BOLDR Field Medic I: the military-inspired watch designed for field professionals
Military watches and field watches have historically shared the same philosophy: providing a robust, legible instrument that can be used immediately in the field. With the Field Medic I, BOLDR Supply Co. takes this concept in an original direction by creating a tool watch designed especially for healthcare professionals. Inspired by medical personnel working on the front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic, this version of the BOLDR Venture combines a 38 mm titanium case, a Japanese meca-quartz chronograph, a pulsometer scale and a function for measuring respiratory rate. It also features a sapphire crystal and 200 metres of water resistance. This makes it a particularly interesting proposition for enthusiasts of military watches and tool watches, as the Field Medic I does more than simply adopt a tactical aesthetic: its functions have been designed for genuine use in the field. It is available from €264.
A field watch directly inspired by the medical world
The Field Medic project was launched in 2020 with the idea of developing a watch that could be used by healthcare professionals to quickly measure a patient’s pulse and respiratory rate. BOLDR states that the concept was developed with Portuguese designer Danny Luís and Dr Karan Madan, a physician based in India. The principle is ultimately quite similar to that of a military field watch: prioritising immediately accessible information and providing functions designed for a specific operational situation. BOLDR fully embraces this connection. On the caseback, the brand combines topographic lines evoking exploration and challenging terrain with references to military service and medical symbols, including the Star of Life and a line representing a heartbeat.
A titanium case measuring just 38 mm
The BOLDR Field Medic I features a 38 mm titanium case. Its dimensions remain particularly compact, with a thickness of 12.2 mm and a lug-to-lug measurement of 44 mm. The lug width is 20 mm. Titanium is a particularly appropriate choice for a watch designed for field use. Its light weight contributes to comfort when worn for extended periods, while the 38 mm diameter avoids the bulk sometimes associated with larger tool watches. This compact architecture also brings the Field Medic I closer to the proportions traditionally associated with a military field watch: a functional watch that remains discreet and easy to wear.
A dial designed as a genuine instrument
The dial naturally gives this BOLDR much of its distinctive character. The Field Medic I features scales for measuring heart rate and respiratory rate. The principle relies on the chronograph: the user starts the measurement, counts the specified number of beats and then stops the chronograph to read the result directly from the corresponding scale. For pulse measurement, BOLDR has opted for a 30-second measurement window. A date display is also integrated into the dial, allowing this information to be quickly referenced when taking notes. The watch therefore becomes a specialised instrument rather than simply a chronograph with a medical-inspired design.
Legibility suited to a field watch
A military or professional watch must above all be quick and easy to read. BOLDR uses a matte printed dial with clearly identifiable markers. The hands and dial also feature Japanese luminous material, designed to maintain legibility as light levels decrease. Coloured accents help distinguish the information associated with the chronograph’s different functions. The overall design therefore retains the functional, instrument-like character of BOLDR Venture watches while giving the Field Medic collection an identity of its own.
Discover the full details of the BOLDR Field Medic I
A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
The dial is protected by a flat sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating. This is a particularly relevant feature for a tool watch designed to be worn every day. Sapphire offers excellent scratch resistance, while the anti-reflective coating helps improve dial legibility. Combined with its titanium case, this sapphire crystal reinforces the resolutely functional positioning of the Field Medic I.
A military watch water-resistant to 200 metres
The BOLDR Field Medic I offers water resistance to 200 metres, or 20 ATM. It also features a screw-down crown and a screw-down caseback. This specification goes well beyond the ordinary requirements of a field watch and enhances the versatility of the timepiece. Although it is not presented as a dive watch, the Field Medic I therefore offers a particularly useful level of water resistance for a field watch likely to be regularly exposed to water and demanding conditions.
The Japanese SII VK64 meca-quartz movement
BOLDR has chosen the Japanese SII VK64, a meca-quartz chronograph movement. This technology is a coherent choice given the philosophy of the watch. It combines the accuracy and ease of use of quartz with chronograph operation that reproduces some of the sensations associated with traditional mechanical movements. For a watch designed above all to perform a specific function, the choice of a meca-quartz movement also helps maintain a compact and functional package.
A NATO strap in the spirit of military watches
It would be difficult to take the field watch concept this far without choosing a strap consistent with its DNA. The Field Medic I comes on a nylon NATO strap, fitted with custom titanium hardware. This choice immediately reinforces its military watch aesthetic. The NATO strap has long been associated with field watches and remains appreciated for its simplicity, durability and ease of replacement. With a standard 20 mm lug width, it is also easy to change the appearance of the watch by fitting other compatible straps.
A distinctive engraving on the caseback
BOLDR has also paid attention to an element that is not necessarily visible when the watch is being worn: the caseback. It features a distinctive illustration combining several different worlds. The topographic lines recall maps used in the field, while the Star of Life and the representation of a heartbeat immediately reference the watch’s medical purpose. The BOLDR logo is incorporated into the centre of the composition. This combination of exploration, field use, military influences and medicine perfectly encapsulates the Field Medic concept.
BOLDR Field Medic I: the key specifications
The specifications confirm the comprehensive tool watch positioning of the Field Medic I: 38 mm titanium case, 12.2 mm thickness, 44 mm lug-to-lug length, SII VK64 movement, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, 200 metres of water resistance and NATO strap with titanium hardware. These features are, of course, complemented by its dedicated pulse and respiratory rate measurement functions.
A military watch unlike any other
The BOLDR Field Medic I stands out because it does not simply attempt to reproduce the aesthetic codes of a vintage military watch. Instead, its design embraces the fundamental philosophy of the field watch: creating a simple, robust instrument suited to a specific mission. In this case, that mission is medical. A chronograph, pulsometer, respiratory rate measurement, date display, titanium, sapphire crystal, NATO strap and 200 metres of water resistance combine to create a watch genuinely designed as a tool. With its compact 38 mm diameter and Japanese meca-quartz movement, the BOLDR Field Medic I offers an original interpretation of the contemporary field watch, positioned somewhere between a military watch, medical chronograph and tool watch.
More…
Nodus sector II field titanium shale: the military field watch goes titanium
RALF TECH ACADÉMIE 37: three new watches with altered proportions
We Love Watches 2026: the watchmaking world gathers in Paris on October 9 and 10.
BOLDR Odyssey Regatta: when the regatta chronograph becomes a 500-meter dive watch.
Get ready for the next dive! Receive our latest news and inspiration dedicated to military and dive watches.
Subscribe
Editor: Éric Barse
Journalist, entrepreneur, and founder of the websites www.cafe-racer-only.com and www.scooter-3-roues.com, Eric Barse divides his time between his passions: motorcycles, travel, and watches. A graduate of the Saint-Cyr military academy and the 2nd RPIMA (Parachute Regiment) before pursuing a career in communications and digital media, he has a true passion for authentic watches that have accompanied his two-wheeled adventures for many years, from the Indian Ocean to Africa and Latin America!
