Hang the expense, buy a flash one! I bought myself a Breitling B-1 last year. Sure they're expensive but the plan is not to buy another watch for a bloody long time. It pays to haggle too, even in those hoity-toity rich folk shops where the shop assistant unlocks the door to let you in and then locks the door after you enter. After a short discussion on price they dropped a grand off my watch! Said I'd have to think about it over the weekend and they dropped another $100. Picked it up for $2700. It's only money!
:
Go on, you know you want to!
Cheers,
Hollywood
p.s. Beware of some watches, not necessarily just cheap ones, that offer UTC on a second display but don't account for zones with a half hour difference. For example the NT, where UTC is local time minus 9 and 1/2 hours.
Are you sure about the half hour time zone? I've got a Citizen, NaviHawk I think. The only way to get a half hour time zone in is to accept that the analogue UTC & 24 hr time will be half an hour in error.
Breitling makes a watch called the UTC which includes two faces. One 'watch' (smaller) forms part of the band (for local time) whilst the other with the usual functions can be used for UTC etc...works great. Made of titanium and about $1600 mark. Works a treat.
Try L and M imports in Edgecliff NSW as a starting point.
Well chaps (and chapettes), I just happended to buy a Suunto "Observer" today - It has triple sensors (ALT, BAR/TEMP & COMPASS), as well as all the Chrono functions such as Stopwatch, dual time, date etc.
IMHO it is a quality product - made in Finland and I picked it up for a bargain in Sydney today at Victorias Basement - yes an unlikely outlet, but maybe that explains the price of $365. This price is about $200/250 less than other quoted retail prices I have seen. If you are not in Sydney try Victorias Basement .
If this type of watch does not appeal try one of the Citizen Multi time zone watches as described in earlier posts.
You might think that the Suunto Triple Sensor is not the most practical of watches - but hey - it will keep me busy for days and be lots of fun - and the electronic compass actually works!
I was wandering through a shopping mall last week and spied a (brand unknown) watch with all the usual bells and whistles one needs. BUT............ this one had a GPS in it as well.
Some of the 'Breitling' watches even have a 121.5 ELT in them. Don't forget tho 121.5 is to be replaced by 406 beacons over the next few years. Check out their site www.breitling.com
Being the tightarse that I am, I use a cheap Casio watch . I just subtract 10 or 11 hours, depending on what time of year it is.
Besides, It's getting harder to read those tiny bezels masquerading as flight computers on them expensive types of watches . Ahh, the wonders of ageing
I use my Palm Pilot to work out them complicated calculations such as PNR's, conversions, etc. Plus it's in colour!
Someone put me onto the Citzen Pro-master range, through thier web site.
The watches are very good and at a resonable price. I paid $390 AUD for a watch from this range, which was very similar to the old wingman but has a light in it.
I am very happy with the watch.
I don't know how to post a link, maybe some one can help out here. But it is easy to find the Citizen site, or do a search on pilot watches and you will find my old post.
All the best.
PS Creamie, with some of the ATC guys (and Girls) out there, the watch would be the second thing they would look at.
For the record - I drive a Fiat Bambino - although I may need to review its suitability and upgrade to a Mini now that I have this huuuge watch to carry around, as there just isn't room for the watch and me!
Recently a flight crew was overnighting at a Middle East hotel. The next morning the flight attendants were waiting in the lobby for the tech crew but there was no sign of the captain. Suddenly with great commotion he sprinted through the lobby to the lift absolutely starkers, obviously had a big night out. An elderly woman seated next to one of the attractive f/a's leaned over and said "That's the pilot, you're going to be late" Intrigued the f/a asked her how she knew he was the pilot. "That's easy........................................................ ............................................................ .................... Big Watch, Little Dick!"
Bought myself a Citizen Wingman many years ago and must admit to being disappointed with it
No light No half hour timezones Wizz wheel bezel completely useless -- too small (terrible accuracy) and cannot rotate to see the answer you want V.poor backup from Citizen Australia.
Some newer Wingmans can be 'tricked' to show 1/2 hr zones, but I believe it affects their functionality in other areas.
Saw a neat Casio "World Timer" in Cairns the other day that looks the goods but. Backlight when you need it, ALL the world timezones, (inc Kathmandu and Nepal and ADELAIDE/DARWIN!!) and only a coupla hundred.
Picked up a Lorus sport watch waterproof to 100m in Katherine about the turn of the century cost about $110. Analogue and digital.
has proved very hardy. Been Scuba diving, skiing, scratched the face in a tight squeeze in a cave though. It also survived a 15 metre fall from my wrist directly onto concrete from the top of a SAG mill after the air hose to my rattle gun pulled tight and bent the little pin holding the band on. Only took a chip out the side of the glass. I did not even bother to go to check it, i was so sure it was broken after that fall till cleanup the following day!
Anything with an LCD to set to Z and an analogue face to local. My Casio AQ426 is now out of production but there are plenty similar for about GBP20 AUD50. Unfortunately they usually have plastic face covers iso mineral glass (dunno why they can't just say 'plastic' or 'glass')
Was browsing on eBay for other stuff, saw these and remembered this thread. Have no clue as to whether these watches are any good or what you're looking for, but can't hurt to look.
. I just subtract 10 or 11 hours, depending on what time of year it is.
. Ahh, the wonders of ageing 
cost about $110. Analogue and digital.
