Best Affordable Pulsometer Watches
Pulsometer watches were quite popular back in the day, especially among doctors and nurses. Today, their functionality is not as important as before since new, more advanced digital tools have come to the market. But pulsometers still remain popular and appreciated for their designs and the functionality they offer.
A pulsometer watch is a watch that features a pulsometer scale. This is usually presented on the dial or the bezel. The purpose of a pulsometer chronograph is quite simple. As the name suggests, they are used by doctors and other medical staff to take a patient’s pulse. Many pulsometer watches feature chronographs for calculation, but far from all of them. This is because it is possible to use the pulsometer scale with the second hand, even though it is more convenient to use a chronograph since you can start and stop it whenever you want for more accurate measurements.
At its core, a pulsometer watch is just like a regular chronograph but with a pulsometer scale.
As mentioned, doctors have much more accurate and advanced tools today for taking the patient’s pulse, but they are still used by some doctors to quickly and effortlessly take the pulse. But most people today who own a pulsometer watch choose it for the style and look that they offer. Today, most watch brands have replaced the pulsometer scale with a tachymeter scale which has resulted in a more limited selection on the market.
The good news is that if you are a fan of pulsometer chronographs, there are still a few pulsometers on the market. And they are not just ultra-expensive alternatives either. In this article, we are particularly focusing on affordable pulsometer watches that cost no more than a few hundred dollars. The selection is not huge, but we have listed the best options here.
Using a pulsometer is very simple. To take the pulse, simply start the chronograph, take 30 pulse beats, stop the chronograph, and read the pulse rate on which the chronograph second-hand stops on the pulsometer scale.
Note that a pulsometer is not to be confused with a heart rate monitor. A heart rate monitor is digital and is available on some smart-and fitness watches. A pulsometer, instead of calculating digitally, is read analog by referring to the second hand and the pulsometer scale on the dial. Whilst a heart rate monitor is technically more advanced and accurate, a pulsometer is an interesting and appealing function to have in an analog wristwatch, and it can also be convenient to have as it is not always ideal or possible to mount a heart rate monitor on the patient for various reasons.
Best affordable pulsometer watches
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Speidel Scrub 30 Medical Watch – Pulsometer, Date Window, 24 Hour Marks, Second Hand, Luminous Hands
First up, we have the Speidel Sub 30. Naturally, since the pulsometer watch is intended for medical staff and doctors, it makes sense that this watch is designed for that particular purpose and not only featuring a tachymeter scale.
The watch does not have a chronograph function, and therefore functions using the second hand. It has a simple metal case with straight lugs and a slim, polished bezel. The dial is white and has the tachymeter scale on the outer part of the dial. The tachymeter scale is made for 30 beats, meaning you can easily take a pulse reading after thirty pulse beats without having to do the calculation. To make them stand out, both the pulsometer scale and the second hand are red.
Furthermore, the dial has 12-hour and 24-hour Arabic numerals as well as a date window at 3 o’clock. The hands are designed with black ”frames” in order to provide better contrast against the background. The hands are also filled with luminescent material which helps with the legibility in low-lit conditions.
The watch is powered by a Japanese quartz movement and has a water resistance of 50M. Since it is is a medical watch, it comes on a silicone strap that is easy to clean.
Specifications
- Movement: quartz
- Water resistance: 50m/160 feet
VAVC Pulsometer doctors watch
VAVC is another medical watch that is specially made for doctors, nurses, students, and other medical staff.
The VAVC nurse watch is quite similar to the Speidel but has a slightly more elegant design which contributes to making it even more suitable for other occasions than at work if you do work in the medical space. This watch is, therefore, more suitable for everyone and even as an everyday watch. It has a diameter of 40mm and a slim, polished bezel. The lugs are slim as well and have a curved design.
The watch is designed to be super easy to read with a large black Arabic 12-hour and 24-hour numerals and white background. The hands are filled with luminescent material and have black frames to provide a good contrast against the dial. On the outer part of the dial, we find the pulsometer scale printed in black which, together with the red second hand provides a nice touch of color. The execution of the pulsometer scale makes it possible to take the pulse directly after thirty pulse beats without any calculation.
It is powered by a Japanese quartz movement and has a water resistance of 50m/164 feet. To make it easy to clean, it is presented on a silicone band. On top of the case sits a scratch-resistant sapphire-coated mineral crystal.
All in all, this is a versatile, durable, and frankly, quite a stylish pulsometer watch that is great for the medical profession but also for other areas and even for everyday use.
Specifications
- Diameter: 40mm
- Water resistance: 50m/164 feet
- Movement: Japanese quartz
Zeppelin 8644-5 Series LZ126 Los Angeles
Now to a watch that isn’t specifically designed for the medical area but more so as an everyday watch for everyone.
The Zeppelin 8644-5 Series LZ126 has a classic, vintage-inspired design. For everyone who enjoys elegant, vintage-inspired dress watches, the Zeppelin watch is actually a great choice. And at less than 300 USD, it offers great value for money as well.
The watch has a stainless steel case with a diameter of 43mm. Zeppelin has paid attention to the details by creating stepped lugs that enhance the appearance and elegance. Zeppelin also stays true to its German roots by designing it so that it reminds of industrial German design. This doesn’t perhaps come as a surprise seeing that the watch is in fact made in Germany.
For a vintage touch, the dial has a cream/beige dial with a pulsometer scale around the outer part of the dial printed in red. At 12 o’clock it has a date window which is a nice positioning compared to the classic 3 o’clock position. Around the dial, it also has black Arabic numerals printed in a classic style.
The Swiss quartz movement (Ronda 6203.B) powers the big date and dual time and features a freely adjustable second time.
To go with the classic theme, it is presented on a brown leather strap. The water resistance is decent at 50m, but this isn’t the type of watch you would go swimming and diving with, anyway.
All in all, if you are looking for a classic, elegant, vintage-inspired timepiece with a pulsometer, this is a great, affordable choice.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43mm
- Water resistance: 50m
- Movement: Ronda 6203. B quartz
- Thickness: 11mm
Zeppelin LZ126 Los Angeles Men’s Watch 8644-1
Lastly, we have another pulsometer watch from Zeppelin, the LZ126 Los Angeles Men’s Watch 8644-1.
This is the same watch as above but with a white dial instead of a beige/cream dial. This gives a more modern and fresh appearance. Since we have already gone through the specifications above, we’ll cover them briefly.
It has a diameter of 43mm with a thickness of 11mm. The watch is powered by a Ronda 6203. B, quartz-controlled Swiss movement, and is equipped with a big date pal time and freely adjustable second time.
This particular version is perhaps more striking than the one above because the use of blue and red printing against the white background goes extremely well together and creates a really nice look.
Specifications
- Diameter: 43mm
- Thickness: 11mm
- Movement: Ronda 6203. B, quartz-controlled
- Water resistance: 50m/5ATM
