swap my Rolex for a Breitling Emergency...

[Bolebroke]

I never wear a watch now...but I have a 10 year old Rolex Datejust tucked away in a drawer from a previous life...fancied PXing against a Breitling Emergency..purely to be worn as a talking point..I am unlikely to get kidnapped or fall down a hole. I assume they still work at 10 years old + ?

[dom9]

Bolebroke said:

I never wear a watch now...but I have a 10 year old Rolex Datejust tucked away in a drawer from a previous life...fancied PXing against a Breitling Emergency..purely to be worn as a talking point..I am unlikely to get kidnapped or fall down a hole. I assume they still work at 10 years old + ?

There is a thread on here somewhere, if you do a search.

Didn't they change the emergency frequency fairly recently that meant the frequency the old Emergencies operate on was no longer monitored (or much less so)?

In other words... They 'might' still find you when you get kidnapped. They might not.

[marcosgt]

They work as watches after 10 years.

They're big old beasts and I wouldn't choose one over a B-1 or similar unless I thought I was likely to be downed in an air crash or kidnapped, but they do seem quite popular.

M.

[toohuge]

I think they are cool and will get one at some point. Although used prices seem to have risen in the last year or so.... so perhaps maybe wait for a while to pick up a good one.

IIRC they need to be sent back to Breitling for servicing etc, if that is a deal breaker for you.

[Fas1975]

They still work and the frequency is still being monitored. The only change is that the newer model works on a different frequency and mode of operation.

In the old version, if you pull the emergency transmitter, nothing will happen. Someone has to notify the emergency services that you're missing and to go look for you. Then they will launch search and rescue as needed. The newer model, once the transmitter is pulled, it will auto alert emergency services, but both frequencies, fully monitored and the older gen watches are still fully functioning pieces of kit.

[traffman]

Great if you've lost your car in Tescoe's multi storey then!

How much would it cost for a decent rescue....Heli included?

[chris5150]

I find it remarkable they are allowed to sell them to the public, you would of thought that there would be some sort of annual fee to register for such a thing, bit like a tracker in a car , then only serious people would actually bother with the emergency transmitter. I wonder how many have been activated mischieveously etc

I really don't get why anyone wants one,other than those that could actually need the emergency element, horrible looking timepiece IMHO

[alfaman]

I don't get the watches at all.

Massively bulky and expensive . Ugly.

And if u really need EPIRB capability .. You would buy a proper portable EPIRB device for much less.

I do quite a bit of diving ,
Offshore yachting , and climbing. I can get a submersible EPIRB and marine radio to go divng with for less than 200 quid. And can easily obtain an EPIRB suitable for sailing or climbing expeditions for not that much $$. With much stronger signal than a watch.

I've never seen any outdoor enthusiast use one of these watches..

[BrabusMog]

The temptation to pull the transmitter would be too much for me to resist!

[Miguel Alvarez]

BrabusMog said:

The temptation to pull the transmitter would be too much for me to resist!

Same. You should be allowed one free go a year lol.

[audidoody]

The bloke in the Tudor commercial with the dog team in the Arctic wastes isn't wearing one.

[alfaman]

audidoody said:

The bloke in the Tudor commercial with the dog team in the Arctic wastes isn't wearing one.

.. He can send a dog off with an attached note

And dog sledders wouldn't be wearing a leather strap watch either ....

[BrabusMog]

Miguel Alvarez said:

BrabusMog said:

The temptation to pull the transmitter would be too much for me to resist!

Same. You should be allowed one free go a year lol.

[Fas1975]

alfaman said:

I've never seen any outdoor enthusiast use one of these watches..

Bear Grylls wears one.....

[alfaman]

Fas1975 said:

alfaman said:

I've never seen any outdoor enthusiast use one of these watches..

Bear Grylls wears one.....

I guess he needs it to signal a helicopter pick up back to his 5 star hotel - before shooting the next days 'real live near death adventure ' [allegedly..]

[Rich_AR]

alfaman said:

I guess he needs it to signal a helicopter pick up back to his 5 star hotel - before shooting the next days 'real live near death adventure ' [allegedly..]