Military watches such as the Cyma WWW Dirty Dozen are attractive for various reasons. As tool watches they are usually very practical, well designed and legible, but for some pieces the historical aura that comes with the watch is just as important.

I have always been fascinated by the Second World War: the RAF, spitfires, Normandy beaches and general militaria from that period. The dirty dozen watches ordered by the British military are probably the most iconic batch of watches made during the 1940s. I won’t delve into the historic part, as numerous articles can be found on internet dealing with their history.

I have been keeping an eye out for an opportunity to buy one of these for a long time, and finally got the « coup de cœur » when @thosewatchguys from New York got one for sale in early 2020. I immediately bought it as soon as I saw it.

It is a Cyma WWW Dirty Dozen watch with full radium lume on hands and dial. The radium plots have somewhat « dispersed » with time, and the dial shows an incredible caramel patina, very difficult to render on photos. The cyma manual wind movement is cased in a beautiful 38mm wide steel case, and bears an oversized crown. General condition is worn, which is just what I want from a watch from that period. Original condition and wear makes it properly unique.

The Cyma WWW Dirty Dozen wears wonderfully well, and is perfectly balanced on the wrist. Legibility is great as you would expect from a military field watch. The old cyma movement is so sturdy that it is just as efficient now as it was 70 years ago.

The fixed lugs mean you have to choose a nato style strap. Thankfully, some crazy guys are making exact replicas of the af0210 military straps that were delivered with these watches in the 40s, going to incredible means like scanning original buckles so as to produce perfectly identical examples of the straps. I find it looks great on it.