Record Military Issued Dirty Dozen Watch, WWW L23524 541371, circa 1944

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A Charismatic Record Military Issued "Dirty Dozen" Watch c.1944. In Honest Condition with Light Signs of Wear But Still Very Usable and Collectible. Known as the “Dirty Dozen” these famous watches were the first purpose-built military watches ever made. Delivered between 1944 & 1945, the “Dozen” comprised 12 manufacturers who produced around 150,000 watches for the war effort. Of the circa 150,000 pieces made, around 25,000 were made by Record which makes them joint top with Omega for the largest quantity made. Featuring sword hands, 36.5mm chrome topped case, and 022K caliber beating inside, the Record represents a classic military appearance that has been copied ever since. The sub-seconds dial ensures maximum legibility when on the battlefield and the iconic broad arrow marks the property of the crown. These watches were meant to have been returned at the end of service but like many pieces of equipment used during the war, many soldiers chose to take some pieces home as a memento of a historic event that they were a part of. Occasionally the soldiers would paint over the broad arrow on the dial to make the watch appear as though it hadn’t been the property of the crown. What's On Offer A collector's piece for sure, although this watch is showing some signs of wear to the Arabic numerals, it is still a worthy addition for any military enthusiast. The lume has remained intact on the hour plots and hands and has evenly aged to a really nice vanilla colour. The outer minute track and subdial remain sharp and the Record signature and Pheon also retain their integrity. There are signs of wear to the case, of course, there are, this watch is over 75 years old and has more than likely seen active service at some point! A charismatic watch with its own story to tell.....