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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Military wristwatch

Hamilton W10 British Army Issued Watch

Partially verified

This Hamilton W10 is a British Army-issued wristwatch produced in 1975. The watch features a black dial with Arabic numerals, a 'skinny arrow' marking, and a 'Circle T' insignia indicating the use of tritium luminous material, which has aged to a yellow tone. The case is a one-piece, front-loading steel construction equipped with fixed lug bars. It houses a manual-wind ETA hacking movement. The caseback bears military engravings including the reference 6bb/523-8290 and the specific issue number 666/75. The watch is presented on a brown leather single-pass strap. As a military-issued piece, it conforms to the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) specifications for service watches of its era. This example has been subject to mechanical regulation by the vendor's horologist.

Front view of the Hamilton W10 wristwatch showing the black dial, luminous markers, and fixed lug bars.
Front view of the Hamilton W10 wristwatch showing the black dial, luminous markers, and fixed lug bars. — Bulang & Sons. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bulangandsons.com
Category
Wristwatch · Military wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Hamilton
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
1975
Source-reported place
Not established
Source-reported serial
666/75

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in a one-piece steel case designed for front access to the movement. The case is reported to be free of pitting or corrosion. It features fixed lug bars, which are intended for the use of military-style pass-through straps.

The dial is black with Arabic numerals and retains its original configuration. It includes a white 'skinny arrow' (broad arrow) mark and a 'Circle T' symbol, denoting the presence of tritium luminous compound. The tritium markers have developed a yellow patina consistent with the age of the watch.

Evidence for this section
  • “The one-piece steel front access case is in good condition all round with no pitting or corrosion”
  • “has the fixed lug bars”
  • “the dial features a ‘Circle T’ marking to signify the presence of tritium on the dial and a ‘skinny arrow’ marking”

Movement and Functionality

The watch is powered by an ETA manual-wind movement featuring a hacking mechanism, which allows the wearer to stop the seconds hand by pulling the crown. This feature was often specified for military watches to facilitate synchronized timekeeping.

The vendor reports that the movement has been checked and regulated by their watchmaker to ensure operational performance.

Evidence for this section
  • “Manual wind ETA ‘hacking’ movement”
  • “checked and regulated by our watchmaker”

Military Markings and Provenance

The caseback of the watch displays specific military-issue engravings. These include the stores reference number 6bb/523-8290 and the individual issue identification number 666/75, indicating a 1975 issue date. These markings are consistent with British Ministry of Defence (MOD) stipulations for equipment supplied to the British Army.

The watch is offered as an authentic military-issued Hamilton piece from this production period.

Evidence for this section
  • “The watch displays the correct military engravings on the caseback (6bb/523-8290 666/75)”
  • “As per British MOD stipulations at that time”
  • “Issued in 1975”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement caliber (e.g. ETA 2750) used in this W10 model?
  • Does the serial number sequence '666/75' correspond to any specific regiment or unit records?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Hamilton W10 British Army Issued Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerHamilton“Hamilton”
Date of issue1975“Issued in 1975”
Caseback engravings6bb/523-8290 666/75“6bb/523-8290 666/75”
Movement typeManual wind ETA hacking“Manual wind ETA ‘hacking’ movement”
Case constructionOne-piece steel front access“The one-piece steel front access case”
Dial markingsCircle T and skinny arrow“the dial features a ‘Circle T’ marking to signify the presence of tritium on the dial and a ‘skinny arrow’ marking.”
Lug styleFixed bars“has the fixed lug bars.”

Visible details

  • One-piece steel case with fixed lug bars
  • Circle T marking and broad arrow symbol on dial
  • Yellowed tritium luminous markers
  • Engraved caseback with military codes

Research qualifications

  • The exact state of the movement remains visually unverified as the case is front-loading
  • The longevity of the luminous material on the dial is not specified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

ساعت مچی نظامی Hamilton W10 ارتش بریتانیا مدل ۱۹۷۵

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 7de92ed38a

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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