IWC WWW 'Dirty Dozen' Military Watch Guide

amanico · 2019-01-27T14:31:02Z

Explore the IWC WWW, a 'Dirty Dozen' military watch, with collector insights on originality, dials, and restoration. Discover its history and collecting tips.

Nicolas (amanico) introduces the IWC WWW, a significant piece from the 'Dirty Dozen' collection of military watches issued to the British Army post-WWII. This article delves into the unique characteristics and historical context of these timepieces, highlighting why they remain highly sought after by collectors today. Nicolas's post serves as an excellent starting point for understanding the allure of these robust and historically rich watches.

So called the dirty Dozen, because 12 brands issued watches for the British Army just after the second World War.

IWC is part of them, as well as Omega, Record, Cyma, Grana ( the toughest to find ), Jaeger-Lecoultre, Longines to quote some of them.

35 mm case, Cal 83.

Credit pictures: SSong.

I will not probably go for all of them, I have only one for the moment, ( Jaeger Lecoultre ) but I well see myself adding two or three of them.

Beautiful and full of character!

Best,

Nicolas

Key Points from the Discussion

Original IWC WWW examples should have 'F' and 'S' engraved on the balance cock; an 'A/R' engraving suggests a replacement, though military watchmakers prioritized functionality over originality.
Finding original dials in good condition is challenging, as many have lost their radium lume and been relumed with the 'MOD minty green' or replaced with MOD service dials.
A fully refurbished IWC WWW from Schaffhausen, while pristine, is not considered an alternative to a correct original example by some collectors, who prefer the 'ratty' look reflecting a hard life.
An IWC Calibre 83, sold in Stockholm in December 1945, offers a personal connection to the end of WWII, suggesting it might have been a Christmas present celebrating peace.
The contributor shares images of their own IWC WWW, noting its original crystal and a dial that had its radium lume replaced with MOD minty green, contrasting it with the 'truly wonderful' example posted by amanico.
A rare IWC WWW example, possibly only the third known, was auctioned, suggesting its museum-worthy status and extreme rarity.

The Discussion

JohnFM

Jan 27, 2019

What do you think this dial looked like new? I can't tell how much of what I'm seeing is original vs. age-related.

W154

Jan 27, 2019

But it can be a minefield to find all original examples in good condition. The example you show is beautiful but an original balance cock should be engraved F/S, and I think this one says A/R which would mean it’s been replaced at some point. As a realist I don’t worry too much some minor issues on these watches... after all the military watchmakers job was to maintain functionality not originality. The soldier had different priorities to the modern collector !

W154

Jan 27, 2019

I’ve got a handful and also a small stash of parts, and to find an original dial nicer than the one above would be hard. Originals have often lost the radium and been relumed in the “famous” MOD minty green, or changed completely to MOD service dials. Here are three original dials that were probably pulled from service and replaced.

W154

Jan 27, 2019

Looking back maybe it wasn’t clear what I wrote. It was pretty early in the morning after all ! The other three dials above are also original, but only the left one retains its original radium lume. The other two are relumed, with the middle one being a classic MOD minty green. In the background you can see a correct F/S balance cock on the partial movement.

W154

Jan 28, 2019

Very rare and intetesting, but I suppose less cachet than IWC or JLC and maybe only for hardcore anglophiles.

W154

Jan 28, 2019

And whilst I did bid (to a mere 100x estimate), it probably deserved to go to a museum. I think it’s only the third known example.

Key Points from the Discussion

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