Field watch decoder: water resistance, movement, and legibility
Water resistance is a test pressure
The "Water Resistant" mark on the case back indicates the static test pressure a sample of newly manufactured watches was exposed to. An indication in metres does not mean the watch was designed for repeated long-term use at that depth (Wikipedia). ISO 22810:2010 replaced the earlier standard and covers ordinary daily-use watches; the term "waterproof" is prohibited on watches under that standard. A "diver's" watch is a separate ISO 6425 category with its own tests, defined for at least 100 m and a timing system.
For a field watch: rain and splashes are the realistic exposure. Timex says its Expedition line is "a pioneering outdoor collection" and its Deepwater line is engineered for 200 m water resistance; those are marketing lines, not certificates. Look at the case back.
Quartz or mechanical
Quartz watches use an electronic oscillator regulated by a quartz crystal, which gives a very precise frequency (Wikipedia). Mechanical watches are spring-driven; they are valued for craft rather than accuracy. For a field watch that lives in a drawer between hikes, quartz avoids resetting. We don't rank the two.
Legibility checks
- Contrast: dark dial with light numerals or the reverse, not mid-tones.
- Numerals for every hour or at least 12/3/6/9.
- Lume that you can read at night (the strength varies by watch; check with your own eyes).
- Case size versus your wrist: a case that overhangs the wrist looks and wears large.
What to avoid
- Buying on the depth number alone.
- Assuming "military-style" means military-tested.
- Ignoring strap quality: the strap is the part you touch.