Round-UpSix Watches That Will Survive The Apocalypse, With Or Without You

Amid the chaos of a post-apocalyptic hell-scape, keeping time won’t necessarily strike you as the primary concern. In this world, I reckon things such as food, fuel, perhaps ammunition and other bare essentials will replace currency, giving you far more pressing issues to worry about. But a watch, as a survivalist would say, isn’t just a simple tool to tell time. In fact, you can even use a basic analogue watch as a compass, making it an invaluable navigational tool. You also can’t overlook the numerous sensors that watchmakers have marvellously managed to fit into something that sits on your wrist, such as an altimeter, barometer and thermometer. These features could certainly prolong your lifespan—or at least improve your quality of life—in an end-of-civilisation scenario, if you know how to make use of them. So here’s our pick of six extremely tough watches built to survive the apocalypse with (or without) you…you know, just in case.

Casio G-Shock Mudmaster

It would almost be criminal if we flagged off this list with anything but a G-Shock—not that there’ll be any place for the law in the dystopian future, but let’s forget that for a second. Any G-Shock watch could be the go-to timepiece for survivalists. This Mudmaster in particular offers a plethora of features custom-made for an end-of-the-world scenario. Casio has its own four superhero qualities—namely, an altimeter, a barometer, thermometer, and, to top it all off, solar charging—to fight off the four horsemen of the apocalypse. These features, in the right hands, will prove to be crucial in life-or-death situations that you are bound to encounter. Its dimensions of 59.5mm by 56.1mm, which may be a bit of an overkill, can mainly be attributed to its resin casing and Casio’s ‘Alpha Gel’ treatment—a soft, silicone-based dampening compound packed around the module to protect it from damage due to shocks or prolonged vibrations. This Mudmaster is water resistant up to 200m, and the ‘Mud-Resist’ armour also makes it dirt and sludge proof. Without a doubt, this is the only watch you’d need as a companion while you welcome the end of the world.

The Casio G-Shock Mudmaster is the only watch you’d need as a companion while you welcome the end of the world

Favre-Leuba Raider Bivouac 9000

The bombs have been dropped. A thick blanket of smoke covers the atmosphere acting as a barrier for sunlight, leaving people to breathe toxic air in perpetual dusk. Your only escape is a towering mountain, up where the air is thinner and cleaner. For a climber undertaking such an expedition, discerning the height of this mountain of refuge is as essential as it is for a diver to know the depth of the sea. Here’s where the mechanical mastery of the Bivouac 9000 shines through. It has a mechanical altimeter that can measure heights up to 9,000m! Powered by the FL311 calibre, which offers a power reserve of 65 hours, the Bivouac 9000 wears a 48mm titanium case that is equally lightweight and strong, making it the ideal timepiece for this situation.

The Raider Bivouac 9000 by Favre-Leuba is not just a watch, but a mechanical tool valued by mountaineers due to its inbuilt altimeter

₹7,46,000

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The Bivouac 9000 is also available with a kevlar strap that has an integrated RECCO® reflector, used by mountain rescue teams across the globe to search for missing or buried avalanche victims

₹7,46,000

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The mechanical altimeter of the Bivouac 9000 can measure heights up to 9,000m

₹7,46,000

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Oris ProDiver Chronograph

If you find yourself in a world that looks a bit too much like a zombie movie, there probably isn’t any other way to survive than by building an underwater civilisation. The fear of being eaten by zombies will advance technology by 10 to 15 years, allowing scientists and engineers to come together and build a self-sufficient underwater city. But to get to those depths first, what better watch to assist you than the Oris ProDiver. This massive watch, measuring 51mm, boasts a water resistance of 1,000m—an entire kilometre! With an all-titanium construction, the ProDiver can handle both zombies and underwater creatures with ease. Additionally, you could perhaps use the colossal size of the watch as a shield for your very own Captain America moment (it goes without saying, but please don’t try this at home!). The Oris ProDiver is powered by the calibre 774, which gives it a 48-hour power reserve.

The Oris ProDiver measures 51mm and boasts an all-titanium construction. Water resistant up to 1,000m, this is one tough nut to crack

Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 Carbotech

This Panerai amalgamates the past and the present, making it a futuristic force to be reckoned with. The Carbotch material that the case, bezel and the crown guard is made of is based on carbon fibre. The material is as strong and resilient as ceramic, while weighing considerably less. The space-age construction of this timepiece is contrasted by the design language, which harks back to Panerai’s illustrious naval history. In other words, the watch is highly legible. The watch is powered with the in-house automatic calibre P.9000, a tried and tested movement that won’t let you down when the going gets rough. It offers three days of power when fully wound. This perfect recipe of old and new makes for a watch that will resist the harshest conditions while still being incredibly reliable, making it an excellent contender in this list.

In order to produce the Carbotech case, Panerai has to bind long, thin sheets of carbon fibre under high pressure and temperature. The result is a material stronger and lighter than ceramic

Richard Mille RM 25-01 Tourbillon Adventure Sylvester Stallone

The idea behind this watch was probably to create one that would help you survive the end of the world! Richard Mille has made a name for itself in the market for making over-the-top watches with cutting-edge materials and design. And the RM 25-01 takes it a notch higher with this Sylvester Stallone collaboration. The result is a colossal timepiece that measures 50.85mm in its default configuration. Sizing is adjustable, thanks to the inclusion of two additional detachable covers, the first of which is a compass made from grade-5 titanium. A carbon TPT cover can be flipped down over the compass for added protection. Inside the case is a tourbillon-equipped chronograph movement with a 24-hour time display. And finally, above the crown, there is a small chamber that holds five emergency water purification tablets, capable of purifying a total of five litres of water. What else could you possibly need!

The result of a collaboration between Richard Mille and Sylvester Stallone is a colossal timepiece that measures 50.85mm in its default configuration

To aid the most precise compass reading, this watch also features a bubble level at four o’clock, which indicates whether or not the wrist is perfectly horizontal while using the compass

At two o'clock, there's a hermetic compartment, made of titanium, to store five water purification tablets

Sizing is adjustable, thanks to the inclusion of two additional detachable covers, including a compass. The carbon TPT cover can be flipped down over the compass for added protection

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Victorinox I.N.O.X.

To elucidate the toughness of the I.N.O.X., let’s talk about the lengths that Victorinox went to while testing the watch. The company froze it in a block of ice, drove over it with a tank, dropped it off a 33-foot cliff, and boiled it in water—all seemingly without feeling even the slightest bit of remorse (perhaps the watchmakers/evil geniuses at Victorinox will do well during the apocalypse too!). A total of 130 strength and endurance tests were performed to make sure this thing could withstand everything thrown at it. And it did. The 43mm steel watch is powered by a quartz movement, making it highly accurate. Just stockpile on batteries, and let this tough, hardwearing and, frankly, good-looking watch take care of the rest.

And now, we wait for the most important watch of them all—the doomsday clock—to strike 12. The end is nigh. And it’s best to be prepared!