Law enforcement agents, especially those that have to go into the field, know that they need to be tough enough to take a beating. The same is true for their tactical gadgets and tools of the trade. That is one of the careful considerations we made when choosing the best watches for law enforcement agents.
It doesn't end there, though. We also look at other factors that make these watches functional instead of just being a liability on their wrists.
If you have been looking for fine watches for yourself as a law enforcement agent or one to be gifted, you have come to the right place.
In This Article...
Our Picks of The Best Watches for Law Enforcement Officers/ Agents
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The Factors We Considered
Besides the watch's ruggedness and durability, we also accounted for a lot more to ensure you are always getting the best watch for the money. Here are some of the things we looked at:
Affordability
The best wrist watch for a law enforcement agent does not have to be one that sets them back several hundred or thousands of dollars.
You don't want to care about your wristwatch in the middle of an operation more than the task at hand. While the watch should be useful enough, it should not be so expensive that all of your focus is shifted onto it.
Likewise, your bosses and colleagues might frown on donning an expensive watch to work. This is a law enforcement outfit and not the runway. You might want to keep buying the more expensive watches until you get a senior position that keeps you behind the desk and in meetings.
Side Note: Law enforcement agents can invest in quality luxury watches that cost more, as long as they are not planning to wear them on the job. Such watches can serve as dinner jewelry, wrist adornments to parties, etc.
Aesthetics
Law enforcement agents do not generally like to stand out. They will prefer to integrate themselves and blend in so that they can do their job better. This is where stealth comes into the mix.
The watches selected on this list are not reflective or shiny. This makes sure your watch/ its reflections don't give you away when on a mission. The choice of the watch will also not draw unnecessary attention to you.
In line with that, you will see that we tend towards black watches on this list. They are mostly ideal for the job.
Illumination
When everyone else is working a nine to five, our law officers do not have an official closing time. As long as the clock is ticking, they remain on the job. Thus, it is not uncommon that a law effacement agent finds themselves working a lot of night shifts.
Telling the time in such cases might be difficult without proper illumination. Thankfully, some watches are designed with luminous hour markers to tell the time in low light situations.
On other picks, you get a one-push illumination button that lights up the face of the watch for a few seconds – enough to let you see what time of the day it is.
Preferences
We know that we cannot always make the best choice for everyone at every time. That is why we have touched a broad category of wristwatches we believe will suit law enforcement agents the best.
Lovers of analog or digital picks will find something suitable to their style here. We also explored choices from diverse, trusted brands to give you a broader range to select. On top of that, the picks here were carefully reviewed to ensure they meet the same goals while offering unique angles to time telling.
Durability
We have mentioned this time and again, but it does deserve a section of its own.
Criminals don't usually come in without a scuffle. Sometimes, a chase is required to bring down an erring person. Law enforcement agents might also sometimes have to go out of their official designations to perform rescues, such as fire or drowning cases.
The range of what could happen is almost endless. While we cannot always prepare for everything, we can try. Thus, we are only suggesting those wristwatches that have a track record of withstanding abuse, wear, and tear effectively.
Extras
This comes down to personal preferences again.
Some officers want a simple watch that they can rely on to tell the time accurately. Others may be interested in a watch that packs additional features like a stopwatch, timer, special sensors (temperature, pressure, etc.), compass, and more.
Fortunately, we have uncovered some of those watches with these extras.
Even if you don't need the extras now, there is nothing wrong with having them on your watch anyway. It is better to need those features later and have them than overlook them now only to need it later.
1. Fossil Men’s Machine Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch
- Adjustable olive green 20 millimeter nylon slip-thru strap fits...
- Cream dial with full Arabic numerals; 24-hour military time
- Silver-tone 38 millimeter brass case with mineral glass crystal
- Indiglo light-up watch dial
- Water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet): In general, withstands...
Fossil has made a name for itself these days in the smartwatch market, but they are also no slouch in the traditional watch scene.
Chronographs make the analog watch better functional for those who want to run a timer or stopwatch function. The watch design is simple yet elegant, allowing it to blend into everyday law enforcement wear and gear.
Speaking of the design, Fossil went the way of waterproof silicone straps to ensure the watch is better protected against water damage. That, and they slapped a 50-meter water resistance rating on this unit.
That said, we are incredibly pleased with the lightweight nature of the watch. Functional as it is, you won't feel like you are lugging anything extra around on your wrists.
2. Casio Men’s XL Series Watch (GA-700UC-3ACR)
- Shock resistant (G-SHOCK), LED light (Super illuminator –...
- World time – 31 time zones (48 cities) daylight saving on/off,...
- 5 daily alarms, Hand shift feature (hands move out of the way to...
- Button operation tone on/off, Approx. battery life: 5 years on...
- Size of case/total weight: 57.5 x 53.4 x 18.4 mm / 69 g
Casio will be a sure addition to any list of watches where durability and ruggedness are needed.
Their entry to this list starts with this unit promising one of the most tactical designs on a traditional watch. Whether you love digital or analog displays or both, you get all of that on this single watch.
The watch face is legible enough to tell the time and other important details at a glance.
Equipped with world time features and a dedicated illumination button, the snug fit on this watch makes it worth all the money.
3. SUUNTO Core All Black Military Watch
- Adjustable green 20mm nylon strap fits up to 8-inch wrist...
- Black dial with date window at 3 o'clock; full Arabic numerals
- Black 40mm brass case with mineral glass crystal
- Indiglo light-up watch dial; luminous hands
- Water resistant to 50m (165 ft): In general, suitable for short...
This watch is so versatile, it has made our list of best dive watches, top picks for mechanical engineers, and doubles as a great hiking watch.
Here it is again, so what's the fuss all about?
An all-black military design is the first point of call. You get additional functionality from the highly readable large screen on the watch. The best thing here is how SUUNTO made the screen large enough without it looking too massive on your wrists.
Under the hood are necessary sensors (altimeter, compass, barometer, and temperature) that might sometimes come in handy. Besides that, the watch also features a rotating bezel, packs weather memory and weather alarms, features a depth meter, and offers user-removable log files, among other things.
Check out the full spec sheet on the watch, and you would most likely fall in love with it instantly also.
4. Timex Men’s Expedition Scout Watch
- SUUNTO Core Alpha Watch: The SUUNTO Core Alpha packs the key...
- Bring Out The Explorer In You: Combining an altimeter, barometer...
- Tested For Military Standards: Designed for the toughest and most...
- Adventure Starts Here: Whether you are fishing, hunting, running,...
- Authentic Heritage: Founded in 1936, Suunto brings over 80 years...
Timex has a habit of bringing exceptional timepieces to the market at affordable price points. They have continued in such a manner with this unit also.
As promised in this piece's opening parts, this watch is available in all-black for those who want to go stealth mode. The upside is that every other color option that Timex has on this piece is not loud either. You can, thus, switch things up with another color on your tactical gear without betraying the requirements of your job.
A single glance at the watch is enough to tell you that there is no push-button for the LED backlight. Timex fixed that well by putting in luminous hour markers instead.
While that is great, you might want to consider covering the watch face when going for stealth missions. Although the illumination from the hour markers should not be too prominent, they might still give your position away.
5. Casio G-Shock GA700SE-1A2
- DETAILS: 200 Meter Water Resistant, Super Illuminator LED Light...
- GREAT LOOK: Men, women, young, old, teens or tweens can rock this...
- GREAT FIT: Comfort is so important, and the key when picking a...
- GREAT QUALITY: This timeless quality item comes in a variety of...
- G-Shock is, designed to resist mechanical shock and vibration....
It would be an injustice to power through a list of this kind without mentioning a G-Shock. This family of watches hasn't been rated as tough, reliable, and durable for multiple years on end for us to leave them out when it matters the most.
The unique design piqued our attention to this one. Although the black hue dominates the build, Casio's blue detailing makes the watch eye candy for any law enforcement agent. In a good way, that is, not a distracting one.
This shock-resistant watch also features a dedicated illumination button. That gives you a better sight of the hybrid (analog and digital) display in low light conditions. With approximately five years of battery life on every unit and a unique build, you cannot go wrong with this guy.
6. Timex Unisex Weekender Watch
- Adjustable olive green 20 millimeter nylon slip-thru strap fits...
- Cream dial with full Arabic numerals; 24-hour military time
- Silver-tone 38 millimeter brass case with mineral glass crystal
- Indiglo light-up watch dial
- Water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet): In general, withstands...
Timex makes the list of the best watches for law enforcement agents again and with a twist this time. While most other units are focused on the menfolk, this one is best suited to both sexes.
Like the first Timex watch reviewed above, simplicity is the order of the day here. Affordability is a close second, so you won't have to burn a hole in your pocket to add one of these watches to your collection.
The luminous hour markers on this watch are smaller than the first one. That is both better and practical, allowing the user to see the time in low light without the fear of this illumination giving them off when on stealth missions.
The Timex watch is water-resistant up to the first 30 meters, but we do not advise that you go diving with it anytime soon. For that, look at some dedicated diver's watches – and they are not as expensive as you think either.
Finally, Timex ensures this watch comes with a fully swappable band. Whenever you feel like it, you can change your timepiece's outlook by just altering the bands on it.
Which Is Your Pick?
Of all the six watches on this list, which one appeals to you the most?
In there, you will find some of the most affordable units and others offering great value for their price tags also. The different watch styles and types have also been well accounted for in the above list. All that is left is for you to choose which wristwatch works best for you, and you are good to go.
And if you happen to fall in love with more than one of the above units, there is no crime in making multiple selections.