MTM Xtreme Ops Navy Seal
Discussion
Out of my league but I was having a look at what watches special forces wear around the world only the other day.
I chanced across MTM's website and wasn't impressed TBH. I don't know if I could wear something that has 'Special Ops' written on the dial.
A few other 'Navy Seals' watches are thrown up in Google too, I'm not sure what the standard issue (if any) is.
If it were my money I'd try and swallow it's a lot for a quartz and look at the Sinn UX GSG EZM thing.
I chanced across MTM's website and wasn't impressed TBH. I don't know if I could wear something that has 'Special Ops' written on the dial.
A few other 'Navy Seals' watches are thrown up in Google too, I'm not sure what the standard issue (if any) is.
If it were my money I'd try and swallow it's a lot for a quartz and look at the Sinn UX GSG EZM thing.
I was originally going to get the U1, then Seb D on here posted up pictures of his GSG9. That sort of swayed it for me.
The position of the crown and the oil filled case made it slightly more appealing. Being quartz doesn't really bother me, as it wouldn't be able to be filled with oil otherwise. I guess being a military watch made it a little bit cooler aswell
I love it.
I still want a U1, though. Won't be for a while, as they are too similar for me to have only 2 watches like that.
The position of the crown and the oil filled case made it slightly more appealing. Being quartz doesn't really bother me, as it wouldn't be able to be filled with oil otherwise. I guess being a military watch made it a little bit cooler aswell
I love it.
I still want a U1, though. Won't be for a while, as they are too similar for me to have only 2 watches like that.
Has anyone seen exactly how deep the UX will go? Sinn say that the oil-filled case makes the watch practically indestructible, which is a fair comment since there's nothing inside the watch that is compressible, hence no way of water pressure applying force on the watch case.
Obviously you'll need quartz for an oil filled watch (and I'll guess that the battery wears out faster due to increased friction... and you'll need specialist servicing to swap the battery in a completely oil-filled case, since one small bubble and you've got a failure point) but as you say, not an issue given the other features.
I'd guess that Sinn could strap one to a research sub and hit the bottom of the Mariana Trench with it. Or bung it in a machine that generates higher pressures than achievable on Earth (you could wear the watch deep in Jupiter's atmosphere, for example)
There's no depth rating on the dial - is it assumed by all that it's infinite?
Obviously you'll need quartz for an oil filled watch (and I'll guess that the battery wears out faster due to increased friction... and you'll need specialist servicing to swap the battery in a completely oil-filled case, since one small bubble and you've got a failure point) but as you say, not an issue given the other features.
I'd guess that Sinn could strap one to a research sub and hit the bottom of the Mariana Trench with it. Or bung it in a machine that generates higher pressures than achievable on Earth (you could wear the watch deep in Jupiter's atmosphere, for example)
There's no depth rating on the dial - is it assumed by all that it's infinite?
The UX is rated to 5,000m, this is due to the quartz module of the watch being presumed to be crushed at that pressure.
The only problem Sinn had with the UX was that the original (teflon?) oil reacted with the lume on the hands after a while (a few years). Sinn changed the oil (silicon?) in more recent watches and replaced/repaired all older UXs affected foc so this isn't a concern anymore.
The other 'concern' is bubbles in the oil, here's Sinns take on it (precied)
- When a watch case is filled, there is no gas bubble but the oil will have absorbed dissolved gases.
- As the ambient temperature drops, the oil filling contracts more than the volume of the watchcase. This phenomenon is compensated to a degree by the membrane back of the watchcase.
- When the membrane reaches the end of its flexibility, however, a vacuum bubble forms in the oil.
- The vacuum bubble is progressively filled with dissolved gases from the oil, and also with air which continually diffuses into the case (no wristwatch is completely air-/gasproof).
- As the ambient temperature increases again, the pressure inside the watch increases as well. The oil re-absorbs some, but not all of the gases in the gas bubble. This is because due to the diffused air, the total mass of the filling is more than it was before the ambient temperature dropped.
- Especially as this process is repeated, a gas/air bubble can form which is no longer dissolved as the ambient temperature increases.
- To minimize the effect - or to prolong the time until such a bubble forms - the initial oil-filling is currently done at a slight over-pressure (by manipulating the membrane caseback).
- The only way to get rid of the bubble, once it is stable at normal temperature, is to change the oil filling.
- Needless to say, the bubble does not affect the functioning of the watch in the least.
So if you do get a bubble, don't worry, most watches are bubble-less anyway from what I can tell.
I think the UX has a seven year battery inside it so despite the increased friction it should keep going longer than normal quartz, although it's back to the factory to change it, but then you do that with auto watches anyway, so no dramas.
There are watches associated with SF or pilots groups (Breitling 'as worn by Phantom pilots', MTM Navy SEALs, GSG9/ZTZ for Sinn etc), I think most is marketing or 'group buys' or donations rather than real procurement (hard to justify the price), however for personal choices amongst SF etc I'd say that the G-Shock is king. I'd have to say that most wouldn't have the time, money or inclination to hum and har over the merits of this over the other and end up G-Shocked or Suunto'd.
The last watch they'd ever wear on deployment (not deployant Andy_T...!) would be something marked 'Special Forces', 'SEAL Team 6' or whatever. Definitely not a good idea if you get bagged.
I'd imagine that if you were in the SEALs or other and were a watch officianado you may end up with something like a Sinn for its clarity and robustness, a Benarus type A/B if going vintage or just a good old diver like the Seiko variants or Marathons if you're 'merican. Anything you fancy though really.
Those UX's above are an excellent choice I think, I've not seen one in the flesh so haven't seen the 'extreme angle visibility' thing (pics?) but it sounds mighty cool.
The only problem Sinn had with the UX was that the original (teflon?) oil reacted with the lume on the hands after a while (a few years). Sinn changed the oil (silicon?) in more recent watches and replaced/repaired all older UXs affected foc so this isn't a concern anymore.
The other 'concern' is bubbles in the oil, here's Sinns take on it (precied)
- When a watch case is filled, there is no gas bubble but the oil will have absorbed dissolved gases.
- As the ambient temperature drops, the oil filling contracts more than the volume of the watchcase. This phenomenon is compensated to a degree by the membrane back of the watchcase.
- When the membrane reaches the end of its flexibility, however, a vacuum bubble forms in the oil.
- The vacuum bubble is progressively filled with dissolved gases from the oil, and also with air which continually diffuses into the case (no wristwatch is completely air-/gasproof).
- As the ambient temperature increases again, the pressure inside the watch increases as well. The oil re-absorbs some, but not all of the gases in the gas bubble. This is because due to the diffused air, the total mass of the filling is more than it was before the ambient temperature dropped.
- Especially as this process is repeated, a gas/air bubble can form which is no longer dissolved as the ambient temperature increases.
- To minimize the effect - or to prolong the time until such a bubble forms - the initial oil-filling is currently done at a slight over-pressure (by manipulating the membrane caseback).
- The only way to get rid of the bubble, once it is stable at normal temperature, is to change the oil filling.
- Needless to say, the bubble does not affect the functioning of the watch in the least.
So if you do get a bubble, don't worry, most watches are bubble-less anyway from what I can tell.
I think the UX has a seven year battery inside it so despite the increased friction it should keep going longer than normal quartz, although it's back to the factory to change it, but then you do that with auto watches anyway, so no dramas.
There are watches associated with SF or pilots groups (Breitling 'as worn by Phantom pilots', MTM Navy SEALs, GSG9/ZTZ for Sinn etc), I think most is marketing or 'group buys' or donations rather than real procurement (hard to justify the price), however for personal choices amongst SF etc I'd say that the G-Shock is king. I'd have to say that most wouldn't have the time, money or inclination to hum and har over the merits of this over the other and end up G-Shocked or Suunto'd.
The last watch they'd ever wear on deployment (not deployant Andy_T...!) would be something marked 'Special Forces', 'SEAL Team 6' or whatever. Definitely not a good idea if you get bagged.
I'd imagine that if you were in the SEALs or other and were a watch officianado you may end up with something like a Sinn for its clarity and robustness, a Benarus type A/B if going vintage or just a good old diver like the Seiko variants or Marathons if you're 'merican. Anything you fancy though really.
Those UX's above are an excellent choice I think, I've not seen one in the flesh so haven't seen the 'extreme angle visibility' thing (pics?) but it sounds mighty cool.
Edited by andy_s on Monday 9th November 08:20
Personally I don't think you'll do much better for the price than look at Marathon watches which supposedly are the ones issued to the canadian army. Look here:-
http://www.countycomm.com/Watches.htm
Don't get me wrong, I think Sinn are a fabulous make and the UX a tour de force, but I don't often get the need for 5,000 metres in the pool or in the bath. In fact I can think of no reason to buy one really except for the reason we love watches and that is good enough. But as a general every day rough-tough watch, the Marathons take some beating on price, especially if you are going over to the US and can have it delivered to your hotel.
http://www.countycomm.com/Watches.htm
Don't get me wrong, I think Sinn are a fabulous make and the UX a tour de force, but I don't often get the need for 5,000 metres in the pool or in the bath. In fact I can think of no reason to buy one really except for the reason we love watches and that is good enough. But as a general every day rough-tough watch, the Marathons take some beating on price, especially if you are going over to the US and can have it delivered to your hotel.
...anyway, watches worn on the wrist are for poofs. This is how you wear a UX:
Using closed-circuit O2 rebreathers, a two man team is configured with one on the bottom working with the 'planchette' and another on top and slightly behind looking forward and double checking times/caps. You'd typically memorise your bearing, time and distance (which for complicated runs could be up to 10 sets) staying at about 6 metres below the surface (any deeper and the O2 becomes toxic). Trick stuff, like juggling jam or herding cats.
Using closed-circuit O2 rebreathers, a two man team is configured with one on the bottom working with the 'planchette' and another on top and slightly behind looking forward and double checking times/caps. You'd typically memorise your bearing, time and distance (which for complicated runs could be up to 10 sets) staying at about 6 metres below the surface (any deeper and the O2 becomes toxic). Trick stuff, like juggling jam or herding cats.
RemaL said:
oww giving me a few idea to look at now
to add not knowing much abot the Sinn wathces where is the best place to look
www.chronomaster.co.ukto add not knowing much abot the Sinn wathces where is the best place to look
Edited by RemaL on Monday 9th November 11:45
www.jurawatches.co.uk
Dr Rick
Dr_Rick said:
RemaL said:
oww giving me a few idea to look at now
to add not knowing much abot the Sinn wathces where is the best place to look
www.chronomaster.co.ukto add not knowing much abot the Sinn wathces where is the best place to look
Edited by RemaL on Monday 9th November 11:45
www.jurawatches.co.uk
Dr Rick
ErnestM said:
I have the MTM Blackhawk/Ballistic Velcro version.
No dealers in FL. In fact, I believe it is website only for non military.
Any other questions?
We've both been on this site since 2002, and if I see a post made by you Ernest - my immediate mental image is of the picture you have posted on your profile with the Lotus, your lovely wife and wearing a dinner jacket.No dealers in FL. In fact, I believe it is website only for non military.
Any other questions?
I simply can't imagine you wearing such a watch.
Regarding what 'real special forces types' wear - my girlfriend's brother in law is in the SAS, and does 'real special forces things'. So I will ask him next time he's back from wherever it is I'm not allowed to say. Certainly though I've never noticed any 'interesting' horological frippery on his wrists, and being a watch fool I *notice* these things...
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