We live in a world where wristwatches can serve as luxury statements, lifestyle symbols, digital assistants, or even tiny space-age computers. Still, one watch stands out—the humble field watch. It doesn’t demand attention. It doesn’t have to. A field watch knows its purpose: a tool designed for work, not display. And in an age filled with complications—both literal and figurative—the simplicity of a field watch feels almost revolutionary.
So, what is a field watch, some of you might wonder? Today, I want to give you a quick crash course on field watches.
Born from the Battlefield
The field watch traces its lineage to the trenches of the early 20th century, when soldiers needed something more durable and practical than a pocket watch. These watches weren’t designed to impress generals or dignitaries; they were built to withstand mud, rain, shocks, and chaos. The design principles were utilitarian.
Some key features of a field watch back in the day include good legibility. The dial face of a field watch should be easily readable at a glance, day or night.
It is durable. The casing of a field watch is simple, but it is designed to withstand a lot of beating without affecting its performance.
The price point of a field watch is more affordable than that of other watches. The intention is to make it super accessible and easy to service.
The Anatomy of a Field Watch
At its core, a field watch is defined not by strict specifications but by ethos; there are still certain elements that define what a field watch is.
A simple, high-contrast dial with good legibility is the most essential element of a field watch. A field watch is designed to tell time quickly, so the numerals and dial must have a clear contrast to allow easy reading at a glance.
A field watch case should be compact. The ideal size for a traditional field watch is 36-38mm. However, modern field watches can be up to 40mm. The main goal is to prevent the watch from getting in the way while still being easy to read.
The case material is important for the watch's durability. Stainless steel is the most widely used metal for crafting field watch cases; however, there are brands that use titanium as the material for the casing.
Field watch movements are simple, regular movements that can accurately tell time. Traditionally, field watches have mechanical or automatic movements, but in today's world, some watchmakers use quartz and solar movements for better accuracy.
A field watch doesn’t try to impress you with its complexity. Its beauty lies in its discipline.
A Quiet Rebellion Against Excess
Divers with helium valves dominate the modern watch scene, but most owners will never use them. Pilot watches, made for cockpits, are rarely worn, and smartwatches, which require constant charging and updates, are common. A field watch, on the other hand, is almost minimalist.
I own several field watches, and two of my five go-to GADA watches are field watches. I love how simple it is to tell the time. There's no clutter; just a straightforward timepiece that shows you the time—reliable, legible, unpretentious.
In that way, the field watch has become a countercultural symbol. In a world filled with noise everywhere, the watch stands for restraint in an era obsessed with more.
This is one of the reasons why the appeal of the field watch still exists today. It nods to a past where objects were made to be useful and built to last. Wearing one feels grounding, a reminder that clarity and ruggedness still matter.
If you're looking for a field watch, RZE offers a wide selection. From the 36mm solar Urbanist, the 38mm lightweight Valour38, to the most refined field watches we've ever created—the Resolute series. You can find all of them here.
