A Cyma Dirty Dozen w.w.w. WW2, Military-Issued Wristwatch in Original Condition with Beautiful Buttery Lume. Very Collectible and Very Much Sought-After with a Tropical Dial.

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 - manufactured by one of twelve watchmakers who delivered 20,000 of these Cymas to the MoD in 1944 and 1945. Nobody knows how many survived and are still available to the collectors market and we find it more and more difficult to find GOOD honest examples like the ones we have for sale currently!

Each watch was commissioned and manufactured with similar specifications and, as military issues, they were and still are 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 number of surviving watches dwindled. This, teamed with the obvious historical significance of the watches, has made them increasingly more collectable. 

What’s On Offer 

The largest of the Dirty Dozen family, the Cyma is one of our personal favourites and this is another fine example. The black dial of this watch is beginning to tropicalize and as such does look a little patchy, however, we have seen this in the Cyma (and some Timor) Dirty Dozen watches before, and the chances are that the natural ageing process will ultimately turn the dial completely chocolate. One of the wonderful things about vintage watches is that the passing of time affects each of them differently making them completely unique - this watch has bags of character and you will never find one exactly the same. Unfortunately because of the domed glass and black dial, it is very difficult to capture the true look of this dial and the patina it is taking on, so please don't let our photos put you off, it looks so much nicer in the flesh, but if you think differently when you take delivery we will happily refund you upon return of the watch as we are pretty confident you will like it as much as we do!

The lume on the hour indices and in the original sword hands has aged nicely to a light butter colour. The Cyma signature, sunken seconds counter dial at 6 o'clock and military Pheon, which marks the watch as property of the MoD, are all present and correct and the caseback bears the expected military engravings which read: WWW P6772 11772.

The Case is in great shape and the watch is running well after undergoing full service and a correct new old stock, replacement glass being fitted, by our watchmaker. A really enjoyable watch on the wrist, this would make a very worthy addition to any collection. 

Additional Information

Case: Stainless steel

Case back: Stainless steel

Dial: Black 

Crystal: Shatter-proof plexi

Bracelet: NATO-style strap

Technical specifications

Winding: Manual

Movement Type: Mechanical

Calibre:  234

Jewels: 15j

Waterproof: when new!

Purchase details

Condition: Excellent 

Model Reference: WWW

Date of issue: c.1945

Guarantee

12 months by VWS

Dimensions

Width: 38mm

Lug width: 18mm

Lug height (lug to lug): 45mm

Wrist size: Adjustable