
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Record WWII D-H German Army Military Issued Wristwatch, circa 1930s
- Maker / attribution
- Record (maker)
- Date
- c. 1930s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Germany
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws1902cs
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws1902cs)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Record WWII D-H German Army Military Issued Wristwatch - c.1930s (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws1902cs), this is a wristwatch by Record, made in Germany, dated c. 1930s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) 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 — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Record German Army Issued 'D-H' ( Deutsche Heer) Wristwatch c.1930s with Original Radium Dial and Beautiful Syringe Hands with Stunning Ivory Lume. Caseback Ref: D44164OH. This Record watch was manufactured for the German military (Deutsche Heer) which is denoted by the engraving on the caseback. Although the German military was supplied with many more watches than the British, it does seem that fewer of them have survived making them rather collectible for military enthusiasts who appreciate the historical significance of these pieces, along with there English counterparts! What’s On Offer This Record watch was likely to have been issued to a German soldier during World War II and is very similar to its British "Dirty Dozen" counterpart with its matt black dial boasting painted Arabic numerals which have deepened in colour over the years - a natural part of the ageing process for this watch and one which adds much charm. There are speckles of patina to the dial which also forms part of this watch's appeal, along with its original recessed sub-dial with a polished steel seconds hand, and syringe hands which have lightened to a beautiful ivory colour in contrast to the rest of the dial. The dial is signed Record Watch Co in gilt print at 12 o'clock and is underwritten by "Genf" which is German for Geneva. This watch shows some obvious signs of age which is arguably the best part of owning vintage watches, and more so military watches which are steeped in history and are likely to have survived all manner of brutal situations. The movement in this watch is the 022k which is the same as is used in the "Dirty Dozen" Buren, however, unlike the British variation, this has Incabloc shock protection on the balance. This watch would make a charismatic addition to any military or vintage collection whilst being perfectly wearable. Additional information Made from Case: Chrome Topped Dial: Black Crystal: Plexiglass Bracelet: Brown Leather Strap with Pin Buckle Technical specifications Winding: Manual Movement Type: Mechanical Caliber: 022k Jewels: 15 Waterproof: n/a Power reserve: Purchase details Condition: Beautifully Aged! Model Reference: D-H
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
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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HKM / Kulttuurihistoriallinen
