CWC Chronograph Issued to the British Royal Air Force — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

View 1 of 6 · Image: Bulang & Sons · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

CWC Chronograph Issued to the British Royal Air Force

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: CWC (maker)
Date: 1970s
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: England
Object type: Wristwatch
Dealer: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen
Stock no.: W-482
Credit line: Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-482)
Catalogue title (original): CWC Chronograph Issued to the British Royal Air Force (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-482), this is a wristwatch by CWC, made in England, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) 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 — Bulang & Sons

THE RAF CHRONOGRAPH We are delighted to be able to offer you another cool and rare British Military issued chronograph from the 1970s. As per British MOD stipulations, the dial features a ‘Circle T’ marking to signify the presence of tritium on the dial and the broad arrow marking. The asymmetrical case is in very good original, military worn condition. The matte black dial is in outstanding condition with all the tritium still in place. The watch displays the correct military engravings on the caseback. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker and will come on a strap of your choice from our webshop*. - CWC Chronograph - Issued to the British Royal air Force - Black ‘Circle T’ dial with Tritium 12 & 6 - Dates to 1970s - Two register chronograph layout - Valjoux 7733 movement - Full military case back engravings-6bb delivered to RAF - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a strap of your choice from our webshop*

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryRecorded
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Bulang & Sons — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"CWC Chronograph Issued to the British Royal Air Force." Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen, W-482. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/cwc-chronograph-issued-to-the-british-royal-air-force-28ca14.