9 Great Watches For Every Engineer To Add To Their Collection

A good watch will be a faithful companion for many years to come. But,  some watches that are better than most for every engineer to add to their collection.

Whilst "clothes do not maketh the man" you're choice of watch most certainly will. “A gentleman's choice of timepiece says as much about him as does his Saville Row suit.” as Ian Fleming once said.

Whilst you might not care much about fashion or 'bling', a good quality watch is something you'll depend on for a lifetime. 

The watches in this list range from cheaper, more practical watches to some high-end, practically flawless timepieces that you will wear with pride.

After all, you've earned it.

This list is merely a selection of some of the most commonly cited watches that engineers wear.

1. Casio G-Shock GW2310FB-1 is shock absorbent

Price: $150 from Casio

The G-Shock series of Casio watches have been around for some time but the GW2310FB-1 is one of the best.

Its latest iteration looks mean and plays rough. It is solar-powered and comes with a "Multi-band 6 Atomic Timekeeping", according to Casio.

The watch can really take a beating and is water-resistant up to 200 meters. It also has 5 alarms, 1/100th-second stopwatch, countdown timer and world time.

The G-shock also has full auto EL backlighting. This is the perfect watch for any engineer who finds other watches just aren't up to the rough and tumble of their everyday working lives.

Or, of course, they don't want to risk damaging a multi-thousand dollar watch on the job.

2. The Rolex Milgauss is antimagnetic

Price: From $4,400 new

If you are looking for something a little more luxurious then you really need to consider a Rolex. There are many options out there but the special thing about the Rolex Milgauss is the fact that it is actually anti-magnetic.

Rolex's are renowned for their high-quality and reliability. But you might be surprised why they tend to command such a high price.

According to Rolex, "The Rolex Milgauss was designed to meet the demands of the scientific community and is capable of withstanding magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss."

Impressive, and you also benefit from the master engineering and hand-made precision of a Rolex mechanical watch to boot. By wearing this watch you join the ranks of a large group of scientists and engineers who love this timepiece.

In fact, many who work at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva also own one.

3. The IWC Ingenieur, naturally...

Price: Varies

The IWC Ingenieur series has long been the watch for many an engineer. It's even in the name!

"Since 1955, the striking design of the Ingenieur has combined rugged sportiness with an undeniably technical appeal and continues to do so to this day," according to IWC.

The design and technical functions of this series of venerable watches have changed considerably over the last 60 years. But at its core, it is still one of the most beloved watches for engineers of all time.

Most modern watches are not only beautifully designed, but they are extremely durable, anti-magnetic and are also watertight.

Get yourself a piece of history with your very own IWC Ingenieur.

4. The Omega Speedmaster was good enough for NASA Astronauts

Price: From $1400 used

The Omega Speedmaster series has been serving engineers and scientists for generations. In fact, these watches were widely used by ground teams and astronauts during many NASA missions.

According to Omega, "When Buzz Aldrin stepped on the lunar surface in 1969, he was wearing a Speedmaster Professional, the chronograph that has been known as the Moonwatch ever since".

If it's good enough for those guys, we think you'll agree, you will happy to wear one yourself. You can either pick one up secondhand or buy a new one and some of the latest models really are very good looking timepieces.

This watch series made its debut in 1957 and it has since earnt a reputation for its precision, readability, and robustness. 

5. The Casio CA56-1 is a great economy calculator watch

Price: $25 from Casio

The Casio CA56-1 is a great little calculator watch for any engineer reluctant to make a big cash investment in a timepiece. Compared to other pieces on this list it is a lot more basic but does have a very retro-feel to it.

And it should, the watch was originally designed in 1998 and is still popular today. The adjustable resin strap is comfortable and durable, the perfect accessory for any engineer.

The watch, as you'd expect, comes complete with an 8-digit calculator. It is also water resistant up to 50 meters and comes with a daily alarm feature.

6. The Sinn U1 is made from German submarine steel

Price: From $2,500 used

The Sinn U1 is one of the more unique watches on our list. It has its very own distinctive design and, more importantly, is actually made from German submarine grade steel.

According to Sinn "This original submarine steel is not only extraordinarily seawater-resistant but is also of the highest non-magnetic quality without any residual magnetism." If it's good enough for German submarines surely it's good enough for your wrist.

This means the watch is highly durable and saltwater resistant, as you'd expect. The Bezel incorporates TEGIMENT technology that also makes it highly scratch-resistant.

The watch is pressure-resistant and can withstand diving depths of 1,000 m and is also low-pressure resistant too.

7. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU looks awesome

Price: From $3,500 new

The Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU is a beefy and excellent watch for any engineer. Its main feature is not only its design but its incorporation of 21 micro gas tubes.

These tubes provide night reading capability with hour, minute, chronograph second hands, dials and buttons visible at night at all times. The watch is shock resistant up to 7,500 G's and it is also water resistant up to 600 meters.

Like some other watches, it is also antimagnetic but 'only' up to 4,800 A/m. It also comes in a beautifully crafted titanium case with a top ceramic luminous unidirectional rotating bezel.

The band is made of stainless steel and titanium and secures with Ball's patented buckle and extension system. Whilst one of the pricier watches on the list, it should be considered for those wanting a watch for life.

8. The Seiko Grand Seiko SBGX093 is definitely worth considering

Price: From $3,000 used

The Seiko Grand Seiko SBGX089-093 series was first released in around 2012 and is still a very popular watch today. Whilst on the pricier end of watches on our list, it will last you a long time indeed.

Seiko made these watches as a homage to other famous engineers' watches like the Rolex Milgauss (above) and IWC Ingenieur (also above). Unlike other quartz watches that can feel 'cheap and nasty,' this series of watches is far from either.

You can get one new or used and each has been designed to last for at least 50 years without needing to be serviced.

These watches are made from stainless steel and have a Quartz, battery powered movement. It is anti-magnetic (up to 40,000 A/m), water resistant and good looking to boot.

9. The Seiko Mechanical SARB033 and 035 are very affordable

Price: From $350

The Seiko Mechanical SARB035 is popular amongst engineers both young and old and is, to coin a phrase, a piece of affordable luxury. With this watch, you get much of the reliability and durability of a high ticket price watch but at an affordable and, frankly, pretty reasonable price.

It comes in two models black (SARB033) and off-white (SARB035). Many reviews attest to the watch's great legibility and wonderfully smooth seconds hand gliding motion.

Whilst it might not come with all the 'bells and whistles' of more expensive watches this is definitely one to consider for those on a budget.