James RickardTimepieces for the angler
April 28th 2009 01:39
You want to wet your line but you have to pick the kids up from practice in an hour. What to do? You could tell time by the sun. Let me tell you, I've spent a lot of time outdoors and I still can't to that. A good watch is a lot more convenient and most people are going to say it's easier to use.
Watches usually aren't aimed specifically at anglers. On the other hand, you can whittle away at what you don't need to find one to your liking. AND if you can find something for both casual and dress occasions, you're going to save some money.
The very first thing to think about when choosing a watch for any outdoor activity is water resistance. That is a key phrase--"water resistance." I used to work in a jewelry story so, I can say on good authority, that very few watches are actually water proof! If you want true water proofing, you're going to need a divers' watch and it still requires periodic checking under vacuum conditions. Most watches you buy are going to be water resistant and will stand an occasional, accidental dunking. If you get splashed landing a fish, it's probably going to hold up. Most water resistant watches require a thicker case than non-water resistant models. If you like the pancake look in your watches, I can't say "forget it" but, you're not going to find one at the budget counter. Sometime styling can hide the thickness but, you also pay for that.
Another important factor to consider is the case material--what the watch is made out of. I like a stainless-steel watch simply because I can't afford a 14 karat gold watch. Most gold watches are either just gold colored or have a very, very thin layer of actual gold covering a case of some other metal. With a little bit of perspiration, friction and time the gold finish wears away.
The crystal, the glass over the dial, is something else you may want to consider. Some are plastic while others are super-hard mineral glass and cost as much as some watches. Pricey watches usually incorporate a mineral glass crystal while those at the bottom of the price range use plastic. Although plastic crystals are much cheaper, they also break or scratch much easier!
Watches usually aren't aimed specifically at anglers. On the other hand, you can whittle away at what you don't need to find one to your liking. AND if you can find something for both casual and dress occasions, you're going to save some money.
The very first thing to think about when choosing a watch for any outdoor activity is water resistance. That is a key phrase--"water resistance." I used to work in a jewelry story so, I can say on good authority, that very few watches are actually water proof! If you want true water proofing, you're going to need a divers' watch and it still requires periodic checking under vacuum conditions. Most watches you buy are going to be water resistant and will stand an occasional, accidental dunking. If you get splashed landing a fish, it's probably going to hold up. Most water resistant watches require a thicker case than non-water resistant models. If you like the pancake look in your watches, I can't say "forget it" but, you're not going to find one at the budget counter. Sometime styling can hide the thickness but, you also pay for that.
Another important factor to consider is the case material--what the watch is made out of. I like a stainless-steel watch simply because I can't afford a 14 karat gold watch. Most gold watches are either just gold colored or have a very, very thin layer of actual gold covering a case of some other metal. With a little bit of perspiration, friction and time the gold finish wears away.
The crystal, the glass over the dial, is something else you may want to consider. Some are plastic while others are super-hard mineral glass and cost as much as some watches. Pricey watches usually incorporate a mineral glass crystal while those at the bottom of the price range use plastic. Although plastic crystals are much cheaper, they also break or scratch much easier!
Right about now most people are going to expect me to start naming names. I don't care if you're wearing a Timex or Rolex! The are a lot of good companies out there producing a decent product. One thing I learned from selling watches is that when someone says, "Sell me a watch," the only way to handle the situation is to ask them "What do you want to spend?" because there are decent watches for fifty bucks, a hundred bucks or a thousand bucks. Like any product, it's all relative. Bulova, Seiko, Movado, Longines--they're all good! AND with the rise of electronic and digital technology, companies you wouldn't expect are creeping into the market and carving out their own niche.
Most of us wear wrist watches. If you go that route, you have a lot of thinking to do because unless you're on an unlimited budget, like a lot of other things, you'll have to compromise here and there. Even the band is a compromise. If you like leather but insist on wearing it around moisture or dirt, you may end up replacing that little hunk of leather a couple of times a year!
After that, what about the power source? Are you going to wind your watch every day, depend on a batter or look for something self winding? I've seen inactive people who don't move around enough to keep a self-winding watch powered up. (I wish that was a joke!)
This model from Orvis even has a compass on it.
Some anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts like a watch that clips on to your belt loop. A watch like the one in the picture is made by several manufacturers with a lot of price points. Since they are close to your waist, you usually don't have to worry about getting them wet or banging them around. The big down side is remembering a watch like this when you're heading outside.
No matter what kind of watch you choose, make sure it gets you to the bus stop on time!
Until next time--watch your line and watch yourself!
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