Military Watches
The increasing interest in this sub-group of pre-owned vintage watches is particularly worthy of comment. Military watches over the last 5 years or so have commanded a phenomenal increase in value – but why?
The simple answer is increasing rarity and interest in the legacy of wartime watch production. For Military watch collectors the famed ’Dirty Dozen’ represent the zenith of this wartime production. The Dirty Dozen are a group of 12 Swiss watch manufacturers that met the specification of the Ministry of Defence to produce a standardised waterproof wrist watch known by the iconic label ‘WWW’ with a crowsfoot arrow (more correctly known as a Pheon).
My collection currently includes, among others, two fine examples of Cyma watches – the largest of the Dirty Dozen and well preserved examples of later Smiths , Hamilton and CWC 6bb and W10 field watches all superb examples of the military genre.
Pictured above ITEM 1: Hamilton W10 - 1973 with full markings,
Hamilton had the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Field-watch contract from 1973-76. This stunning Hamilton W10 from 1973 has the classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35mm excll’ crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition. The movement /caliber is the 17 jewel Hamilton 649 (ETA 2750) f = 21600 A/h power-reserve 50 hours. Factory original Hamilton W10’s in this pristine and original condition are increasingly rare. price £975.
ITEM 2. RAF (6bb) ‘Lost’ Navigator sterile dial field-watch.
Recently acquired from a private collection, this stunning and very rare sterile dial ‘Lost’ Navigator watch dates from 1976 the only year of production when c2,000 of these pieces were issued. Based on the established British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Hamilton Field-watch, the bezel is classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped with a monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35.5mm excl’ crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition. The movement /caliber is a higher grade specification than the Hamilton ETA cal 2750, instead we have a 17 jewel A. Schild cal AS 2160 with hacking function, and a micro adjustment mechanism for more accurate regulation. The Schild movement also has a higher beat-rate of 28800bph and a power-reserve of 50hours.
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&19&2uswk&AS_2160
As a factory original Sterile Dial 6bb with limited production in this pristine and original condition these pieces are predictably sought-after and priced accordingly.
Price £1975.
ITEM 4. Hamilton W10 1973-with full markings.
Hamilton had the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Field-watch contract from 1973-76. This stunning Hamilton W10 from 1973 has the classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35mm excl crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition. The movement /caliber is the 17 jewel Hamilton 649 (ETA 2750) f = 21600 A/h power-reserve 50 hours. Factory original Hamilton W10’s in this pristine and original condition are increasingly rare. Price SOLD
ITEM 5. Cyma-1945 ‘Dirty Dozen’ WW2 Army Issue, SOLD
ITEM 7. Smiths w10 British Army issue 1968.
The watch is is full marked with military issue number and the ‘Pheon’ arrow/crows foot. The serial number and case markings dates this watch to 1967 the lowest production run of any year making these w10’s a rarer find. The steel bezel and case are in good condition and the classic military matte black dial shows little sign of age or wear.
The screw-back case shows some wear and is no longer waterproofed. The watch is size at 36mm (excl the crown-which is original to the watch).
This piece is powered by the in-house high grade calibre 60466E series (with hacking) movement protected by an antimagnetic dustcap with incorporated shock-proofing. The movement has a power reserve of c41 hours sets and runs strongly.
Sale price: SOLD
ITEM 9. Smiths W10-WWW British Army issue 1967, with full markings.
If not the first Smiths military watch (that was the earlier pocket watches and hybrid A404/454) the W10 certainly was the last with production ending in 1970. Steel bezel and case at 36mm excl the crown - a good size for modern tastes.
The last Smiths model ever made this fine example fine has a near mint dial and good case with minor tool markings. The Smiths w10’s movement is the same as the earlier Astral range, 17 jewel plus the hacking function - the cal 60466E, f = 18000 A/h power-reserve 41h.
Smith w10’s in this pristine and original condition are undoubtedly rare.
PRICE SOLD.
ITEM 11. Hamilton W10-1973 with full markings.
Hamilton had the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Field-watch contract from 1973-76. This stunning Hamilton W10 from 1973 has the classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35mm excl crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition. The movement /caliber is the 17 jewel Hamilton 649 (ETA 2750) f = 21600 A/h power-reserve 50 hours. Factory original Hamilton W10’s in this pristine and original condition are increasingly rare. Price SOLD
ITEM 13 Cabot Watch Company (CWC) W10 field watch.
CWC succeeded Hamilton in winning the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Field-watch contract from 1976-79. This stunning example from 1979 has the classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35.5mm excl crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition. The movement /caliber is the high grade 17 jewel ETA 2750) f = 21600 A/h power-reserve 50 hours. Factory original CWC W10’s in this pristine and original condition are increasingly collectible if not especially rare.
Price £895
ITEM 14-Cabot Watch Company (CWC) RAF 6bb field watch.
CWC succeeded Hamilton in winning the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Field-watch contract from 1976-79. This example from 1979 is the much raarer RAF 6bb issue. The case remains the classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35.5mm excl crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in near mint condition. The movement is the high grade 17 jewel ETA 2750 f = 21600 A/h with a power-reserve 50 hours. A factory original CWC 6bb in this condition allied to the low production numbers c2200 make this piece particularly collectible and rare.
Price £1250
ITEM 3.RAF (6bb) ‘Lost’ Navigator sterile dial field-watch.
A sterile dial ‘Lost’ Navigator. Dated from 1976 the only year of production where c2,000 of these pieces were issued. Based on the established British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Hamilton Field-watch the bezel is classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped with a monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35.5mm excl’ crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition.
The movement /caliber is a higher grade specification than the Hamilton ETA cal 2750, instead we have a 17 jewel A. Schild cal AS 2160 with hacking function, and a micro adjustment mechanism for more accurate regulation. The Schild movement also has a higher beat-rate of 28800bph and a power-reserve of 50hours.
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&19&2uswk&AS_2160
As a factory original Sterile Dial 6bb with limited production in this pristine and original condition these pieces are predictably sought-after and priced accordingly.
Price £1875 ono.
ITEM 6. Cyma-1945 ‘Dirty Dozen’ WW2 Army Issue. Increasingly rare and desired the Cyma are the largest of the dirty Dozen dials, 38mm excl’ crown. This fine example retains its original lume on the hands and numbering dots. The dial has softened beautifully to a ‘chocolatey’ patina. THE CYMA bezel and case is in steel unlike the other Dirty - Dozen collection Vertex, Buren etc, which are chrome plated.
The movement /caliber is the military-grade (to meet MOD specifications) Cyma 234 with a beat-rate of 18000bph and a power-reserve of c44hours. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&a&2uswk&Cyma_234
This Cyma is fully marked with civilian and military issue numbers and ‘Pheon’ arrow/crows foot. In this original and unpolished condition this is a very collectible piece.
Price £1950 ono.
ITEM 8. Smiths W10-WWW British Army issue 1969 with full markings. Steel bezel and case at 36mm excl the crown is a good size for modern tastes.
The last Smiths model ever made this fine example fine has a near mint dial and minor case markings. SOLD.
ITEM 10. Cyma-‘Dirty Dozen’ WW2 Army Issue.
Cyma is one of the largest of the dirty Dozen dials at 37mm excl’ crown. This lovely example retains its original greenish lume on the hands and numbering dots the dial having softened beautifully to an olive green patina. The Cyma bezel and case is steel unlike 5 of the other Dirty - Dozen collection Vertex, Buren etc, which are chrome plated.
The movement /caliber is the military-grade (to meet MOD specifications) Cyma 234 with a beat-rate of 18000bph and a power-reserve of c44hours. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&a&2uswk&Cyma_234
A fully-marked Cyma In this original and unpolished condition is an increasingly rare find. SOLD.
ITEM 12. Hamilton W10-1973 with full markings.
Hamilton had the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) Field-watch contract from 1973-76. This stunning Hamilton W10 from 1973 has the classic ‘Tonneau’ shaped monacoque case in brushed stainless steel, 35mm excl crown. The Matte black dial with white Arabic numerals is in excellent unblemished condition. The movement /caliber is the 17 jewel Hamilton 649 (ETA 2750) f = 21600 A/h power-reserve 50 hours. Factory original Hamilton W10’s in this pristine and original condition are increasingly rare. Price SOLD
ITEM 13a, CWC case-back detail, showing the W10 (denoting army issue) and 13 digit NATO Stock number, below is the Broad Arrow ‘Pheon’ and below that the issue (production) number and year of issue 79 (1979)
ITEM 14a-CWC case-back detail, showing the 6BB (denoting RAF issue) and 13 digit NATO Stock number, below is the Broad Arrow ‘Pheon’ and below that the issue (production) number and year of issue 79 (1979)
British WW2 - Army Trade Pattern (ATP) Collection.
Most ATP’s were produced between 1939-1944 through a Ministry of Defence contract with Swiss watch suppliers.
This sub-group of military watches vintage represents particularly good value-for-money when compared to rapidly rising prices for the ‘www’ military genre. These are typical examples below.
Timor -Army Trade Pattern (ATP) c1942 military issued watch with full markings.
This piece remarkably retains almost 100% of its chrome plating. The bezel measures 32mm dial excl crown, the screw-back case retains full markings and is in good condition with light age-related wear.
Although better known for having supplied one of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ WWW watches to the Ministry of Defence-this Timor ATP a fine example of the genre. The silvered dial retains full markings and a soft characterful patina and the original lume in both the hourly markers and in the hands. ATP’s in this condition are increasingly rare and will appreciate in years to come as www’s become even less affordable.
SOLD
Moeris -1942, Army Trade Pattern c1941 military issued watch with serial number markings.
This ATP field watch is known to have seen active service on the Italian Peninsula. A characterful piece which remains in good condition with 80% chrome coverge. Running strongly and keeping good time +/-1 minute, having been recently serviced. the Chrome-plated bezel measure 32mm dial excl crown, with a screw-back steel case.
A high grade and robust Moeris 15 jewel 10.5” movement with f = 18000 A/h and a power reserve 36h.
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Moeris_10_5
A genuine wartime ATP that has seen active service -examples of this kind of authenticity are increasingly rare and desirable.
Price £595 ono.
Grana-Army Trade Pattern (ATP) c1942 military issued watch with full markings.
32mm dial excl crown,, chrome-plated bezel and case.
As WWW Grana-Dirty Dozen watches are almost impossible to source - so these Grana ATP’s are increasingly sought-after and rare. This is a lovely example despite a characterful blemish on the dial!
price-£495 ono.