WHAT IS A TOOL WATCH - HISTORICALLY AND MODERN DAY

In the space that is the watch community, there seems to be a considerable amount of 'grouping' that goes along with such.

If we were to narrow ourselves down to a focused niche here for Watchmens Guild, we find ourselves leaning towards the 'Tool Watch' community.

But alas, what is a tool watch?

Historically, the tool watch can be defined in the literal sense as a watch with the designed intent to be utilized as a durable and reliable instrument for telling time in demanding environments. These tool watches were (and still are) often oriented to meet particular demands in construction and features for various environments and professionals. In short, focused function over fashion.

We can trace these types of practically oriented wrist worn timepieces back to WW1. In the 1910's when pocket watches still reigned, wrist worn watches were considered feminine often referred fered to as "wristlets". But with the massive shift in the tactics and style of war fighting (especially trench warfare) it became a recognized need for timepieces that were immediately accessible and pocket watches simply were not fitting the bill. Hence, the development of (and even some modifying their own pocket watches) wrist worn 'tool watches'. Born of necessity, it can be argued that male worn wrist watches were 'tool watches' from their very inception.

Over the years, through the evolution of warfare and other professional needs, these tool oriented wrist watches continually developed. It is through this development that we have the primary categories of mechanical watches today.

- Field Watch: Simplistic design with large highly legible dials primarily lacking an outer bezel. Purely oriented towards fast functional time reading.

- Pilot Watch: Similar to the field watch, they are prioritizing legibility for fast and easy reading but also offer additional features specifically for aviators. Historical and modern features can include a larger crown for manipulation wearing gloves, a GMT hand and/or bezel to track a two (or more) time zones, and at times a complication that is also considered its own separate category addressed next...

- Chronograph: The Chronograph was developed for use by aviators and sports alike. There are many variations of chronographs but typically their function orients towards either sports usage or aviation for precise stop watch type time tracking. Hence, why Pilot watches can often feature a chronograph function.

- Dive Watch: As the name describes, dive watches were developed for professional divers. Dive watches features prioritize the ability to withstand water intrusion at depths often offering a rotating bezel for use tracking the elapsing of time (seconds or minutes).

Realistically speaking, for the modern day end user, these traditional mechanical movement based tool watches can be considered a bit dated. Smart watches such as the Garmin or Suntos variants, the Apple Watch, and digital quartz powered watches such as the Casio GShock are the most practical in function for modern considerations.

Even so, there are those of us who still feel the call of romanticism, heritage, history, distaste for the continual drive towards modern technology, and the desire for a possession that can journey along a lifetime and be passed down for another life or more. Mechanical watches fill these roles in a capacity that very few physical possessions can.

For the Watchmens Guild, if you live the lifestyle of wearing your timepieces in a manner that allows them to journey through life with you; regardless of technical design, hard professional use, or even just general consistent wear. Then you too can associate with this community and what we have defined as a lifestyle that we are proud to be a part of, THE TOOL WATCH COMMUNITY.

As W.O.E. says, "Use your tools" gents. 

Virtus. Validus. Tempus.

-Hunter