Best watch as a tough workhorse?

[Ruud Van Driver]

Having been a very happy Rolex owner for a mahoosive four months now, the thought of going off on a travel job without a Rolex and wearing my trusty old Citizen instead gives me the creeping geebies. I'm now considering picking up a pre-owned, older piece for travel jobs. I can wind up in some very ropey places as well as some extremely pleasant ones. My watch can sometimes take a bashing while crawling through ballast tanks, cofferdams, cargo holds etc.

My question is, what would be a good choice as a solid, robust workhorse? I'd be looking for the best compromise of value-for-money, tough as old boots and relatively discreet. I'm guessing non-date sub?

Many thanks in advance

[Quotron]

Honestly, it would be hard to go wrong with any Rolex. If you're looking for a simple 3 hand watch with no complications, I'd look at an Explorer I or an Air-King, but if you're travelling, you'd probably find some utility in the second time zone ability of the Explorer II....

[Karbo]

Simple answer : sea dweller 16600 !

[Jfullm42]

16570

[93 Turbo]

Originally Posted by Jfullm42

16570

The above, but it's ultimately up to you. Noir Exp II is very fly under the radar. Used to wear a Polar Exp II in some pretty crappy places, and it never got a second look. The second timezone is also very useful when travelling.

If your woking in confined spaces there a chance your could loose the rotating bezel from a Sub. It'll be a pain in rear end should this occur. Not likely, but always a possibility with a rotating bezel. Good luck J

[BBQ BOY]

Easy. The Explorer 39mm

[crowncollection]

They are all tough. Explorer or sub

[jack81]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

they are all tough. Explorer or sub

+1

[sturgeon123456]

Anything that doesn't sit unecessarily high off the wrist, which inevitably bangs into things.

So no:

Sub SD DSSD GMT2 YM

The in list:

Explorer One / Explorer 2 / Daytona / Or simply 36mm Datejust

Any Rolex can do what you are looking for, some will just do it more comfortably.

[zama]

I would have thought a simple Air king, OP would get the job done as they dress up a little are robust, probably wont draw attention (all things you are looking for). If you want to step up from that an Explorer sounds the go.

[Old Expat Beast]

I have a pretty large Rolex collection (Subs, GMTs, Explorers I & II, etc, etc), but my choice for travel is my Tudor Heritage Chrono. It can take a hammering, has a second-timezone bezel, date, stopwatch, and flies fairly low under the radar. It's valuable enough that you can sell it easily for the price for a plane ticket home if needs be, yet not so expensive that it would be the end of the world if it was lost or stolen. It also keeps better time than any of my Rolexes.

[AF_Rob]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I have a pretty large Rolex collection (Subs, GMTs, Explorers I & II, etc, etc), but my choice for travel is my Tudor Heritage Chrono. It can take a hammering, has a second-timezone bezel, date, stopwatch, and flies fairly low under the radar. It's valuable enough that you can sell it easily for the price for a plane ticket home if needs be, yet not so expensive that it would be the end of the world if it was lost or stolen. It also keeps better time than any of my Rolexes.

Hard to go wrong with Adam's advice. This watch is probably the most useful watch Rolex/Tudor makes for the price.

[Nsx_23]

14270/114270 exp 1. Small size, comfortable, relatively inexpensive and it flies under the radar.

[Rashid.bk]

The Explorer or the 114060.
My choice would be the Explorer for a no frills reliable work horse watch.

[Bangel]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

The Explorer or the 114060.
My choice would be the Explorer for a no frills reliable work horse watch.

Agreed.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Thank you for the replies so far, very helpful

Originally Posted by 93 Turbo

Used to wear a Polar Exp II in some pretty crappy places, and it never got a second look. The second timezone is also very useful when travelling.

If your woking in confined spaces there a chance your could loose the rotating bezel from a Sub. It'll be a pain in rear end should this occur. Not likely, but always a possibility with a rotating bezel. Good luck J

Never entered my head about knocking the bezel off - excellent heads-up!

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I have a pretty large Rolex collection (Subs, GMTs, Explorers I & II, etc, etc), but my choice for travel is my Tudor Heritage Chrono. It can take a hammering, has a second-timezone bezel, date, stopwatch, and flies fairly low under the radar. It's valuable enough that you can sell it easily for the price for a plane ticket home if needs be, yet not so expensive that it would be the end of the world if it was lost or stolen. It also keeps better time than any of my Rolexes.

Nice piece. What's the RRP of one of these (although I'll almost certainly go down the second hand route).

I've done a bit of digging on Watchfinder.co.uk and five to six year old Explorer II are running at about £3,500 (US$ 5,500) with boxes and papers.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

Thank you for the replies so far, very helpful



Never entered my head about knocking the bezel off - excellent heads-up!



Nice piece. What's the RRP of one of these (although I'll almost certainly go down the second hand route).

I've done a bit of digging on Watchfinder.co.uk and five to six year old Explorer II are running at about £3,500 (US$ 5,500) with boxes and papers.

RRP is about 4.2k but I got mine brand new for 3.2k. They're not too hard to find at that price, I think.

[Im Lauf der Zeit]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

RRP is about 4.2k but I got mine brand new for 3.2k. They're not too hard to find at that price, I think.

What currency, Adam? And is the THC or Exp 2 being referred to, the thread and quotes were all over the place. Thanks.

[Face4]

Explorer, GMT, SD, Sub, I think you will be fine with all.

[toneafficianado]

Explorer II is the one..so hard to beat. I have Polar and it doesn't catch eyes like my 1406oM sub..bezel is low and angled and doesn't rotate. Incredibly practical Rolex all round.You can't go wrong with 40 or 42mm versions.

[travisb]

A Sub is one of the most recognizable watches in the world.
If you were wanting to avoid that, Id go with an Explorer.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

RRP is about 4.2k but I got mine brand new for 3.2k. They're not too hard to find at that price, I think.

Ok, thanks

Originally Posted by travisb

A Sub is one of the most recognizable watches in the world.
If you were wanting to avoid that, Id go with an Explorer.

I have a Sub C LV so don't really want another. Explorer II sounding more like an excellent choice

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by travisb

A Sub is one of the most recognizable watches in the world.
If you were wanting to avoid that, Id go with an Explorer.

Ditto

[Spartacus]

Originally Posted by travisb

A Sub is one of the most recognizable watches in the world.
If you were wanting to avoid that, Id go with an Explorer.

great point.

[Annan]

Originally Posted by toneafficianado

Explorer II is the one..so hard to beat. I have Polar and it doesn't catch eyes like my 1406oM sub..bezel is low and angled and doesn't rotate. Incredibly practical Rolex all round.You can't go wrong with 40 or 42mm versions.

X2 Personally for the needs you describe I would go with the 40mm 16570. It has all the features of the larger 216570 but is more discrete, sits slightly lower on the wrist, bracelet can be more easily adjusted and can be found for less money.

[Racerdj]

Any Explorer, ceramic sub or GMT would work fine! Come to think about it, really any Rolex will work.

[badass09]

I'd suggest a no date sub with a rubber b strap to go under the radar..

[dysondiver]

stick with the old citizen you have ,,, treat yourself to something nice when your finished though ,,,

[Jack T]

How about a simple Oyster Perpetual, 116000. It's so far under the radar it hasn't even been suggested yet by the aficionados on this site. That's tree top!

[BMess]

Explorer 2 without question.