MTM Hawk Watch

Now, why would this watch need to be recharged so frequently? Probably because of the nine LED lights mounted in the face. Six of them are hidden behind / under the markers at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. These specific-shade-of-blue LEDs illuminate the watch face and hands so that you can see the time in low / no light conditions. The blue light is also the exact proper color to best recharge the luminosity of the hands and numbers. The other three LEDs are white and mounted in a triangular fashion on the face at the 12, 4 and 8. With a second push of the light button (which is locked by a small screw down sleeve to keep you from pushing it accidentally) these three white LEDs illuminate for 20 seconds. The light they produce is enough to read a document by or to navigate by in low / no light conditions. Remember this: Those lights are also bright enough to be targeted on a dark night and a good sniper can probably range you and fire on you in 20 seconds - especially with today's technology. Always remember your light discipline.

As a final point about the design features, the watch is available in a brushed steel or black finish on a steel band, a rubber wrist strap or a ballistic nylon band (the one I got for testing).

So, now that we've covered all the design features and I've pre-tested that it keeps time, let's look at how well it kept time while I tried to break it (within reason). When I spoke to the rep at MTM about these watches he related to me a story about someone who had taken the watch off the band and used it as a hockey puck. I'm not a big fan of hockey, don't have a rink handy, don't own a stick and can't imagine I'd have a hope of slapping the watch hard enough to go any distance. So instead, I did what any good redneck would do.

I was feeling abusive so I tied it to the bumper of my Jeep Cherokee and drove down my gravel street with it back and forth three times. That's a 1/4 mile drive each way for about 3/4 of a mile of dragging on gravel, being bounced along. My average speed was about 15 MPH because the road simply doens't support going any faster than that. The watch still worked when I was done. It was kind of dirty though so I rinsed it off and took a look. A few minor scratches in the case were there but the glass was still scratch free. What next?

Taking my fishing pole and the watch I headed down to our local beach (on the Chesapeake Bay), tied the watch strap to the line (making sure it was very secure because I didn't want to gift the bay with the watch) and then proceeded to cast and reel in the watch 25 times. With no floater on the line the watch was dragging the bottom each time I reeled it in, being dragged through the sand and whatever refuse was on the bottom including some gravel and shells (of course). It survived. No issues.

Hmmm... for a lack of anything better to do I tied and taped it around one of my dog's tennis balls that we play fetch with and threw the ball a couple dozen times for him to bring back. Admittedly it was only in the yard but I managed to hit a tree a few times and the dog unceremoniously dropped the ball on the concrete at my feet each time he brought it back. Thoroughly saturated with dog spit and dirt from the yard, the watch still worked. I took it off the ball, rinsed it off and took it inside to check the time against The Official U.S. Time Clock. Yep, it was still less than one second off. The next time I go to the range I think I'm going to mount it on a target and shoot it with some 8-shot from 7 and 15 yards. If I do, I'll keep you advised.

Needless to say I'm suitably impressed with this time piece. Sure, if it's on a soldier's or cop's wrist it might get shot or blown up, but short of that I can't imagine what it's going to go through that would be more abusive than that which I put it through. So, I can recommend this watch. MSRP is $595 but I bet if you search around you can find one for a tad less.

For more info about the company or any of their line of watches check them out online.

Stay Safe!