First and foremost, watches are meant for their owners to quickly and easily tell the time.
If a watch doesn't show the time, then simply put, it isn't a watch. But that's not all they're capable of. Watches are also considered an integral part of style. Some even offer greater functionality than initially intended.
Today, we'll talk about such multifunctional watches. Widely known as “tool watches,” they include any watch designed to do something other than just tell the time. From multi-time zone watches equipped with rotating dive bezels to high-tech full-featured smart devices - here are the best tool watches you can buy.
Best Tool Watches
What Are Tool Watches?
There are many different types of watches in the world. Fortunately, the phrase “tool watch” doesn't refer to a specific kind of watch. In fact, it's much simpler - you might already own such a watch without even knowing it. You see, a “tool watch” is a more general term describing watches that do something useful besides just telling the time. If you keep up, this means any watch that performs a function other than measuring hours, minutes, and seconds can be considered a tool watch, including dive watches, racing or pilot watches with a tachymetric bezel, GMT watches, survival watches, and even modern smartwatches. For reference, the aforementioned list doesn't cover even half of the different types of tool watches.
However, there's a small issue here. Since there's no official definition, it can be difficult to determine what exactly sets a tool watch apart from those not included in this list. This also means there are various interpretations of the term. For instance, some believe tool watches can't be too expensive, as luxury watches inherently don't resemble functional tools. Moreover, if you're smart enough, you might realize that standard watches, without any additional built-in complications or functions, can be used to solve a range of tasks unrelated to time-telling - for example, working in tandem with the sun as a special compass. For our purposes, we'll stick to a simple approach: if a watch is designed by the manufacturer to do more than just tell the time, it falls into the tool watch category.
Types of Tool Watches
- Field Watches: Also considered military watches, these are designed for durability, withstand harsh conditions, and provide quick and clear time display without any frills. Typically, these are time-only watches with enhanced water resistance.
- Diver: While “diver watches” have come to mean anything with big cases, graduated bezels, and over 100m water resistance, specially made dive watches are serious tools for professional and military divers. Typically, water resistance for diving watches is 200m, 300m, and more.
- Chronograph: Possibly one of the most useful complications in mechanical watches. A chronograph function is essentially a glorified stopwatch. Chronographs usually have two or three small subdials, each showing different time intervals (seconds, minutes, hours).
- GMT: GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time and allows tracking a second, sometimes a third, time zone. Often, such watches have a fourth hand indicating the hour of another time zone.
- Smartwatches: Believe it or not, smartwatches are tools that can serve you well, be it daily assistance or specific goals like running, hiking, and even playing golf.
Casio G-SHOCK GW9400-1 Rangeman
The G-SHOCK watch line is perhaps the toughest in the world and perfect for those looking for digital options.
Best Digital Tool Watch: By definition, almost all G-SHOCK watches fit the definition of “tool watches.” However, the Master of G Rangeman model you see here is one of the best. These digital quartz watches, with legendary durability and shock resistance, are designed to withstand the harshest conditions in the world. The watch can determine altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, and has a built-in compass. They can even tell you sunrise and sunset times, track time with a single button press, and much more. They're not the most expensive watches, but they have one of the most comprehensive sets of features.
- Type: Field
- Movement: Quartz
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Diameter: 55.2mm
Marathon Pilot’s Navigator Quartz
The iconic Marathon Pilot’s Navigator watches with a shock-resistant composite fiber case remain among the toughest pilot watches available in black color.
Best Pilot Watch: When it comes to military-style tool watches, few brands are as comfortable in this space as Marathon. The Canadian watch company is well-known for its Search & Rescue watches, but when it comes to specially made tool watches, we prefer the 41mm Pilot’s Navigator. First released in 1986 in tandem with Kelly Air Force Base, these watches were unlike any others on the market at the time of their debut, and they continue to be genuinely useful today, with their latest modification set for release in 2019. Made from a shock-resistant composite fiber case, the black-cased watch favors durability and visibility. The latter is achieved through a high-contrast dial and tritium lume on the hands and numerals. Other features include a 24-hour internal dial and a 12-hour bezel for tracking a second time zone.
- Type: Field
- Movement: Quartz
- Water Resistance: 60m
- Diameter: 41mm
Hamilton Khaki Field Watch
Hamilton's ultra-durable field watches are a favorite due to their accessible size, 24-hour dial, and retro aesthetic.
Best Field Watch: Hamilton has a rich history of producing more than capable tool watches and even became the official supplier for the US military during World War II. In 2017, the Pennsylvania-based watch company paid homage to its roots by releasing the Khaki Field Watch, which also features design cues from the 1970s GG-W-113 model. Presented here in a 42mm matte stainless steel case, adorned with a comfortable NATO strap, these automatic field watches have become legendary for their ruggedness and affordability. Other features include a 24-hour military dial, triangular indices for clear readings, and plenty of luminous lamps.
- Type: Field
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Diameter: 42mm
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple's Ultra watch is a rugged version of the flagship everyday model featuring a titanium case, 100m water resistance, and durable straps.
Best Smartwatch: While most people use them for everyday wear, smartwatches are increasingly becoming literal tools themselves, and even the biggest players are introducing quite robust models that go beyond just telling time and making calls. Last year, Apple positioned itself as a brand for adventure-ready smartwatches with the release of the Ultra model, featuring a lightweight titanium case and a variety of durable strap options. And now, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has debuted. Meeting MIL-STD 810H standards and boasting 100-meter water resistance with a depth gauge, the 49mm smartwatch in its latest iteration has increased the dial size to reach the outer edge of the display, allowing you to see as much information as possible at once.
- Type: Smartwatch
- Movement: Apple iOS
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Diameter: 49mm
MTM Special Ops RAD Watch
The unique RAD watch from MTM can detect radiation in the atmosphere, and its titanium case adds extra weight at 46mm size.
Best Tactical Watch: Just a glance at the MTM Special Ops RAD watch, and you'll immediately understand they're meant for extreme conditions. Possibly the only watch we've ever seen with a built-in Geiger counter for detecting radiation in the environment, this model is extremely useful for military personnel in the field. Made from a lightweight titanium case and equipped with a Swiss-made Ronda quartz movement, the RAD watch features durable tritium illumination on the dial and electroluminescent backlighting on digital displays. The case and strap color can be chosen to your liking - with about 30 options available for the latter.
- Type: Field
- Movement: Quartz
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Diameter: 46mm
Tudor Pelagos 39
The Pelagos 39 from Tudor is one of the most popular among divers due to its stylish aesthetic, lightweight titanium construction, and accessible size.
Best Diving Watch: Dive watches are one of the most classic tool watch categories, serving as style icons as much as useful marine instruments. And the vintage-inspired Pelagos 39 from Tudor is undoubtedly among the best of them. Not only are they beautiful watches, but they also feature an ultra-durable and lightweight Grade 2 titanium case, matching bracelet, rotating dive bezel, protected screw-down crown, and an in-house automatic movement with a bidirectional rotor. Of course, none of this would matter much if these wristwatches couldn't handle the ocean. Fortunately, water resistance allows dives up to 200 meters.
- Type: Diving
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Diameter: 39mm
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional
The Speedmaster Moonwatch from Omega is arguably the most famous watch in the world, presented here in a classic chronograph configuration with three subdials.
Best Chronograph: At first glance, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional looks like a handsome, albeit rather standard, chronograph. However, if you know their creation story, you’ll have no doubts that these are some of the finest tool watches. After all, they are the modern descendant and namesake of those very watches that NASA selected for all six lunar missions (and beyond). Worn by great astronauts like Neil Armstrong (though he left his in the lunar module during his moonwalk), Buzz Aldrin, Ed White (the first American to conduct a spacewalk), and others, they have a rich history that confirms their place in our list. Of course, they are also exceptionally beautiful, equipped with a reliable automatic movement, a rotating tachymetric bezel, and available in various color schemes and styles.
- Type: Chronograph
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistance: 50m
- Diameter: 42mm
Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph
The iconic Navitimer from Breitling was the first watch with a rotating slide rule bezel and remains one of the most revered chronographs to this day.
Best Updated Chronograph: Few chronographs are as iconic as the Navitimer from Breitling, whose renown has only grown thanks to its tool-oriented focus. Debuting in 1952, these watches became one of the mainstays of the post-war aviation boom and were beloved by airline pilots and NASA astronauts for their unique circular slide rule bezel, used for quick in-flight calculations. For its 70th anniversary last year, the Swiss watch company updated the flagship watch, giving it a more elegant and contemporary look. The watch's three subdials are powered by an in-house B01 automatic movement housed in a stainless steel case and matching bracelet. The 43mm variant provides ample dial visibility without overloading the wrist.
- Type: Chronograph
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistance: 30m
- Diameter: 43mm
Rolex GMT-Master II
Rolex is the most famous luxury watch manufacturer, and this GMT-Master II model is a classic.
Best GMT: GMT functions - short for Greenwich Mean Time - on watches are some of the smartest, most elegant, and simple additions to any watch. And you can see their brilliance in full force in the iconic Rolex GMT-Master II right here. While much of these watches function as a regular chronometer - including a date window at the “3 o'clock” position - they also feature an auxiliary 24-hour hand and a rotating 24-hour bezel that allows the wearer to track a separate auxiliary time zone at a glance. Perfect for those who frequently travel between two time zones, these watches have been a staple for travelers for many years. Additionally, the watch features a signature Oystersteel case, automatic self-winding movement, signature five-link Jubilee bracelet, Cerachrom bezel, and more.
- Type: GMT
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistance: 100m
- Diameter: 40mm
IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph
The Timezoner Pilot’s Watch from IWC is the most useful mechanical watch on this list, equipped with a chronograph and GMT function with a world time bezel.
Best Grail Watch: For globetrotters, the most useful mechanical watch on this list is undoubtedly the IWC Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Chronograph you see here. And while the chronograph movement and date window certainly contribute to its utility, the bezel's primary function is the real star of this show. This is because it's a rotating world timer - meaning it has the names of specific locations (whether cities, countries, islands, etc.) that can be rotated so you can determine the correct time in those places, no matter which time zone you're in at the moment. It's a simple addition, but extremely useful for those who need to know the hours of different time zones around the globe. Additionally, the watch is beautifully crafted in a combination of stainless steel and leather, equipped with an automatic movement, and even water-resistant up to 6 bar.
- Type: GMT/Chronograph
- Movement: Automatic
- Water Resistance: 60m
- Diameter: 46mm