I did not know they still make railroad approved watches.
When I bought mine back in something like 1986 there were two companies that made railroad approved as far as I know. Bulova and Seiko. I knew a conductor, an engineer, and a brakeman. The first thing I noticed was these really nice watches they had. They told me the railroads required them and that they were really tough watches that were shock resistant, etc.
I checked out some Bulova first but they were expensive and back in those days I was not making much money and $100.00+ was a considerable sum to me.
Later I was in a JC Penny Store and I happened to notice Seiko railroad approved watches on sale. At the time I was going through $30.00 watches about once a month. At the JC Penny Store they had gold plated Seiko railroad approved for about $130.00 and stainless steel for about $116.00. I figured the gold plating would wear off so I decided to go with stainless steel. I second guessed myself a lot at first, telling myself I could just keep buying cheap watches. But I figure that Seiko paid for itself in the first year or sooner at the rate I was going through watches. Because that Seiko, with just batteries, 2 bands, and 2 crystals and a new winder has lasted me for about 28 years.
I checked the watch in the dark last night and there is still a faint glow from the Tritium. Tritium is an alpha emitter with a half life of about 12.5 years. The radiation is not dangerous-it will not get through the crystal. It is hard to tell the time in the dark anymore. Otherwise the watch looks great and just keeps on ticking. It turned out to be one of the best things I ever bought.
I like a watch to be a watch. Maybe that is old fashioned but I am an older guy so I can be old fashioned. And I like for things I buy to be durable and able to get the job done. I don't care about whatever the newest fad is.
So I will keep using the Seiko until it quits running and then I will probably buy a Citizen watch. No Apple Watch for me.
When I bought mine back in something like 1986 there were two companies that made railroad approved as far as I know. Bulova and Seiko. I knew a conductor, an engineer, and a brakeman. The first thing I noticed was these really nice watches they had. They told me the railroads required them and that they were really tough watches that were shock resistant, etc.
I checked out some Bulova first but they were expensive and back in those days I was not making much money and $100.00+ was a considerable sum to me.
Later I was in a JC Penny Store and I happened to notice Seiko railroad approved watches on sale. At the time I was going through $30.00 watches about once a month. At the JC Penny Store they had gold plated Seiko railroad approved for about $130.00 and stainless steel for about $116.00. I figured the gold plating would wear off so I decided to go with stainless steel. I second guessed myself a lot at first, telling myself I could just keep buying cheap watches. But I figure that Seiko paid for itself in the first year or sooner at the rate I was going through watches. Because that Seiko, with just batteries, 2 bands, and 2 crystals and a new winder has lasted me for about 28 years.
I checked the watch in the dark last night and there is still a faint glow from the Tritium. Tritium is an alpha emitter with a half life of about 12.5 years. The radiation is not dangerous-it will not get through the crystal. It is hard to tell the time in the dark anymore. Otherwise the watch looks great and just keeps on ticking. It turned out to be one of the best things I ever bought.
I like a watch to be a watch. Maybe that is old fashioned but I am an older guy so I can be old fashioned. And I like for things I buy to be durable and able to get the job done. I don't care about whatever the newest fad is.
So I will keep using the Seiko until it quits running and then I will probably buy a Citizen watch. No Apple Watch for me.
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