A Very Collectible Cyma "Dirty Dozen" Military Issued Watch in Superb Original Condition with Radium Dial and Attractive Lume. A Collectors Piece With Historical Significance. Caseback Markings WWW P12567 17567.

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 - one of twelve watchmakers chosen to manufacture them, Cyma delivered 20,000 of these watches 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 numbers of surviving watches dwindled. This, teamed with the obvious historical significance of the watches, has made them increasingly more collectible. 

What’s On Offer 

The Cyma is the largest of the Dirty Dozen watches and as such wears very well on the wrist. This is a superb example, with a nice lume that has evenly aged across the hour plots and the inserts on the pencil hands. The Arabic numerals are still in good order as is the outer minute track, Cyma signature, and the thin arrow which denotes the watch was the property of the MoD. The recessed sub-dial is still in good shape and the original radium dial is rich black and blemish-free. The case and lugs are also in remarkable condition and complete a really handsome watch with much historical significance. This would make a really handsome everyday wearer and of course, any military collector would be over the moon with this piece. As always we try and source only the very best and most original examples unless we state otherwise.

Additional Information

Case: Stainless steel

Dial: Black 

Crystal: Shatter-proof plexi

Bracelet: NATO style strap

Technical specifications

Winding: Manual

Movement Type: Mechanical

Caliber:  234

Jewels: 15

Waterproof: when new!

Purchase details

Condition: Excellent 

Model Reference: WWW

Date of issue: c.1945

Warranty

12 months by VWS

Dimensions

Width: 38mm

Lug width: 18mm

Lug height (lug to lug): 45mm

Wrist size: Adjustable