Any current Military Issue?

[Low_fell]

Hello all. We all know in the past of military issued Rolex, but are there any current armed forces issuing Rolex today and are they unique editions?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Low_fell

Hello all. We all know in the past of military issued Rolex, but are there any current armed forces issuing Rolex today and are they unique editions?

Very doubtful today at one many countries issued Tudor Subs as they met strict military tests.

[Theurbancommando]

Not sure if this is still the case but British forces serving secondments to Oman were presented with Rolex watches after 2yrs service. These had the Omani crest on the dial and nowadays would be very collectable. I knew a couple of guys who had them years ago. It may still be a current practice. Not "issue" watches though.

[spoilsofwar01]

Hayward Milton is your man he's most knowledgeable on this matter, the 5517 was possibly the last military Submariner issued, there are other Military Submariners that are 5513's, hopefully others will help out. if your hoping to obtain one tread very carefully and be prepared to pay kings ransom, one suggestion take a look at the Smiths W10 the prices are climbing but their still out there.

[mozchron]

I think they use G-Shocks these days (and honestly, that's probably a better choice anyway).

[timewarped80]

Didn’t the navy issue special Patek 5711’s without spring bars to the seals?

[planemad]

I guess with GPS modules in G-Shocks these days are all the military need.
I know a lot of RAF pilots get Breitling watches with the SOS beacon on them.

[AF_Rob]

Unit issued Suunto, which were garbage in my experience. I got myself a Casio Pathfinder for the field and deployments.

These "editions" are mostly marketing. Dollar for dollar, they are not practical, when more functionality can be had at a fraction of the price.

[SS Oyster]

No


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[Daytonaman799]

The only thing are the special commissions that units have made and are available for purchase because many military guys are watch guys. The SAS had an explorer II made with engravings and that came after they did an Omega and a Breitling before that. DEVGRU in the US did a specially designed Bremont that had pieces of the rotor of a shot down chopper as part of the dial also only available to serving members of the unit. The French Presidential security detail did a sub as did the SRR in the UK and the Secret Service did a sub here. All done by the factory as special orders but also made available for purchase but NOT issued. There are other issues like that.

[Rashid.bk]

Lols...you honestly believe that there's a military out there that would spend $9,000 watches to give to soldiers to beat up.
Requesting and buying a special order of watches for a small unit is not the same as what we saw during the 70-80s where US Army SF units issued through the units supply chain Mil Subs, GMT Masters and Tudor Subs.

No military unit even the highly specialized SMU, DevGru, Green TM, or Team Orange are issuing out anything other than a digital non bluetooth tactical influenced watch like a Suunto or Garmin. Spending a couple hundred grand to buy and maintain in supply some cool Rolex watches is a frivolous expenditure that no XO(executive officer) will sign off on. They even have an equipment development and testing team made up of contractors and and one or two guys who rotate through the role of finding cool gear to test and buy for the unit, they have a huge budget, but not for Rolex, Omega or even Breitling Emergency watches. Plus these guys get an above average clothing allowance so they can purchase personal mission equipment.

However, when it comes to gear like Arcteryx for example, they spend hundreds of thousands. But that's for units under the JSOC umbrella. Your regular leg soldiers have to make due with what ever they issue from CIF.

Ok op, so if you were planning on jumping the waiting list at your AD buy joining the Army or foreign legion, etc...forget it, thats a dead end.

[GMT Freak]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Lols...you honestly believe that there's a military out there that would spend $9,000 watches to give to soldiers to beat up.
Requesting and buying a special order of watches for a small unit is not the same as what we saw during the 70-80s where US Army SF units issued through the units supply chain Mil Subs, GMT Masters and Tudor Subs.

No military unit even the highly specialized SMU, DevGru, Green TM, or Team Orange are issuing out anything other than a digital non bluetooth tactical influenced watch like a Suunto or Garmin. Spending a couple hundred grand to buy and maintain in supply some cool Rolex watches is a frivolous expenditure that no XO(executive officer) will sign off on. They even have an equipment development and testing team made up of contractors and and one or two guys who rotate through the role of finding cool gear to test and buy for the unit, they have a huge budget, but not for Rolex, Omega or even Breitling Emergency watches. Plus these guys get an above average clothing allowance so they can purchase personal mission equipment.

However, when it comes to gear like Arcteryx for example, they spend hundreds of thousands. But that's for units under the JSOC umbrella. Your regular leg soldiers have to make due with what ever they issue from CIF.

Ok op, so if you were planning on jumping the waiting list at your AD buy joining the Army or foreign legion, etc...forget it, thats a dead end.

Imagine joining the army just to cop a free rolex

[Ihatecheese]

Yeh here is your 25k a year salary and a 8k watch.
I have no idea on this stuff but presumably it's something digital and tough these days.

[Airkingchnr]

The SBS Special Boat Service) still get issued a watch made by the CABOLT Watch Company ( CWC ). The SBS watches are a very nice hard wearing quartz watch .. do a search on Google.. I can't add links with this being my first post

The W10 from the same company could be issued to soldiers and Royal Navy personnel until early 2000s . They had to be handed back on leaving that tour, ship, establishment ... unless you lost them .. note divers with Milsubs... all that are for sale are stolen/lost
That is why they are so rare.. once issuing stops for a product that product was usually destroyed... by the stores man and stores officer


Royal Navy Navigators and RAF pilots and navigators got CWC navigator chronographs

Royal Navy divers again were issued CWC divers watched until late 90s .. then they no longer got a watch put a wrist computers which are alot safer and calculate benz stops etc.. this was the watch that replaced the MilSub..Military Rolex Submariner...again look on site it gives the history

Other than the CWC SBS watch from CWC..
The SBS is still supplied to the British military today, and is issued to units requiring a dive watch, including Royal Marines Commandos, Paras, Royal Engineer divers, and some supporting units of the Royal Navy. Supply recommenced in 2015, with further issues in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Watches supplied since 2017 have been the Mk II version of the watch with sapphire crystal and 120-click bezel.

Most of the issued watches are from Pulsar/Seiko as they have to pass a strict Defence contract criteria to get into stores

[Andykllhr]

The Special Boat Service do in fact have an issued timepiece, the Elliot Brown Holton, the other branches of the services can draw a G10 of some description from stores and Royal Navy Clearance Divers have the option to draw a Citizen Dive watch if they desire. There could be many more examples across the services, but my experience is limited to maritime operations.

[Richard Carver]

Garmin's military offerings are very popular, from GPS to artillery solutions on the fly they do it all.

This pic is couple of years old, this is a Brit unit I believe.

[TJO]

Ozzies, tallest is a VC recipient.

[Sunny Arizona]

Originally Posted by timewarped80

Didn’t the navy issue special Patek 5711’s without spring bars to the seals?

That came with their first book deal.

[teck21]

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[Swearengen]

CWC G10 is a fine everyday watch and very good value

Originally Posted by Andykllhr

The Special Boat Service do in fact have an issued timepiece, the Elliot Brown Holton, the other branches of the services can draw a G10 of some description from stores and Royal Navy Clearance Divers have the option to draw a Citizen Dive watch if they desire. There could be many more examples across the services, but my experience is limited to maritime operations.

[B2 Stealth]

Best discussion on Forum I have read in months. Thanks for sharing everyone!