When you head out stalking and every second counts, experienced hunters know the value of precise gear. But it's not just the shotgun and binoculars—your timepiece also has to meet the particular demands of the hunting stand and guarantee outstanding legibility in the dark. Our favorite practical hunting watches show you which other qualities matter.
Stalking with a Moonlight Indicator: Sinn Hunting Watch 3006
For hunters, the Sinn 3006 Hunting Watch is what a Breitling Navitimer is for pilots or an Omega Seamaster is for divers: an icon of its class. Yet the 44 mm model, unveiled at Munichtime in 2017, earned this status not so much through its dark green dial with ivory-colored lume, but through an entirely new complication called the moonlight indicator. It expands the classic moon phase with both a luminous moon symbol and a T-shaped shooting-light indicator at 6 o'clock.
If the center of the moon symbol sits above the T, the hunter can count on favorable light conditions throughout the entire night. These matter so much because many game species can only be reliably identified with sufficient light, and artificial light sources are prohibited under the German Federal Hunting Act. The Sinn 3006, water-resistant to 200 meters, rounds out its feature set with a chronograph function, a pointer date, a 24-hour scale at nine o'clock, and a day-date complication in the upper center. It's a considerable package that draws its power from the automatic Valjoux 7751, visible through a display caseback, and according to the manufacturer it comes in at €4,240 (on a solid bracelet).
By the way: if you're looking for a more affordable alternative in the Frankfurt manufacturer's catalog, the Sinn U1 B is a smart choice. While it lacks a moonlight indicator, it shines with generous luminous coating and a clear focus on the essentials. Officially, the 44 mm diver isn't one of the hunting watches, but it's superbly suited to hunting purposes and boasts a hefty 1,000 meters of water resistance. A Sinn U1 B on a solid bracelet will set you back €2,050.
Luminescence in Focus: Bell & Ross BR 03-92 DIVER FULL LUM
Perhaps no one has understood the importance of proper lume for hunting watches better than Bell & Ross: with the BR 03-92 DIVER FULL LUM, the innovative brand presents a revolutionary piece whose metal-based dial is fully coated in Super-LumiNova. You read that right—the 42 mm wide square watch in matte black ceramic lights up in the dark like fireworks on the wrist, even using different luminous shades for the background and the numerals. An explosive green-on-green contrast that brings a bit of daylight to the nighttime hunting stand—and that's best kept hidden under your sleeve so as not to spook the game.
In daylight, however, the Bell & Ross gives little away of its glowing secret and impresses with classic instrument-watch qualities: 300 meters of water resistance, a unidirectional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale, and the familiar automatic caliber BR-CAL.302. If you want to secure one of the 999 pieces, you'll need to budget €4,400.
On a Night Mission: Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 45 Night Mission
Of course, you don't need a horological sea of lights to be successful on the stalk. The Breitling Avenger Automatic GMT 45 Night Mission shows that rugged toughness is an equally valuable attribute. Given its aviation heritage, it's associated more with pilot's watches than hunting watches, but its suitability for operation with gloves pays off just as well in a hunting blind. Responsible for this, alongside the robust bezel of the 45 mm titanium model, is a special grip pattern on the crown.
At the same time, 300 meters of water resistance and a scratch-resistant DLC coating make it practically invulnerable. From a functional standpoint, the red hand of the eponymous GMT function deserves mention: it gives the watch a cosmopolitan character and comes in handy on hunting grounds abroad, for example. Price-wise, the imposing 45 mm giant, powered by the ETA-based automatic Breitling 32 movement, sits at €4,680. This includes a beige leather strap with a pin buckle, which can be replaced with a higher-quality folding clasp on request.
No-Nonsense Functionality: Tissot T-Sport Chrono XL Quartz
You don't have to sacrifice a fortune to get capable and authentic hunting watches, though. Tissot proves it with its T-Sport Chrono XL Quartz, whose electronic movement is housed in a 45 mm stainless steel case. The case offers a respectable 100 meters of water resistance, but it isn't the highlight of the line. That distinction belongs to the large, exceptionally legible dial: shaped by the tricompax layout of the chronograph function, it scores with strong lume on its oversized Arabic numerals and is available in various colors from black to silver.
Our favorite, naturally, is the dark green edition, because it instantly evokes the hunt and underscores its toughness with a gray PVD coating. Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is also part of the package, which is remarkably generous given the manufacturer's price of €335 and comes with decent quality. Ideal for young hunters who want to complete their professional gear with the right timepiece.
From Hunting Stand to Bucket Seat: Scalfaro E1961 E2A Norman Dewis Limited Edition
In England, not only hunting but also prestigious sports car building rank among the great traditions. If you want to combine both passions, you'll love the Scalfaro E1961 E2A Norman Dewis Limited Edition:
Limited to 250 pieces, it contains original material from the legendary Jaguar prototype E2A, which served as the link between the D-Type race cars and the world-famous E-Type.
To confirm its authenticity, the 43 mm stainless steel model bears the signature of Jaguar test engineer Norman Dewis on the case flank, along with an individual number on each piece between the lower lugs. On top of that, it offers several hallmarks of a well-executed hunting watch: first, the grippy, angular case; second, good legibility in the dark; and third, the ergonomic leather strap with folding clasp.
Exotic details such as the E2A silhouette on the dial, the Union Jack between the upper lugs, and the internal rotating bezel may serve no purpose on the stalk, but they make the Scalfaro an extraordinary work of art for enthusiasts. It draws its power from the automatic Swiss ADK caliber 147, which can be admired through the exhibition caseback of the case, water-resistant to 100 meters. Price point: €4,950.
