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Smiths W10/6645-99-961-4045 - British Army Issued Wristwatch - Issued 1968

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A Coveted and Collectable, Vintage Military Wristwatch. The Smiths W10 Army Issued Watch - Ref. W10-6645, c.1968

Perfectly proportioned and ideal for daily wear, at 35mm, this Smiths W10 wristwatch was manufactured for the British army and issued in 1968.

A fine example of British watchmaking, the piece was well suited for military action; in fact, rigorous testing was carried out on the model at laboratories of the Chronometer branch of the Hydrographer of the Navy at Herstmonceux, East Sussex, along with extensive field tests in both the Tropics and the Arctic! The watch has a robust stainless steel case and powerful, shockproof caliber 60466E manual movement with 17 jewels and hacking seconds, operated via the crown. 

The matte black dial is designed for easy reading, featuring elegant white Arabic numerals, white outer minutes//seconds track, with luminous rectangles about the quarter markers and luminous dots above the intervening hours, luminescent hands, white centre sweep seconds and the military broad arrow or ‘Pheon’ denoted above 6 o’clock.

The screw-down case back is crisply marked with the military number W10/6645-99-961-4045 alongside a repeat of the ‘Pheon’ symbol and the production number of the piece, 1202/68. 

Military watches are some of the most practical timepieces in existence, built to be robust, functional, and immediately legible, even in some of the world’s harshest conditions, however, they are also undeniably stylish and offer a charm only a watch with this type of historical pedigree can offer. 

The Smiths W10 wristwatch is a classic example of both British military history and watchmaking, as such the manual wind movement is signed 'Made in England' as is the dial!

What’s On Offer 

Being legible in the field is of course crucial and the Smiths W10 doesn’t disappoint. Built to specs given to them by the MoD, the dial is a stark black affair with Arabic indices and a broad arrow above 6 o’clock which much like any other military watch, denotes the property of the crown.  Beating inside the 'English Made' watch is the in-house 60466E 17-jewel movement which is common in such pieces from the period. Reissues of these legendary watches are available and although they are a fine reproduction, they don’t have the same charm and charisma as an original such as this. 

This example has survived particularly well with an incredibly well-preserved case back and case edges. This watch is in beautiful condition, with lume intact on the hour plots which has aged to a caramel colour and is set off perfectly by the rich black dial. The Arabic numerals, Smiths' signature with Tritium marking and synonymous arrow dial details, have been preserved wonderfully and complete a fantastic watch. 

A really enjoyable piece on the wrist with great proportions, a must-have piece for any military enthusiast or vintage collector. 

Additional Information

Made from

Case: Stainless steel

Dial: Black

Crystal: Plexiglass

Bracelet: NATO military-style strap

Technical Specifications

Winding: Manual wind

Movement Type: Mechanical hand-wound

Calibre: 60466E

Jewels: 17j

Waterproof: When new

Purchase Details

Condition: Exceptional condition - 9/10

Model Reference Number: W10/6645-99-961-4045

Date of issue: 1968

Guarantee

Supplied with a 12-month Vintage Watch Specialist guarantee  

Dimensions

Width: 35mm

Lug width: 17mm

Lug height (lug to lug): 47mm

Wrist size: Adjustable