Apple Watch Series 8 42mm leaving service as my tool watch. Residential repair plumber. No case (purchased early ‘23).

Second Apple Watch I’ve had for my job. New one (Apple Watch #3) is a 12 that I will keep protected. The first one’s screen delaminated after four years.

People have asked about the general fucked up condition, aesthetically, of the watch and I tell them that Apple Watches are the greatest tool watch. With their longevity (years in absolutely brutal conditions) they are both disposable and indispensable. I can easily justify the cost per year at the rate I buy them. I can see at a glance if a message or call is important, set timers without having to pull my phone out, and call my apprentice when both hands are occupied and I need his help dealing with a situation.

Only reason I bought a 12 is that, as a new business owner, I need to see messages and phone calls when my phone is on silent. I was out of town for a wedding (wearing my Swiss “tool watch”) and almost had a panic attack because my phone was going to be on silent for 6 hours or so and I wouldn’t be able to see if any of my customers contacted me. So I went to a Best Buy as soon as I hit town and bought the 12.

I’m sure the 8 will last a couple more years as my kids watch - only issues are the side button not activating (unless you push hard) and the battery isn’t what it used to be.

But it has been submerged in water and mud, banged against cast iron pipes and countless walls and cabinets, crammed along with my wrist into Sheetrock voids, blindly taken nails to the face, been on my wrist while I’m running heavy duty tools, slammed into the metal shelving of my work van… and it has kept going every day for years. It’s pretty impressive and just figured I’d share.