{"product_id":"hamilton-fab-four-military-issued-chronograph-c-1970-with-rare-w10-marking","title":"Hamilton - Fab Four Military Issued Chronograph - c.1970 - With Rare W10 Marking","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Fascinating and rare W10-marked British Military Chronograph combining an original Hamilton-issued case, Fab Four dial and dependable Valjoux 7733 movement.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHamilton Watch Company was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, before eventually relocating production to Switzerland. The brand has a long association with military timepieces, supplying watches to Allied forces during the Second World War and continuing to produce military-issued watches throughout the Cold War. Hamilton's robust chronographs, particularly those built around the dependable Valjoux movements, remain highly sought after by collectors for their military heritage, reliability and timeless utilitarian design.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat's on Offer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis fascinating military chronograph is one of the more unusual variants encountered by collectors (and by us). \u003cstrong\u003eExceptionally rare\u003c\/strong\u003e amongst surviving examples, it features an anonymous dial within a Hamilton case and is \u003cstrong\u003eengraved with the W.10 designation.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhile the vast majority of \"Fab Four\" chronographs went to the RAF (engraved \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e6BB\u003c\/span\u003e) or the Royal Navy (engraved \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e0552\u003c\/span\u003e), the British Army (W10) also ordered a \u003cstrong\u003esmaller batch\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003efor its own personnel, including the Army Air Corps and its artillery regiments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBecause far fewer of these high-end chronographs were ordered for Army use than standard field watches, \u003cstrong\u003egenuine\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cb\u003eW10 Fab Fours are considerably rarer\u003c\/b\u003e than their RAF 6BB counterparts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhile some Fab Fours had their original 6BB caseback marks \"struck out\" and re-marked with \"W10\" during MoD servicing, \u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003ethis example's NATO stock number, Broad Arrow symbol, and original 1970 issue-date engravings \u003cstrong\u003econfirm \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eit's an original, purpose-built W10.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOverall, the watch is presented in \u003cstrong\u003eexcellent vintage condition\u003c\/strong\u003e. The stainless steel case displays honest wear consistent with military use while retaining clear military engravings on the caseback. The black chronograph dial features large luminous sword hands, a two-register chronograph layout and highly legible lumed Arabic numerals. It remains attractive and highly legible with \u003cstrong\u003eevenly aged gorgeous pumpkin lume, \u003c\/strong\u003eand the hands complement the dial well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor further utility, the spring bars are actually \u003cstrong\u003ewelded\u003c\/strong\u003e to the case, with the joints visible on the side where they were inserted and likely polished afterwards for a smooth look. The plexiglass crystal shows light age-related wear appropriate for a military watch of this age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eInside beats the respected \u003cstrong\u003eValjoux 7733 manual-wind chronograph movement,\u003c\/strong\u003e complete with a Hamilton-marked bridge. It is running well at the time of listing (+15 seconds per day and an amplitude of 323 degrees), having been serviced recently!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFitted to a brown leather single-pass strap, it offers a rugged vintage aesthetic that suits both collectors and enthusiasts looking for something with genuine military character and history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWatches like this have become increasingly appreciated within collecting circles. This example is an early iteration, making it an intriguing addition to any military watch collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintage Watch Specialist","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57048722735479,"sku":"vws3689","price":4450.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0139\/8092\/6009\/files\/hamilton-fab-four-military-issued-chronograph-c-1970-1970s-watch-wristwatch-black-dial-dial-british-army-watch-watches-vintage-specialist-222.jpg?v=1787744835","url":"https:\/\/vintagewatchspecialist.com\/products\/hamilton-fab-four-military-issued-chronograph-c-1970-with-rare-w10-marking","provider":"Vintage Watch Specialist","version":"1.0","type":"link"}