There are tough jobs in the world. Jobs may require endurance or strength, while others may be in uncompromising or stressful environments. We have already written about dive watches, as well as pilot watches, both of which require a certain type of watch due to their unique environments. In this article, we’ll explore those watches that are built tough for jobs that are tough, one way or the other.

First responders make a difference. They include the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, emergency medical personnel, emergency rescuers, and other brave professionals on whom we all depend in the event of an emergency or crisis.

LIV GX1 Signature Orange

Our pick: LIV GX1 Signature Orange

This is a superbly crafted Swiss-Made watch, which features a high-quality Sellita Caliber SW200-1 (and we’ve also written about how much we love Sellita movements) and 3-hand and date display, as well as high-grade sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating. The movement uses no less than 26 jewels, which is more than some of the most sophisticated chronograph movements. This allows for smooth operation and remarkable accuracy. The hand-finished 316L stainless steel case gives the watch a tough, solid feel. It’s worth noting that the orange detailing is not only a cool design choice, but the contrast makes the dial more visible in situations of low light, say in a cramped location or at night. This brightness is further enhanced with hands and hour markers coated with SuperLuminova BGW9.

There are many superb and eye-catching features to this watch, including the 3D multi-layer dial and anti-reflective sapphire crystals front and back that provide a clear, sharp view of the movement. The stainless steel case has a black IP coating and brushed finish that makes the watch look and feel even more rugged and hardy. And being 42mm wide and 11.6mm thick means it’s thinner compared to other similar watches, which will feel reassuringly light on the first responder’s wrist.

People love this watch! This is what one of our customers, Paul P. from the US, had to say about the LIV GX1 Signature Orange: “This watch is truly extraordinary. I could be here all day praising this watch. You have to see the dial in person to truly appreciate it's beauty and functionality. I am a LIV customer for life!”

And this is what the Watchdig blog had to say in a review of this watch: “LIV is definitely one of the best watches I have reviewed to date thanks to their over-delivery in the build quality, presentation, design and unboxing experience”.

The result is a deceptively simple-looking watch that offers the first responder maximum scratch resistance, durability, and superb readability.

Working as a chef can be hard, hot work. The tough working conditions of a professional kitchen, combined with the needed finesse and creativity of being a chef, requires a timepiece with matching toughness and class. We have just the watch for the discerning, high-maintenance chef - theLIV Rebel-DDC Aspen.

Our pick: LIV Rebel-DDC Aspen

This watch has a Swiss movement, the super-accurate Ronda Z60, 3-hand quartz chronograph caliber, as well as sub-dials with date and day of the week, 30-minute counter, and 60-second counter. The panda dial gives the watch an added je ne sais quoi quality of quirky refinement, which is perfectly apt for your perfectionist chef, of course.

Furthermore, a high-grade sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating offers maximum resistance to scratching and superb clarity. This Rebel-DDC model is encased in a hand-finished and polished 316L stainless steel case. And it’s also worth mentioning that the 25-jewel movement ensures an accurate automatic watch.

It just looks great. The multi-level dial with 3D effect is stunning to the eye. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the front and back of the watchmeans this watch has a stunning skeleton case-back, which allows the wearer to constantly admire the Swiss movement ticking away inside. We’ve designed the case and crystal to blend together as if molded as a single piece, which adds to the effortless sophistication of the watch.

This is what one of our customers, Matthew W. from the UK, had to say about this superb timepiece: “I love my new Rebel! The quality is truly excellent and on par with other swiss watches i have. The only difference being it was a 10th of the cost of those! Can’t recommend enough!”

And Matthew was one of the few people worldwide lucky enough to have this Rebel with a cause given that only 500 were made as a Limited Edition, with a unique serial number and limited edition number engraved on its case back.

A chef not only works in a demanding, tough environment, but has to deliver quality dishes each and every time. That is why a chef needs and deserves a watch that is both reliable and aesthetically pleasing.

LIV Rebel-DDC Aspen

Our pick: LIV GX1 Venom Yellow

There are few urban jobs as physically and mentally demanding as that of the bike courier or messenger. This is a person that has to be at the physical peak of their fitness and endurance. It is also a job that requires immense levels of concentration, focus, and attention. Anything less than that could mean a courier literally flying over their handlebars. We know we have a watch tailor-made for the busy, stressed-out bike courier, and that’s the LIV GX1 Venom Yellow.

This gorgeous timepiece features a Swiss Ronda Caliber 5040.D, 3-hand (that’s with 10-hour, 30-minute, and 60-second counters) quartz chronograph. As with our other LIV GX1 models, the Venom Yellow has a high-grade sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, which offers maximum scratch resistance and excellent readability, both of which will be handy for any bike courier.

Furthermore, the case is in the best 316L stainless steel with muted gray IP coating, which offsets the terrific 3D multi-layer dial with numbers in luminous bright yellow.

A job as unique as that of the bike courier warrants a watch design that was unique. After all, our GX1 Classic Chronograph collection was entirely crowd-sourced, and thus designed and crafted with the love and attention of the confident start-up that LIV Watches started out as. We coupled this with the meticulous attention to detail and Swiss-inspired quality in all that we do. That is why we have so much love for our GX1 Classic Chrono collection - it was borne of true commitment and passion, similar to the work of a bike courier, right?

We have many fans of this superior watch, including Richard V. from

Tanzania, who wrote to us to say: “Great timepiece. Hi, since the piece got here it never left my wrists. We went to bumpy dirt roads with lots of vibration on two wheels and afterwards diving into the ocean some extreme situation not every watch can handle. I am super happy and have ordered a second timepiece. Cheers”. 

This is what the Chilean websiteMercado Libre had to say about this watch: “The LIV GX1 Swiss Chronograph Watch offers all the durability and convenience of a sports watch, with an adaptable style well suited for a work day or a more classic setting”.

We think that all sounds about right for the bike courier expertly weaving their way in and out of traffic.

We would like to share three other watches that were made tough for challenging, difficult jobs or environments that require a watch to match. All three are watchmakers we haven’t covered before and, coincidentally, none of which are Swiss.

Mountaineer / Outdoors Work

TheFatherly website made this very apt observation: “There are tough watches and outdoor watches and work watches. And then, there’s the triple treat, the perfect combination of all three.” In their opinion, one of the best watches for that triple purpose is theGarmin Instinct. The AmericanGarmin company has become a leader in GPS navigation and wearable technology. The company boasts how, “We make products that are engineered on the inside for life on the outside”.

The watch is shock-resistant and water-resistant up to 100 meters. It also offers a built-in triple-axis compass and barometric altimeter. The Garmin Instinct further monitors a user’s heart rate, as well as activity and stress levels. Apt for a Garmin watch, the wearer can navigate with the multi-GNSS satellite support and outdoor sensors. All of these features are perfect for the person doing tough outdoor work in rugged terrain or simply mountaineering for the sheer fun of it.

Garmin Instinct

Military Personnel

Rugged construction and perfect reliability: those are two of the most important features for any watch worn by military personnel. One watch that is believed to be aviable military option is theSuunto Core All Black Military Men's Outdoor Sports Watch.Suunto is a Finnish company that has gained an excellent reputation for its range of sports watches. Suunto proudly states on its website: “Pioneering exploration has been in our DNA since 1936…,” and further proclaims, “Designed by Finland. Made by Us”. It’s worth noting that this watch is used by the Swiss Army.

The Suunto Core All Black Military outdoor watch features a composite case with aluminum bezel, as well as mineral crystal face. It also features an altimeter, barometer, and compass with weather information. The watch also has a storm alarm that analyzes air pressure levels, which can be useful for those in remote, outdoor locations. Itspreset sunrise / sunset times for over 400 locations can help a user plan their activities in advance. Furthermore, its elastomer band helps the watch weight just 64 grams, which is great for the hyper-active military person out on grueling maneuvers.

Suunto Core All Black Military Men's Outdoor Sports Watch

Polar Explorer

Okay, we admit that working in a polar environment is one of the rarer occupations out there. Nevertheless, those conditions don’t come much tougher, so anyone working in them could be considered an ‘explorer’! That’s why we think a watch that can master those extreme conditions is worth noting here. For that, one of the best bets is theBremont Terra Nova.Bremont is a luxury British watchmaker that has focused on aviation-themed watches, as well as those aimed at the armed forces. Bremont is proud to be British, as can be seen on itswebsite: “Our mission is to reinvigorate watchmaking on British shores”.

The Terra Nova is particularly well-suited to use in the coldest polar regions. Firstly, itsconstructed out of titanium, which is a particularly poor conductor of heat. For example, stainless steel and aluminum conduct heat at 2 and 11 times quicker, respectively, than does titanium. Thus, titanium is an ideal metal for very cold weather. Secondly, no battery could withstand such frigid temperatures, which is why its well-oiled mechanical 11 ¼''' BE-93-2AE movement is a perfect choice. It’s a chronometer with 42-hour power reserve, which, again, is a real plus for any person wearing this watch in a remote polar region. This is a special watch for work in a unique, if punishing place. Perhaps it’s appropriate that this model was limited tojust 300 pieces.

Bremont Terra Nova

Of course, there are many other tough jobs requiring sturdily-crafted, reliable watches. Not all men have the luxury of wearing delicate or temperamental watches that require constant care. Instead, they need a timepiece they know they can count on, whatever the conditions and stresses their job demands.

Like other notable watchmakers, we at LIV Watches see the value in designing and crafting watches made for tough men engaged in demanding, tough work.