What We Fancy

Watch, Wrist, Waterproof. This was the code established by the British Army to distinguish these from all other military equipment. The MoD (Ministry of Defense) required each wristwatch to be waterproof, luminous, chronometer regulated & a hardy case. Like most other military watches, these had to have black dials, Arabic numerals & subsidiary seconds for maximum legibility. All 12 of the Dirty Dozen were ordered by the MoD during WWII & delivered roughly 145,000 of them in 1945. IWC delivered roughly 5,000 making it the second most rare of the dozen. This example comes in stunning all original condition & has an Extract from the Archives.

Brand: International Watch Co.

Model: W.W.W. for the British Ministry of Defense (MoD)

Case: 35mm wide (excluding original unsigned crown), 42mm tall, 9.6mm thick, all stainless steel, snap-on case back, original un-signed crown, domed mineral crystal, serial M139xx

Movement: IWC cal. 83, in-house, manual winding, recently serviced

Bracelet/ Strap: Baige cloth reproduction of original nato strap, 18mm lug width

Features: Black matte dial (turning tropical in direct sunlight), white Arabic hour indices, subsidiary seconds, dagger handset, snap-on case back, tritium lume, Extract from the Archives, circa 1945

Box & Papers: Extract from the Archives

Condition: In overall excellent condition. The dial has patina developing throughout and in direct sunlight looks brown/ tropical. The case is very good still retaining the original brushed finishing. No major dents or scratches. The radium lume was replaced in the 1960s with tritium as were thousands of others during that decade. The movement has been cleaned and keeps excellent time when tested on the machine.

Backed by our one-year repair warranty. Accompanied by a free Suede Travel Pouch.