A field watch has one job: tell the time clearly, in any light, without fuss. Ours start from the A-11, the simple wristwatch specification issued to U.S. servicemen in WWII, and from the field watches that followed it. Every watch on this page is in stock, from 32 to 42mm, automatic, manual-wind or quartz.

What makes a field watch

A field watch is built around legibility. That means a high-contrast dial with full Arabic numerals, luminous hands and indexes, a plain case without a rotating bezel, and a strap you can change in a minute. The A-11 set that pattern in the 1940s. Our Jungle Field keeps it in a 34mm case. The A-11 Type 44 keeps the original 32mm proportions and adds a 38mm option.

Choosing a size

Most of the range is 38mm, a size that suits most wrists and stays close to the originals. For a vintage fit, the A-11 Type 44 and Spec 2 come in 32mm, and the Jungle Field in 34mm. For more presence, the Service Watch and A-11 Tom Rice come in 42mm, and the official U.S. Army A-11 Automatic is 42mm. Check the lug-to-lug length on each product page as well: it decides how a watch sits on the wrist as much as the diameter does.

Automatic, manual-wind or quartz

Automatic models use NH35 or NH36, Miyota 9039 or Swiss Landeron movements and wind as you wear them. The A-11 Type 44 uses a Swiss manual-wind movement, as the originals did: a few turns of the crown each morning. Quartz models need no winding at all; the Spec 2 and Victory Sands use American-built Ameriquartz movements. Models in our U.S. Assembled collection are assembled in the USA, and each product page says where its watch is assembled. Every model takes standard straps, see our watch straps.

FAQ

What is a field watch?

A field watch is a simple, legible wristwatch made for daily use outdoors: clear Arabic numerals, luminous hands, a durable case and a strap that is easy to change. The style comes from watches issued to soldiers, such as the WWII A-11.

What size field watch should I choose?

As a rule of thumb, 32 to 34mm gives a vintage fit on slim wrists, 38mm suits most wrists and 40 to 42mm reads larger. Lug-to-lug length matters too: the FIELD U.S. Army is 38mm wide and 48mm lug to lug.

Is a quartz or an automatic field watch better?

Neither is better; they suit different owners. Quartz is more accurate and needs no winding, only a battery change every few years. An automatic needs no battery and winds as you wear it, but gains or loses a few seconds a day.