Introduction
Hello, my last-name is Day and I’m the watch addict behind the Instagram @days_watch. When Quartz&Auto reached out to me with the idea of being featured on his new questionnaire series, I was excited for the opportunity to share some of the “behind-the-scenes” happenings with my humble IG account. I don’t have a fancy camera, studio, or crafty editing skills. What I do have, is a passion for these silly objects on our wrists. I share what I love, purpose built watches.
I am a career Firefighter/Paramedic at the largest and busiest fire department in the state. I’m currently going on my sixth year in the fire service, just becoming a paramedic in October of 2023. The will to become a fireman all started when I was a toddler. It was September 11th, 2001, and I was a young boy witnessing the tragic events unfolding on that infamous day. I may not have been old enough to grasp the entirety of the situation, but I understood that a lot of people were in trouble, and I remember seeing the Firefighters of FDNY rushing in to help. From then on, I knew that one day I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Oxford Dictionary defines emergency as “a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation, requiring immediate action.” In the Emergency service field, timing is everything. In patient care performing a rapid assessment is crucial. The goal is to ensure lifesaving interventions are implemented as quickly and efficiently as possible and provide expedited transport to the nearest appropriate healthcare facility. On a structure fire, time is against you from the start. You need to get there fast, size up the situation, and save life and property as timely as possible. Time is at the center of the job, thus the need for a reliable, accurate, and robust timepiece.
Top Pick
In Fire/EMS, quality tools are at the center of the job, whether it be a hose-line, extrication tools, or the cardiac monitor. Tools help us accomplish the job. Firefighters arriving on a fire scene without a tank of water and fire hose are pretty much useless, so why should we sacrifice when it comes to the timepiece on our wrists? As such, much of my watch collection reflects this. They must be robust, reliable, and accurate. My collection is relatively affordable in the watch sphere, a hobby we all know can add up quickly, ranging from Casio, G-Shock, Seiko, Citizen, and Marathon. All of which, have proven to be reliable timepieces for the job.
If I had to choose just one, it would have to be a Marathon watch – “the best in the long run.” I believe Marathon stands out as being the ultimate “tool watch” for the job. I currently have two Marathon watches in my collection. A Marathon GSAR 41mm and a Marathon Navigator SSNAV-D (the relatively new stainless-steel reissue). As some of you watch nerds may know, Marathon is a Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responder focused brand. They engineer their watches to withstand vigorous testing requirements and specifications set forth by the military. So not only can they claim to be “Mil-spec” they are in fact issued and distributed to Military forces throughout the world.
As it applies to Fire/EMS, we get into some sticky situations almost daily. During which, neither of the Marathons have ever let me down. They have been beat up, abused, and still function reliably and accurately. I don’t have to worry about bumps, water intrusion, or legibility. My personal favorite feature is the use of tritium tubes. They are constantly illuminating. We work in 24/48s. Meaning, we are on shift for 24hrs (0700-0700) and then off for 48hrs. Yes, that means we spend 1/3rd of our lives at the firehouse. Working for 24hrs means we make emergency runs around the clock, both day and night. The tritium tubes of the Marathons are perfect for this. While making those nighttime calls, I always have a watch that I can glance down and read. I don’t have to worry about previous exposure to a light source because tritium is its own light source. Whether it be on the dark roadside of a motor vehicle collision, or in the dimly lit basement of grandma’s house, I have the illuminated time and ticking seconds ready to time stamp medications or to take a patient’s vitals.
If I had to choose between the GSAR 41mm and the Navigator SSNAV-D, I would have to choose the Navigator. Although the GSAR 41mm is my favorite watch of all time, it can sometimes feel cumbersome and a bit bulky compared to the Navigator. The Navigator excels in multiple aspects, making it the ultimate firefighting tool watch. The specifications are as follows;
41mm x 48mm x 11mm Asymmetrical case design made of robust stainless steel
100m WR w/ screw down crown
Tritium tubes offering constant illumination and legibility
Sapphire crystal
Powered by an ultra-reliable COSC certified ETA F06.412 High-Torque Quartz movement:
PreciDrive thermo-compensation
HeavyDrive shock/impact resistance
5–7-year battery life
+/- 10 seconds per year
When you stack all those stats, you get an ultimate tool watch. If I could tweak one thing? Make it Titanium. Light and strong and it would make an already super comfortable watch disappear on the wrist.
Grail
What’s the Grail? All of the watches. But in all seriousness, I have several grails and they are always changing. Basically, my grail would envelop the same principals as all my other timepieces. I don’t desire anything of the “high horology” or anything of that nature. It would be a higher end tool watch that would fit with my lifestyle. The ultimate grail is a modern Rolex Explorer II (Ref. 226570). In my opinion, this is one of the last true Rolex tool-watches. I’m sure I ruffled a few feathers there, but oh well. Since I became aware of this hobby, a Rolex Explorer II has always been at the top of the wishlist. However, on a fireman’s budget, the thought of owning a Rolex is way off. A grail that would be more realistic in a few years would potentially be the Tudor Pelagos FXD in black, the modern-day Tudor MilSub. Both of these choices are out of my price range, but a man can dream. In the short term, and much more reasonable price range, I may look at acquiring a Doxa Sub 300 Professional. A bright orange tool watch with a vast history. Only time will tell.
Off-duty
Off-duty, my watch needs are pretty much the exact same. I live quite the rural lifestyle, on a 600+ acre family farm. I love being outdoors and I’m addicted to high intensity physical fitness. This means both my watches and I never stop moving. Whether its mending fences, working on the tractor, hiking/exploring, or working out, the off-duty environment is just as demanding as my career in the fire service. I’m not a flashy guy. I’m subtle. I pay no attention to the current fashion trends that change with each passing day. For me, it’s either shorts and a t-shirt, or boots and jeans. I like what I like and that’s about it. I think this is reflected in my collecting habits. Many watches have come and gone over my collecting years but all have had the same common theme. Purpose built and rugged.
As mentioned prior, my collection currently ranges from Casio, G-Shock, Seiko, Citizen, and Marathon. The overwhelming majority are tool-watch based, with the majority being dive watches. The diver in general, is just the perfect design for anyone living an active and rugged lifestyle. They are designed to be rugged, have great water resistance, legible, and can measure elapsed time. These watches aren’t typically flashy or attention grabbing, they are designed as instruments and purpose driven. I use each one on the job, farm, or during physical training. Use and Abuse. The current lineup:
Seiko Turtle Save the Ocean SRPC91 (A special peace - wearing when I proposed to my wife)
Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive BN0150-28E (A gift from the wife)
Citizen Promaster NY0040-09W Full Lume (My most recent addition)
Marathon GSAR 41mm WW194006 (My all time favorite)
Marathon Navigator SSNAV-D WW194013SS (Fireman’s Watch Choice Award)
I do however, own one dress watch. This is my one exception to the use and abuse rule. A beautiful Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Blue Moon SRPB41. This watch was a surprise Christmas gift from my wife, fiancée at the time. Our wedding was scheduled for the following Summer, and I did not have a dress piece in the collection. Our color theme was navy and khaki, and my wife picked out the beautiful Blue Moon as my wedding watch. As such, it was worn during the greatest moment of my life. Although I dress up maybe 1-2 times a year, this watch is that special timepiece. You’ll never find me attending a “cocktail” party or fancy outings, in fact, I would rather be sitting out on the back 40 with my good ole dog. But if a special moment arises, the Seiko Presage gets the call.
Advice/Closing
For anyone who feels called to the fire service or EMS, the time is now. Do it. The emergency services have been experiencing a huge decrease in applicants and those willing to step up to the job. Recent public events over the past few years, has turned many away from this career field. We are struggling to keep up our numbers up, meaning we are barely able to provide the protection our communities deserve. Ask any fireman out there and they will tell you, “Best job in the world!” It’s an honorable and rewarding career path that you won’t regret pursuing. Go forth, do good, and serve others.
As far as watches and this silly hobby goes, wear what you like, like what you wear. Don’t let to the mainstream watch media, Instagram, or anyone else tell you what you should like. Like it because you like it. That’s the only explanation anyone needs to give. In all reality, 99.99% of people will not notice. So, wear what YOU want! Remember not to get caught up in it all. After all, it’s supposed to be fun!
On the Clock is a series of interviews and stories from professionals all over the world. Each article explores a new collection of timepieces and, more importantly, a look into the person wearing them. Featuring professionals from various backgrounds and locations, each article captures the diverse perspectives on the significance of time, the role of watches in their lives, and engaging stories behind the specific watches they choose to wear.
Great article! Love the Marathon GSAR! -- Windycitywatchcollector.com