Police require a watch that improves the job
A good watch can be an essential tool for law enforcement, but the nature of their jobs makes it difficult to find one that will last through everything they encounter. We’ve heard story after story about watches being destroyed on the job. This post explains what to look for in a great watch for law enforcement officers, including what makes them special and how you can choose one tough enough to handle your job.
What makes a good watch for law enforcement officers?
You probably already know that a watch is an essential part of your uniform. What you may not know, however, is that there are a lot of different watches out there, and some are better than others. Here's what you need to look for in a quality law enforcement watch:
- Waterproof and sweatproof.
- Tough. Can take a hit.
- Easy to use (including buttons, dials)
- Can be worn with uniform or suit (and other clothing)
- Something you may have missed: it shouldn’t call too much attention to you or your position in the field
Do police require special types of watches?
The simple answer is yes. If you buy a regular watch, it will likely be destroyed in days. That’s a waste of your hard earned money. You need a watch that can withstand extreme situations and whatever else gets thrown at it. You also need it to be easy to read in low light conditions, have a long battery life and be easy to clean.
Smith & Bradley interviewed hundreds of law enforcement officers to develop a watch made for the job. We created the SANS-13 tactical watch and it has been worn by many police officers since it’s creation. This is a little background about why it works.
What makes a tactical watch?
A tactical watch is built to withstand abuse and extreme conditions, making it the perfect accessory for law enforcement officials. Originally designed for soldiers in the field, tactical watches became popular for their toughness and military styling. These watches are made from durable materials like stainless steel, which means they can handle being submerged in water and even dropped on the ground without breaking.
They’re also shockproof, meaning that if you drop your tactical watch onto concrete from a height of about four feet (1.2 meters), it won’t shatter into pieces like an ordinary timepiece might when subjected to this same impact force.
Additionally, tactical watches are designed to be hidden, not a showpiece. They minimize attention when needed. They don’t give away your position from an overly bright face or reflective glass.
And we found that police officers don’t want to worry about losing a watch. So we used a NATO strap that, even when cut will hold onto your watch.
Choosing a watch tough enough for the job of law enforcement
After we interviewed hundreds of law enforcement officers about their watches, we wrote one word down: toughness. A cop’s watch gets hit, smashed, scratched, grabbed and even submerged. Often times unexpectedly. Nothing on a policeman’s watch can be lightweight or delicate.
We tested various materials but landed on German stainless steel. It was super tough and resistant to scratches, breaks and damage. But it was also affordable. For Smith & Bradley, making a watch that was priced for an officer was critical. The entire case was crafted from a block of this German stainless steel. And it was tough.
Then we worked on the face. Again, it had to be tough, scratch resistant and unbreakable. We settled on sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. Based on our testing, this is the strongest material you can use. And by combining it with the stainless steel, we created a tough, tough watch.
Smith & Bradley created the SANS-13 for law enforcement officers
Smith & Bradley is a tactical watch company that makes SANS-13 watches for law enforcement officers. The SANS-13 is their flagship model, and it's built for the job.
The watches are tough, rugged and reliable. Built with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal dial window, these watches are resistant to scratches so they'll stay in good condition over time. In fact, they're tested against 30 bar water pressure (300 meters) and drop height of up to 1 meter onto concrete flooring before being approved as "tactical" gear by Smith & Bradley themselves. They also have a long battery life.
Every detail of this watch was created around the role of a law enforcement officer. Our founder, Jerommie Smith, was a cop in Chicago for decades before starting Smith & Bradley. But he knew that law enforcement officers needed something just for them. And the SANS-13 is what he created.
A great tactical watch that can handle a cop's job
As a law enforcement officer, you know how important it is to have the right gear for your job. A good watch can be an essential tool in the field, and it's one of those things that may not get used every day but will always be there when you need it. That's why we created Smith & Bradley's SANS-13 tactical watch with some of the toughest components available.
From law enforcement training to daily use and everything in between, a good tactical watch can be an essential tool for police officers. Take a look at our SANS-13 Tactical watch and see if it will work for you.
