Manufacturers of High Quality Military Watches Since 1974

MWC 1940s/1950s "Dirty Dozen" Pattern General Service Watch with a 17 Jewel Hand Wound Mechanical Movement

£239.00 GBP

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Product Details

SKU Code: DD/01/AU/HW

This recreation of a "Dirty Dozen: type watch is based on the original 1940s/1950s watches and has a 17 jewel hand wound mechanical movement with around 36 hour power reserve.

This watch has a heavy stainless steel satin finish case made from Military Grade 316L stainless steel, subsidiary dial, hacking function, black dial and luminous markings. The watch also has a historically accurate canvas strap as used in the 1940s and 50s.

The final image shows the original 12 watches which were made by 12 companies, Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger Le-Coultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor and Vertex, MWC were not a manufacturer at this time having been founded in 1974 but this watch is very much in the spirit of the originals**

Specification:


  • Case Diameter: 36.5 mm exc crown, 39 mm incl crown
  • Lug to Lug 43 mm
  • Thickness 13.5 mm
  • Lug Type: Solid fixed strap bars
  • Dial Colour: Black 

  • Case Material: 316L stainless steel
  • Caseback: 316L stainless steel

  • Crown: Screw Down Locking Crown / 316L stainless steel

  • Water Resistance: 5 ATM (50 m)*
  • Movement: 17 Jewel Handwound with 36 hour power reserve
  • Glass: Plexiglass / Perspex

  • Luminous Material: Luminova
  • Serial number on caseback
  • Strap: 18 mm 1950s Pattern Canvas 
  • 24 Months Guarantee

* For details of water resistance ratings etc go to Water Resistance

** Photo Credit: Watches Of Knightsbridge

For anyone interested in the history of the Dirty Dozen these links show the 12 original watches and explain the history.

The Dirty Dozen 1

The Dirty Dozen 2

The Dirty Dozen 3

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ESSENTIAL WINDING INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES

To wind the watch from an empty state to full, you'll need approximately 15 turns of the crown (most other handwound watches will need 30 to 40 turns so this movement needs significantly less). Once fully wound, the watch boasts an average power reserve of around 36 hours. It's crucial to exercise caution during the winding process, because when the locking crown is being secured it adds an additional 3 or 4 winds while it is being screwed down so this must be factored in, especially given that most handwound watches of this type lack a screw-down crown which is something we decided to add to these watches to increase the water resistance.

For those who wear the watch on a daily basis and wind it consistently, say, every morning, a slight variation in the number of turns will not significantly impact the overall power reserve because it will be well below the maximum of around 36 hours.

Some users have reported that 10 to 12 turns are sufficient when winding every 24 hours, this seems logical because the watch would not need a full wind after 24 hours. Nevertheless, individual preferences may vary, and most owners tend to develop a sense of the optimal winding routine within the first few days of ownership.

Above all, it's crucial to emphasize the importance of not overwinding# the watch, which could lead to locking up issues or, worse, damage or breakage of the mainspring. Adhering to the recommended winding procedures ensures the longevity and proper functioning of the timepiece.

# To clarify, overwinding occurs when a mechanism is wound beyond its designated stopping point, posing the risk of damage or even destruction to the winding mechanism. It's important to note that overwinding is a concern primarily for manually-wound watches, not for their automatic counterparts which normally cannot be overwound.

 

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