubai time.

[Don1]

Normal bezal stuff for timing things, and the chrono for making sure the kids do something in a set period of time. The day / date (natch) and... errr... well actually, that's why I've stopped buying watches with features (or complications). The only one I do want is a power reserve...

[blueST]

I use the tide graph on my Gulfman to tell my wife if the tide is in or out, as we don't live near the sea so can't check for ourselves.....

And I time the tea with the countdown thingy. Also use world time when on holiday.

[Ikemi]

blueST said:

I use the tide graph on my Gulfman to tell my wife if the tide is in or out, as we don't live near the sea so can't check for ourselves.....

[thegobetween]

I use the cost of my IWC's as a constant 'conversation piece' with my wife...Oh hang on, no she does, I don't!

[andy_s]

Chrono question: What happens if (if you can at all) you press 'reset' while the chrono is running? This for a mechanical automatic chronograph.

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

I use the GMT function on the panerai when overseas and the rotating bezel on my planet ocean when diving. I ahve used the stopwatch function on my speedmaster for lap timing at race meetings, but prefer to use my phone or a stopwatch if im honest

[OnePaintedMan]

Used the weather forecast function all the time on my Nike Sports watch when I was skiing. Very accurate (internal barometre). ALso used Max/Min altitude and total altitude descended function. Don't really use the functions on my Tag Heuer Carrera 1964 40th anniversary but it looks a lot nicer!

[Pesty]

andy_s said:

Chrono question: What happens if (if you can at all) you press 'reset' while the chrono is running? This for a mechanical automatic chronograph.

You send the watch with lots of cash back to switzerland

[andy_s]

Cheers Pesty - wondered if they had a way of blocking reset if running - ah well, just thinking of interferring childrens sticky fingers...


Back on topic - Explorer II - Use the 24hr hand as I'm abroad often, indeed, got it for this amongst other things. Suunto Vector - use altimeter function now and again and compass sometimes, stop watch to time runs but only really wear it when running around the hills.

[tertius]

I use the chrono a lot - mainly timing children's punishments which are highly geared to x minutes on the naughty step ...

Also cooking type stuff.

Also I might once in the while use it for the fun of seeing the hands move ...

[GC8]

Ive used my Chronostop in my car on scores of occasions; although having to keep a mental note of the minutes can be a PITA...