Vintage CWC W10 mechanical watch

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I’ve just bought this hand-winding W10 but haven’t yet received it. The seller stated he’d bought it new in 2004.

I like the style and design and have every intention of keeping and wearing it but can anyone tell me about these watches and what the codes show?

 
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I’ve gathered that 6645-99 means 6645 = NATO, and 99 = UK.

523-8290 is, I think, the NATO supply number.

I’m not sure what 466 is.

An old thread on another (Googled) forum suggests it may be a movement calibre number

There doesn’t appear to be a year number.

Any input?
 
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nice piece! you might try posting these questions over on MWR (wwwbroadarrow.net) as they are very informed about these military style watches.
 
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I’ve gathered that 6645-99 means 6645 = NATO, and 99 = UK.

523-8290 is, I think, the NATO supply number.

I’m not sure what 466 is.

An old thread on another (Googled) forum suggests it may be a movement calibre number

There doesn’t appear to be a year number.

Any input?


6645 is the NATO Group/Class number.

Group 66 is Instruments and Lab Equipment
Class 45 (6645) is Time Measuring Instruments

99 is the Nation Code for the United Kingdom

523-8290 is a non-specific number assigned at the time of "codification" to an item of supply by the owner country's relevant NATO codification bureau.

I won't get into the real nitty gritty of the system, it drove me nuts as a victim of it and it's all for box packers anyway.

The 466 is a serial number to allow the owning agency/unit/squadron etc to track and account for the item.

(amazing how much of this shit I remember after so many years 😁).
 
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That’s brilliant, thanks 😀
Just what I wanted to know.
For entirely understandable reasons, we weren’t issued with anything we might break, steal or kill with in the Army Cadets!
 
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These watches were made by CWC and sold through their shop in London. Basically a re-issue powered by a eta 2801. They used to supply to the mod but they moved to seiko and then pulsar.