
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Bulova (MIL-W-3818A) U.S Military Watch, 1962
- Maker / attribution
- Bulova (maker)
- Date
- 1962
- Historical period
- Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
- Country of origin
- United States
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- BLV3818A/3
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (BLV3818A/3)
- Catalogue title (original)
- 1962 Bulova (MIL-W-3818A) U.S Military Watch (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number BLV3818A/3), this is a wristwatch by Bulova, made in United States, dated 1962. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Craft & Tailored
The Bulova MIL-W-3818A was created for the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force, under the purpose of "general use". The MIL-W-3818A resembles very closely to the Bulova A17A that was in production for the same period of time, however, while the A17A was designed specifically for the United States military pilots, the MIL-W-3818A was designed more for the troops on the ground. Both watches feature the specialized 10BNCH hacking seconds hand movement and feature high visibility dials. The only major differences between the watches appear on the dial and in the hands. The dial on the MIL-W-3818A doesn't have a minute designation on the outer portion of the dial and features a more ornate handset, whereas the A17A has an outer minute designation and features much simpler hands. The practical dial layout and no-nonsense design give the wearer the perfect utilitarian feeling that makes these early military watches so sought after. Although this is a smaller watch in nature, the dial layout was designed for fast legibility. Stock # BLV3818A/3 Brand Bulova Style Military Model MIL-W-3818A Serial M2 Size Men's / Unisex Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 32 Strap 2pc Pigskin Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The sharp case is in extremely impressive condition, boasting strong factory brushing throughout with subtle signs of previous use present. The original brushed bezel shows light signs of use as well. The case retains its original large unsigned crown. The case back retains all of its factory military contract numbers and markings. The watch will come supplied on a 2ps canvas strap. DIAL & HANDS The utilitarian matte black dial is exceptionally well-preserved, showing no damage or notable elements of age. The original lumed numerals and markers all remain fully intact under UV light inspection, and have taken on a lovely golden-yellow coloration. The original hands match the dial almost perfectly and show no degradation under UV light, though some oxidation and minor rust is present on the metal portions of the hands. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time, but the service history is unknown. A movement service can be provided upon request.
Historical context
Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)
Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.
The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking
Atlas type guide
Military, pilot and travel watches
The wristwatch owes much of its adoption by men to warfare and aviation. Wristlets — small pocket watches soldered with lugs and worn on a strap — were used in colonial campaigns and became standard equipment in the First World War, with protective grilles over the crystal ('shrapnel guards'). Louis Cartier's Santos (1904), designed for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, is often cited as an early purpose-made pilot's watch.
In the Second World War governments specified watches in detail: the German B-Uhr observation watches, the American A-11, and the British 'W.W.W.' (the 'Dirty Dozen' set of 1945). After the war, jet travel brought GMT and world-time watches, which show two or more time zones at once — Louis Cottier's world-time mechanism and the Rolex GMT-Master (1955) are examples.
What to look for
- Military markings on the case back: broad arrow, issue numbers, 'W.W.W.', 'A.T.P.'
- High-legibility black dials with luminous Arabic numerals; oversized crowns for gloved hands.
- 24-hour hands and rotating 24-hour bezels or city rings on GMT/world-time watches.
- Wire lugs on early wristlets converted from pocket watches.
Dating clues
- Wire-lug wristlets: c. 1900–1925.
- Military specifications of the Second World War: 1939–1945.
- GMT and world-time wristwatches: mainly after 1950.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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