Review - MTM Special Ops Watch
I guess someone had to do it. WatchReport looks at the flashlight/watch that apparently is used by the military to flag down passing blimps.
The fist thing you will notice about the MTM Special Ops watch is its weight. If you prefer light-weight, inconspicuous timepieces, the Special Ops is not for you. If you like your watches substantial and solid, keep reading. The watch isn’t so heavy that you will eventually lose the use of your left arm, but the Special Ops is a dense and solid piece of stainless steel.
Check out the review here.
July 4th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
Your review was helpful. I like the watch styles they offer. Can you comment on the movements they use. The VD57 in the hawk & predator, the miyota OS20 in the patriot models, a swiss rhonda in their dark ops warrior and extreme ops. are these good reliable movements for the money or is the special casing, etc the primary for the cost?
January 16th, 2007 at 1:49 am
My understanding is that the VD57 is fairly pedestrian with something like +/- 20 seconds a month drift. Not bad, but not a world beater. I have no idea about the other movements.
I have a Predator that was a gift from a family member who served in the Special Forces in Iraq and the MTM watches really are used and popular with those guys.
Otherwise I agree with the review. They are nice looking but wouldn’t be confused with a Breitling. At the same time they are EXTREMELY durable and functional which is why they are popular. I destroy watches (and cell phones) at an alarming rate. This puppy has survived with out a scratch so far. Not only is the band re-sizable but it would also be easily repaired. The segments of the band are solid blocks of steel and would easily survive something that would easily remove my arm. The pins that hold the band together (which is what I have typically broken on other watches) appear to be of much higher quality material then what is used in similarly priced watches as well. Also in addition to being easily re-sizable the pins are easily replaceable (a couple extras are included for resizing).
My only complaint is that they don’t make a model with both a chronograph and tritium or LED illumination.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:47 am
not that great for the money!rubber strap clip broke and already have a scratch on glass.dial moves aronnd all the time,no date,looks good on the web site.special ops my ass.
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:47 am
not that great for the money!rubber strap clip broke and already have a scratch on glass.dial moves around all the time,no date,looks good on the web site.special ops my ass.
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I got the MTM Blackhawk and am well impressed. Had it nearly 18 months now and am going to get the orange warrior for diving this summer. The weight of the blackhawk for me is the only down side but as I wear it with the Ballistic strap it aint to bad. I also noticed if you limp wrists you can get a lightweighttitanium version of the Blackhawk.
April 9th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I purchased a Thunder Hawk with the steel band under 8 days ago and one of the screw snapped off with the pin still inside where you can not remove yourself. I call them up to get it fixed under warranty, besides I have to pay shippings on both ends, I was accused of damaging it myself 5 times by the representative. Customer Service Stinks When They Got Your Money.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Im glad Ive found this site. Thanks guys. Ive been drooling over these watches and was going to buy one tonight. Glad to here the scuttlebut. I think Ill buy a Tisso. Semper Fi.
June 7th, 2007 at 6:02 am
I agree they are way over priced all because of the show 24.I have the Warrior all SS and I love it.I had the ThunderHawk and didn’t like it.The warrior is a big nice well made watch.I’m saving for the all BlackSs Warrior.I would like the Xtreme but for $1600.00 I’ll buy a Omega Seamaster.If you have the money i would get one but if money is tight and want a watch just as good get a LUMINOX EVO.It’s agreeat watch I love it.
To each his own.
December 20th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I have the MTM BLACKHAWK TITANIUM Special Ops Watch, it cost me £399. I only had it a month and the strap broke, one of the srews had come loose, and after replacing the screw and one of the segments the screw head broke off. I now have two broken screws stuck in the strap. Ive just sent off an email to the company I bought it off and MTM so I will post the reply when I get it.
January 27th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Wow, glad i stumbled across this site.
Looks like i just saved myself some grief not to mention £400!
Boo
March 7th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Damn, I really wanted one of these watches, but i’m not looking to buy myself some problems. Thx for the feedback everybody.
March 26th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I have the Black Hawk ballistic band and it’s a fairly durable watch as far as the body goes. Bezel is nice and accurate and the glass has sustained a few serious hits. But the crown dial has come loose (I actually temporarily lost it this morning due to it falling off). I can still readjust the time with it but the thing’s pretty dodgy. I talked to Customer Service and they said they’d fix it so I’ll be sending it back soon.
All in all I’d say it’s probably worth the money but the crown bothers me. I give it a 7/10.
-J
April 8th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Sounds like some people have either bought a lemon or are just cry babies who can never be pleased. I bought a Patriot MTM special forces from the company and it has kept perfect time and taken a real beating several times without a scratch. The saphire crystal is tha same used on the Rolex. Maybe some of the complaints are comming from some unlucky people I am not one of them. You wont find a stronger watch made. If you run out of weapons you can use the watch to beat the attacker with. Maybe the Patriot I have is a better watch model for MTM then the black hawk. Black Hawk maybe a better name but I think I have the better model. Definatly keeps as good of time as my Rolex Submariner and goes deeper.
April 10th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I have all the bands for the blackhawk. My velcro strap came undone but they wouldn’t fix it so I’m going to take it to a shoe cobbler and have it fixed. I asked the company and they said it wouldn’t work because it “won’t lay straight.” Personally I take it as a bunch of horseshit because you end up paying 60 bucks including shipping for a new one as opposed to $10 bucks to your local cobbler who has more than just common sense to fix it. Overall, a great watch! I highly recommend, but inspect your straps every so often and utilize your free warrantee card.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Hello guys
I have been drooling over the MTM watches for the last few months and I really want one yet none of the models is a complete package. The only down side is that they do not make one combining tritium with LED lighting with rechargeable battery.
The Silencer is not bad yet again, the illumination is only for the digital part and it is without tritium.
The Vultures is smart having two batteries, yet why they could not have put a zender diode to charge the watch battery as well as the illumination battery. It recharge at the end…wired
The Blackhawk is OK yet plain, no date, no chronograph, no alarm…
My current collection of watches include
a 7 years old Traser H3 tritium It has taken a beating and the glass is immaculate absolutely no scratch on it. I am on my second band and battery. I can not fault this watch at all.
A SUUNTO advisor about 6 years old and it does the LOT as I use it in training, swimming in pool and ocean. It has taken a beating as well and is in absolute very good condition specially the band is as new. Only had to replace the battery twice (very easy did it my self).
A Citizen Callibre 2100 Titanium Eco-Drive. Is ok as a dress watch but the glass is very exposed and I am afraid that I will smash it if I am not careful. I will not recommend it. It is OK anyway, eco drive takes energy from the sun hence no battery, has a alarm and a chronograph.
My ideal watch? Should have all the features from a SUUNTO Advisor packaged in an titanium case and band MTM Warrior type, digital and analogue display, tritium tubes on all hands and I want the illumination from the Vultures MTM and not last the amazing glass from my Traser as is 7 years old without a scratch and if I do not ask too much can it be Eco Drive so I never have to change a battery or rely on a wall charger…….
MTM if you are reading this PLEASE, PLEASE look at this and I can tell you that I will be happy to pay $1000 for a watch like this and I will not be the only one…..
You will finally create the ultimate survival/combat watch.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hi,
Just felt I had to comment and support Adrian’s view on the complete watch package to add some weight to a ‘big hint’ to watch producers.
I too have been pondering and dwelling on whether to go for an MTM watch, specifically the Vuluture, as I would use the lighting system and want a strong, robust watch. teh Blackhawk lights look a bit orangy I feel from what I’ve seen and I’d want bright LED lighting if possible. But I’m also toying with the idea of buying a Traser or KHS H3/tritium watch as I also value the continual lighting they offer and the excellent build quality.
UV lighting? Why bother, I’ll take Tritium any day of the week over UV.
But I also want chrono functions for accurate/precise timing etc. Throw in a depth/altimeter/temp function…and dare I ask….an electronic compass and I’d be a happy man.
My ideal watch package?
Hard as nails but light on the wrist…Titanium shell…with good solid strap construction that won’t break easily, preferably in PVD black and with crystal glass that won’t scratch. Waterproof to the usual depths. Add the lighting system of the Vulture, if it’s as good as peopel say, and I’d want it bright, not orangy, as I’d want to use it as a torch in low light settings to search through my kit without the hassle of having to dig around for my torch. Tritium vials on the hour, minute, second hands and the hour markers and bezel. And can the bezel be carbon fibre and marked incremently 0-60 mins, and 12 and 24 hour markings on the watch face like the Traser/KHS range.
Battery life/charging? I’m happy to go with charging as I accept it’ll be power hungry the amount I would use the light function and any additions such as altimeter/depth/compass etc.
Now the big question…anyone know of a watch maker who could put all this together for me and not smother it in corny Special Ops, Special Forces, SAS, SBS and daggers for minute hands to promote sales. Give me a subtle workhorse of a watch and stuff it with functions I and others need everyday and I’ll hand over my credit card happily.
people pay thousands for Breitlings, Rolexs, Omegas even Tags and they do nothing that I want, they just look pretty. I’d happily pay the same or more for a ‘Shire Horse’ of a watch that delivers the goods.
here’s hoping someones listening.
PS. To MTM, Traser, KHS, SUNTO….any chance you could put together some online videos of your watches. Be great for marketing and as most of us would buy online would provdie your customers with a chance to look over your products online. People are doing it on the web already. I’d love to see how the lighting system on the MTM range actualy works/looks.
Thanks for reading,
Phil