Chris Kyle’s Watches

Christopher Scott Kyle was the most lethal sniper in American military history, awarded for his multiple acts of courage and heroism. For his service, Kyle received two Silver Star Medals, five Bronze Star Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He served in Iraq for four tours and had over 160 kills as a sniper.

After being honorably discharged from his service, he published a book that was the basis for Clint Eastwood’s movie, American Sniper. Unfortunately, he and a friend were killed by another former Marine officer in 2013.

During his life and notoriety, Chris Kyle was known to wear two watch models, a Casio G-Shock and a Resco Patriot. He also mentioned having received a Rolex Submariner from his father-in-law as a gift that his wife wore in tribute to him after his death.

 

Casio G-Shock

During his life, Chris Kyle wore a G-Shock. In American Sniper, Bradley Cooper, who played Kyle in the film, wears a Casio G-Shock DW-6600-1V. This model features a stopwatch, 24-hour countdown timer, and an EL backlight.

The Casio G-shock watch is very popular among military personnel around the world. It was introduced in 1983 following the success of the G-Force series, which used the armed forces as a source of inspiration and has features adapted for military personnel. For example, G-Shock watches run on solar power and have 31 time zones, a countdown timer, a power-saving function, a long battery life, and a full auto EL backlight with afterglow. They are also shock and water resistant to 200m.

Casio decided to produce a robust watch for rugged industries, resulting in a collection of incredibly resistant watches that remain unaffected by heavy impact, making the G-Shock popular in the military. So it comes as no surprise that Chris Kyle chose to wear this timepiece during his missions, as depicted in American Sniper.

 

Resco Patriot

Chris Kyle was also known to wear a Resco Patriot wristwatch, which is another watch suitable for military use.

What makes these watches so special is that they are handcrafted and designed by a Navy SEAL. Also, Resco is the only watch to have completed a Basic Underwater Demolition Training. It was tested on students that were going through training, and after the testing phase, it received feedback for improvement. It’s a tough, rugged watch worn by actual SEALs. Initially, Chris Kyle wanted to join the SEALs, but was rejected because of the pins in his arm. Later on, he received an invitation and joined in 1999. Resco Patriot is the official brand of watches for the SEALs and as Kyle was a crucial part of the organization, it’s easy to see why he would wear one.

 

Rolex Submariner

Christopher Kyle’s widow was seen wearing his Rolex Submariner as a tribute to him after his death. In his book, Kyle mentions receiving the timepiece as a gift from his father-in-law.

Once again, there is a connection between Kyle being part of the Navy SEALs and the watches he wore. It is a known fact that the SEALs have worn the Submariner model because of its water resistance. In fact, the Submariner was the first watch water resistant up to 660ft. It uses Rolex’s patented Oyster case and Triplock winding crown. Due to its toughness, it has been taken on both land and sea expeditions on land and sea. Apart from being known as the most famous watch brand in the world and also as a symbol of status and luxury, Rolex is known for the incredible features on its watches and their usefulness to pilots and divers.

Christopher Kyle’s watch choices probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with his story and his background. They reflect a practical sensibility, and apply easily to heavy military use.

 

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