What watch would you bring if you were going exploring.
Discussion
Was on holidays last week and got to try out some nice watches.
I had intended my next purchase to be a Milgauss but after trying one on I have decided it's not for me.
What I did really like is the Rolex Explorer 1 (39mm) and I think I will explore that option further.
Anyway it got me thinking, if you were going on a pole to pole expedition what watch would you wear (before everyone jumps in with a G Shock) apparently according to an article I was reading quartz watches do not cope well with hot/cold variations and are not particularly well suited to expeditions.
BTW: Zenith was the choice of the adventurer whose article I was reading.
I had intended my next purchase to be a Milgauss but after trying one on I have decided it's not for me.
What I did really like is the Rolex Explorer 1 (39mm) and I think I will explore that option further.
Anyway it got me thinking, if you were going on a pole to pole expedition what watch would you wear (before everyone jumps in with a G Shock) apparently according to an article I was reading quartz watches do not cope well with hot/cold variations and are not particularly well suited to expeditions.
BTW: Zenith was the choice of the adventurer whose article I was reading.
Blashford-Snell by any chance?
Yema did a solar sighting watch (useful for the poles), called a Bi-Pole.
The explorer in Explorer was originally the spelolologist, or whatever the term is, the 24 hr hand indicated am/pm if you were down for so long you lost track.
Sinn watches have a proprietry oil that extends the minus temperature envelope that gums normal oils in an automatic watch. This allows the watch to be worn over the sleeve, useful in such conditions.
Then there is the Alaska Project Speedmaster.
Yema did a solar sighting watch (useful for the poles), called a Bi-Pole.
The explorer in Explorer was originally the spelolologist, or whatever the term is, the 24 hr hand indicated am/pm if you were down for so long you lost track.
Sinn watches have a proprietry oil that extends the minus temperature envelope that gums normal oils in an automatic watch. This allows the watch to be worn over the sleeve, useful in such conditions.
Then there is the Alaska Project Speedmaster.
Edited by andy_s on Monday 22 August 16:56
mcpiston said:
Andy: Close, it was the Zenith El Primero - Blashford special edition. Bet he takes the one you mention when he is actually going though.
As far as I recall he had an EP and wore it for 40 years before Zenith cottoned on, bought his for their museum and produced the B-S EP. eta - yup - here it is - http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?p=13...
Edited by andy_s on Monday 22 August 18:19
Serious answer ...
I have been exploring in cold conditions (high altitude climbs in my case, not polar stuff). I always took a quartz watch-altimeter. Having an altimeter to hand is a useful aid to navigation and an alarm is useful for starts in the early hours. Batteries work poorly in the cold, but that's not a problem because the watch is kept warm on your wrist.
I would never take a valuable watch, because the odds of damaging it are high. I've bust more than one watch on expeditions. Also, I was never comfortable travelling to remote parts with a theft-magnet on my wrist. Too many team mates have had their watches nicked!
Of course, if I was a famous exolorer sponsored by Rolex, I wouldn't worry about these things
If any watch manufacturers are reading this and want to sponsor a has-been explorer, then drop me a PM about what I could fail to do for the brand image
I have been exploring in cold conditions (high altitude climbs in my case, not polar stuff). I always took a quartz watch-altimeter. Having an altimeter to hand is a useful aid to navigation and an alarm is useful for starts in the early hours. Batteries work poorly in the cold, but that's not a problem because the watch is kept warm on your wrist.
I would never take a valuable watch, because the odds of damaging it are high. I've bust more than one watch on expeditions. Also, I was never comfortable travelling to remote parts with a theft-magnet on my wrist. Too many team mates have had their watches nicked!
Of course, if I was a famous exolorer sponsored by Rolex, I wouldn't worry about these things
If any watch manufacturers are reading this and want to sponsor a has-been explorer, then drop me a PM about what I could fail to do for the brand image
Bibbs said:
Breitling Emergency.
So when I get lost, fall over and hurt myself someone can follow the signal and find my frozen corpse.
No intention of being anywhere other than a beach or a city lol but my answer would be this. I'm too much of a southern softie to be running around in artic conditions pretending I know how to survive. So when I get lost, fall over and hurt myself someone can follow the signal and find my frozen corpse.
SVS said:
Serious answer ...
I have been exploring in cold conditions (high altitude climbs in my case, not polar stuff). I always took a quartz watch-altimeter. Having an altimeter to hand is a useful aid to navigation and an alarm is useful for starts in the early hours. Batteries work poorly in the cold, but that's not a problem because the watch is kept warm on your wrist.
I would never take a valuable watch, because the odds of damaging it are high. I've bust more than one watch on expeditions. Also, I was never comfortable travelling to remote parts with a theft-magnet on my wrist. Too many team mates have had their watches nicked!
Of course, if I was a famous exolorer sponsored by Rolex, I wouldn't worry about these things
If any watch manufacturers are reading this and want to sponsor a has-been explorer, then drop me a PM about what I could fail to do for the brand image
This is absolutely correct. You don't wear your watch outside your shell and so the battery is not affected by the cold. If your wrist has got cold enough to trouble the battery then you are in big trouble!! The inge was a gift and is of sentimental importance - it goes with me everywhere and again it is safe under layers of clothing. Theft might be a problem in the populous mountain ranges of the world but not in the relatively deserted arctic. I have been exploring in cold conditions (high altitude climbs in my case, not polar stuff). I always took a quartz watch-altimeter. Having an altimeter to hand is a useful aid to navigation and an alarm is useful for starts in the early hours. Batteries work poorly in the cold, but that's not a problem because the watch is kept warm on your wrist.
I would never take a valuable watch, because the odds of damaging it are high. I've bust more than one watch on expeditions. Also, I was never comfortable travelling to remote parts with a theft-magnet on my wrist. Too many team mates have had their watches nicked!
Of course, if I was a famous exolorer sponsored by Rolex, I wouldn't worry about these things
If any watch manufacturers are reading this and want to sponsor a has-been explorer, then drop me a PM about what I could fail to do for the brand image
^ This is why Sinn developed an oil that didn't lower it's viscosity until about -40, so you could wear it over the sleeve. Why? Well, originally it was for things like the Fulda challenge but was also useful for sled running, snowmobile runs etc - the time can be seen one-handed (no need to move the cuff) and without exposing the skin.
GShock would be the best practical choice I think though, the speedy would be out due to its 3atm w/r.
GShock would be the best practical choice I think though, the speedy would be out due to its 3atm w/r.
Edited by andy_s on Tuesday 23 August 13:14
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