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In WW2, under increasing pressure from the Germans, the MoD needed to kit out their Troops with a Wristwatch that would stand the harsh realities of War.
The watches also had to have a black dial, Arabic numerals, luminous hour and minute hands, luminous hour markers, a railroad minute track, a shatterproof crystal, and a stainless-steel case. Powering them would be 15-jewel movements, measuring between 11.75 and 13 lignes.
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The 12 companies chosen were: Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor, and Vertex.
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There were only 25,000 Records issued to troops during the Second World War, who knows how many survive.
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To make this Watch even more interesting, Originally this Record came equipped with a radium dial whereas this example has an uncommon NATO dial. The Ministry of Defence replaced these dials to safer tritium dials sometime in the 60's and its design language is very unique with a broad arrow right where the logo is meant to be. This NATO replacement is desired by the serious Military collector.
With its lack of logo and military style design, I would say this Dial is the most aesthetically pleasing out of all the Dirty Dozen variants.
Age: c.1945 (Dial 1960s)
Reference: W.W.W
Movement: Manual wind with Sub Seconds.
Calibre: 022K
Dial: Original MoD Tritium Replacement Dial.
Crystal: Correct Acrylic crystal.
Getting Acquainted
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Bits that stand out:
- Very cool and desirable NATO Dial.
- Hard to find in such good order.
- Fully serviced Movement.
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Nitty Gritty:
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Overall the Record is in very nice Vintage condition.