Cyma British Military Issued WWW Dirty Dozen, Caliber 234 Movement and Stunning Tropical Dial, circa 1945

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A Rare and Sought After Cyma "Dirty Dozen" Military Issued Watch in Superb Original Condition with Radium Dial - A Real Collectors Piece. In the closing years of World War II, a basic but carefully specified model wristwatch was commissioned to members of the British armed forces by the Ministry of Defence - manufactured by one of twelve watchmakers who delivered 20,000 of these Cymas to the MoD in 1944 and 1945. Each watch was commissioned and manufactured with similar specifications and, as military issues, were hard-wearing, highly legible, and water-resistant with stainless steel or nickel-plated cases, shatterproof crystal, and fixed lug bars. These manufacturers (Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, JLC, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor, and Vertex) later came to be known as ‘The Dirty Dozen’ in the mid-1960s, after the release of the popular war film of the same name. A lot of these watches were destroyed in the 1970s due to the presence of radioactive Radium-226, in the luminescent material, hence the number of surviving watches dwindled. This, teamed with the obvious historical significance of the watches, has made them increasingly more collectable. What’s On Offer The Cyma is the largest of the DD watches and, as such, wears very well on the wrist. This example has aged nicely with some very attractive tropical patina to the dial, which is starting to go slightly brown and we think it will eventually turn completely brown as others we have previously sold! The original radium lume is still intact on the hour plots and to the hands which are original to the watch. The Arabic numerals and recessed small seconds dial, and military pheon, are all very much visible and sharp. The case also looks well with only light signs of wear, the caseback is engraved with WWW P26781 31781 - denoting it as military property. This is a really nice and honest example that would be a great addition to any collection and would certainly be a joy for any military collector to wear!