The Record Dirty Dozen watches hold a unique and revered place in horological history. Produced during World War II, these timepieces were commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence as part of a rigorous specification to equip military personnel with reliable, durable, and highly legible wristwatches. The “Dirty Dozen” refers to the twelve Swiss manufacturers—Record Watch Company among them—tasked with delivering watches that met strict standards of accuracy, robustness, and functionality under the harshest conditions. Today, Record Dirty Dozen watches are prized by collectors for their historical significance, craftsmanship, and the pivotal role they played in wartime timekeeping.

What's on offer

We are delighted to present this Record Dirty Dozen, originally commissioned for the British military during World War II. While it began life with the classic Dirty Dozen  Radium dial, this example now carries a NATO replacement dial — a service update carried out by the Ministry of Defence to keep the watch in active use. The result is a piece that blends originality with service history, offering collectors a rare variation that underlines its authenticity as a true military tool - perfect for collectors with concerns about radium. 

The dial is crisp and clean, with Arabic numerals, luminous hands, and a sub-seconds dial at 6, complemented by aged lume that adds vintage character. The case remains in strong condition and bears original military engravings, which also confirms through matching case and lug numbers that the watch has been carefully serviced,  and marking it firmly as an issued timepiece. This example is sure to pique the interest of any serious military collector.

Recently serviced by our watchmaker and ready to wear.