CYMA Dirty Dozen British Military — CYMA｜Original condition highly collectible “Dirty Dozen” British Military commissioned wristwatch

In the watch collecting community, the name "Dirty Dozen" is given to twelve wristwatches that have significant value for military watch enthusiasts. The origin of these twelve watches dates to the commission by the British Ministry of Defense during World War II. In 1939, when Britain declared war on Germany, domestic watch brands were unable to compete with the strong production capabilities of Swiss watchmakers. As a result, they decided to place orders with Swiss manufacturers to customize wristwatches.

Due to the harsh conditions of the battlefield, the specifications for these orders were particularly stringent. They included, but were not limited to, meeting observatory standards, being waterproof and shockproof, having a black dial, Arabic numerals, luminous hour markers and hands, a minute track, a shatterproof sapphire crystal, and a stainless steel case. The movements of these watches had to be equipped with 15 jewels and have a diameter between 11.75 and 13 ligne. Wristwatches that met these standards were marked with the letters "WWW" on the case back, representing "Watch," "Wrist," and "Waterproof."

A total of twelve manufacturers participated in the research and production of these custom orders, including BUREN, CYMA, ETERNA, GRANA, JAEGER LECOULTRE, LEMANIA, LONGINES, IWC, OMEGA, RECORD, TIMOR, and VERTEX.

This CYMA military watch was produced in 1945 during World War II and features a mechanical hand-wound movement. It has an original black dial with no redialing, in good condition. It is said that the luminous material on the CYMA watches in the Dirty Dozen collection has the longest-lasting luminescence. The watch has Arabic numerals, a small seconds subdial, classic sword hands, and a 38mm diameter (excluding the crown). The case back bears the classic WWW marking, and the movement is beautifully finished with a gold-plated barrel. Its rarity and collector's value are undeniable. It comes with a brown leather military-style strap.

Often, when we collect watches, it is not solely for the purpose of telling time or as an investment, but rather for the appreciation and collection of the stories and history they embody. It allows us to experience the emotions and vicissitudes contained within them. This is the true value of collecting antique watches and is the essence of the "Dirty Dozen" timepieces.