Military Watch advice sought.

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

Having joined the forum a few months back, in search of a vintage military watch, I found myself being drawn in to this fascinating sphere and have subsequently bought two beautiful Omegas from the forum, but neither of them military!
Should perhaps have risked it and claimed to have 'lost' my service watch when I retired.😀
Anyway, just wondering if any of you knowledgeable chaps could advise on what to go for? Really looking for something from my era and area, late 60's to early 90's, preferably FAA or RN and hopefully not too pricey.😉
Knew very little about watches back then (only a modicum more now!) only recalling that my service watch was rugged, reasonably accurate and displayed well at night.
Any advice warmly welcomed.

tad · Dec 21, 2021

Welcome to the forum. Shame you can’t remember which watch you were issued with. Unless you have deep pockets to splash out on a genuine mil SM300 it might be worth looking at something more attainable such as a CWC.

SkunkPrince · Dec 21, 2021

In which country did you serve? Lots of Hamiltons from that era can be found on eBay and various other places.

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

SkunkPrince
In which country did you serve? Lots of Hamiltons from that era can be found on eBay and various other places.

Fleet Arm / Royal Navy.
All I can recall is that the watch was quite chunky (frequently clunked it on the centre console getting in and out), had a green nato strap and an arrow somwhere) and that I always had to be reminded to wind it at briefings.😀
Yes, have looked quite extensively on ebay, etc, but trying to stay clear of the sharks!
Thanks, will have a look around for Hamiltons. By coincidence I have a khaki as my everyday wearer.

eugeneandresson · Dec 21, 2021

Did it have a chronograph? And was it strictly a manual wind?

Dan S · Dec 21, 2021

Dug
Fleet Arm / Royal Navy.
All I can recall is that the watch was quite chunky (frequently clunked it on the centre console getting in and out), had a green nato strap and an arrow somwhere) and that I always had to be reminded to wind it at briefings.😀
Yes, have looked quite extensively on ebay, etc, but trying to stay clear of the sharks!
Thanks, will have a look around for Hamiltons. By coincidence I have a khaki as my everyday wearer.

Sorry if I missed this, but if you served from the late 60s through the 90s, do you have a preference about which era the watch should be from? The RN progressed through a lot of watches during that time. You mentioned winding the watch. Do you prefer mechanical to quartz? Field watch, chronograph, dive watch (rotating bezel)? Case shape? The more information the better.

Any of these?

CWC-Watches-at-Silvermans-London-gear-patrol-ambiance-5.jpg

CWC-Watches-at-Silvermans-London-gear-patrol-ambiance-6.jpg

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

eugeneandresson
Did it have a chronograph? And was it strictly a manual wind?

Very manual wind, but not a screw down crown. Not sure about the chronograph.

bgrisso · Dec 21, 2021

Perhaps someone you served with might still have theirs, or know the model, or have a pic? Might help with the research.

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

Dan S
Sorry if I missed this, but if you served from the late 60s through the 90s, do you have a preference about which era the watch should be from? The RN progressed through a lot of watches during that time. You mentioned winding the watch. Do you prefer mechanical to quartz? Field watch, chronograph, dive watch (rotating bezel)? Case shape? The more information the better.

Any of these?

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

Many thanks for your input.....it was 30 years ago now so the memories and images are not what they were. If only I'd developed this interest 20 years ago!

The closest I can recall is:

lugged, not C cased.
Quite chunky in terms of both diameter and thickness.
Hand wound, which I still prefer. (Don't recall any of our aircrew having anything else, other than perhaps the CO...RHIP!)
No bezel or subsidiary dial.
Remembering that UK forces have always been poor cousins. Did a short exchange on a US carrier, in the mid 70s....the kit they had was unbelievable.🙄

To be honest anything pre 1990 would fit the bill. would be nice, though, to ook down at one that might have been worn by one of our chaps. Nostalgia rules.😀

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

bgrisso
Perhaps someone you served with might still have theirs, or know the model, or have a pic? Might help with the research.

Good tack, thanks.
Having a look through my old photos now (the good old pre-digital days!), but mainly flying overalls and uniform...the powers that weren't keen on private photos at all, understandably.

Omegafanman · Dec 21, 2021

Happy hunting.
Omega or Longines 6B/159 always gets my vote but this might help (there are also people on here with a lot of knowledge on this topic - I am not one of them :0) Smiths and CWC also very nice.
You could go for a modern twist with a Freese 53.....

Military watches from G-SHOCK & MOD | Army & RAF Watches | G-SHOCK

Seiko RAF and RN Chronographs (archive.org)

OMEGA | SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN XL, 22 SPECIAL AIR SERVICE, REFERENCE 22005200 MILITARY STAINLESS STEEL WRISTWATCH WITH DATE, HELIUM ESCAPE VALVE AND BRACELET, CIRCA 2011 | Watches Online | Watches | Sotheby's (sothebys.com)

1997 Seiko Generation 2 Issued RAF Helicopter/Jet Fighter Military Pilot’s Chronograph – Corr Vintage Watches

Odd air ministry 6b/159... any ideas anyone? | Omega Forums

Sixties UK RAF V Bomber watches ID? | Omega Forums

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

tad
Welcome to the forum. Shame you can’t remember which watch you were issued with. Unless you have deep pockets to splash out on a genuine mil SM300 it might be worth looking at something more attainable such as a CWC.

Thanks tad....yes, did have a look at CWCs, the W10, but was put off by what I read about fakes?
Just looked up the SM300. Pockets down to my ankles.😀

Dan S · Dec 21, 2021

Dug
Thanks tad....yes, did have a look at CWCs, the W10, but was put off by what I read about fakes?
Just looked up the SM300. Pockets down to my ankles.😀

Everything is faked these days, but I wouldn't let that stop you. First look around and decide what watch you want, then learn about it, then buy from someone you trust at a fair price. You're not considering high end watches, so you can afford to pay fair market value to get a good example from a trusted seller. You will be fine. I also suggest joining MWR forum.

wilderbeast · Dec 21, 2021

I own a 1977 CWC W10 and a 1968 Smiths 6B. Love them both. Smiths W10s are now north of £1,000 (a good example just sold for that here a few days ago) but vintage CWCs can be had on eBay for a few hundred less. Both are manual wind and very reliable, issued kit. I’d recommend either. Smiths produced a few pieces for the RN but they are quite rare and command a premium.

I’d echo @Dan S's recommendation to join MWR - lots of great knowledge there, too.

My two:

Dug · Dec 21, 2021

wilderbeast
I own a 1977 CWC W10 and a 1968 Smiths 6B. Love them both. Smiths W10s are now north of £1,000 (a good example just sold for that here a few days ago) but vintage CWCs can be had on eBay for a few hundred less. Both are manual wind and very reliable, issued kit. I’d recommend either. Smiths produced a few pieces for the RN but they are quite rare and command a premium.

I’d echo @Dan S's recommendation to join MWR - lots of great knowledge there, too.

My two:

Thank you wilderbeast and @Dan S, great advice. Did see the Smiths W10, saw it too late!
Have just joined MWR so many hours of reading ahead....enjoyable though. The search goes on.
BTW, must ask, where did you get those straps?!

wilderbeast · Dec 21, 2021

Dug
BTW, must ask, where did you get those straps?!

The ones with union flags were from Steveo Straps - the Smiths is on a strap made from a repurposed Land Rover tilt canopy; the CWC is on one made from a parachute release system, I think. Although made from original vintage military gear, they are not in any way issued straps - but I love the vibe. Steveo is a lovely guy and is ex-forces himself, I believe.

The two grey nylon ones are just admiralty grey NATO straps, similar to ones issued in the 1970s. They can be had lots of places, though I got the Smiths one on eBay from a seller who makes them in 17mm, which is the lug width on the 6B.

DON · Dec 21, 2021

Only 3 chunky I can think of is Rolex, Omega Seamaster 300 and Benrus type I and II Not sure if CWC was issued in the 60's and not 100% on the Benrus either, but going by chunky

DON

wilderbeast · Dec 21, 2021

CWC was founded to fulfil UK military contracts in around 1973, I think, after Hamilton pulled out of supplying to the MoD and shut down its UK operations. It’s why the CWC W10 and its Hamilton predecessor look so similar.

Omegafanman · Dec 21, 2021

Omegafanman
Happy hunting.
Omega or Longines 6B/159 always gets my vote but this might help (there are also people on here with a lot of knowledge on this topic - I am not one of them :0) Smiths and CWC also very nice.
You could go for a modern twist with a Freese 53.....

Military watches from G-SHOCK & MOD | Army & RAF Watches | G-SHOCK

Seiko RAF and RN Chronographs (archive.org)

OMEGA | SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN XL, 22 SPECIAL AIR SERVICE, REFERENCE 22005200 MILITARY STAINLESS STEEL WRISTWATCH WITH DATE, HELIUM ESCAPE VALVE AND BRACELET, CIRCA 2011 | Watches Online | Watches | Sotheby's (sothebys.com)

1997 Seiko Generation 2 Issued RAF Helicopter/Jet Fighter Military Pilot’s Chronograph – Corr Vintage Watches

Odd air ministry 6b/159... any ideas anyone? | Omega Forums

Sixties UK RAF V Bomber watches ID? | Omega Forums

Maybe something more modern but still unique (Freese 53) could be an option for daily wear?
.

Military Watch advice sought.

Dug

tad

SkunkPrince

Dug

eugeneandresson

Dan S

Dug

bgrisso

Dug

Dug

Dug

Omegafanman

Dug

Dan S

wilderbeast

Dug

wilderbeast

DON

wilderbeast

Omegafanman

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