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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Military wristwatch

Record WWW 'Dirty Dozen' military wristwatch with MoD dial

Partially verified

This military wristwatch was produced by Record circa 1945 under the British Ministry of Defence 'Dirty Dozen' WWW contract. According to the seller, the piece has a chrome-topped case housing a manual-wind calibre 022K mechanical movement with 15 jewels. The matte black dial features white Arabic numerals, an outer minute track, luminous hands and hour markers, a subsidiary seconds register at 6 o'clock, and the military pheon broad arrow marking. The seller states the dial is a later non-radium Ministry of Defence replacement and reports military markings WWW L1707S 53492G engraved on the case back.

Record Dirty Dozen military wristwatch with MoD replacement dial on grey NATO strap
Record Dirty Dozen military wristwatch with MoD replacement dial on grey NATO strap — Vintage Watch Specialist. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
vintagewatchspecialist.com
Category
Wristwatch · Military wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Record
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
vws2478
Source-reported date
c. 1945
Country
Not established
Source-reported serial
L1707S 53492G

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

Identity and Military Specification

This timepiece is identified as a Record 'Dirty Dozen' military watch, produced circa 1945 as part of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) procurement contract for waterproof wristwatches (WWW).

The watch features the military pheon (broad arrow) marking on both the dial and the case back, cited by the source as denoting the watch as property of the MoD.

Evidence for this section
  • “Record Dirty Dozen Military WW2 Soldiers Watch - MoD Dial - Non Radium - c.1945”
  • “Also known as WWW watches which stands simply for “Watch Wrist Waterproof””
  • “the military pheon (arrow) is also present as it is on the dial, denoting the watch as property of the MoD.”

Dial and Visual Observations

The watch features a matte black dial described by the seller as a non-radium MoD replacement. It displays white Arabic numerals and an outer railway-style minute track.

Visible features include sword hands and hour plots with noted luminous material. A subsidiary seconds register is positioned at the 6 o'clock mark.

Evidence for this section
  • “features an MoD dial, meaning its original radium dial was replaced by a tritium dial”
  • “The dial has been well preserved and remains rich matt black with bold white Arabic numerals”
  • “Luminous sword hands and subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock”

Construction and Mechanism

The watch is housed in a chrome-topped case, which shows wear and patina on the bezel and lugs. The movement is specified as a manual-wind calibre 022K with 15 jewels.

Military markings on the case back are reported by the source as 'WWW L1707S 53492G'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case Chrome Topped”
  • “Circular metal case showing superficial wear and patina along the bezel and lugs”
  • “Calibre 022K”
  • “The case back bears the military markings one expects to see which read: WWW L1707S 53492G”

Open research questions

  • Verify the historical classification of the 'MoD replacement dial' process for this specific contract.
  • Assess if case back serial engravings match standard Record WWW issuance patterns.

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Record WWW 'Dirty Dozen' military wristwatch with MoD dial
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case MaterialChrome topped“Case Chrome Topped”
Calibre022K“Calibre 022K”
Jewels15“Jewels 15”
Case Back MarkingsWWW L1707S 53492G“WWW L1707S 53492G”
Dial ReplacementMoD replacement dial (tritium)“MoD dial, meaning its original radium dial was replaced by a tritium dial”
Power Reserve42 Hours“Power reserve 42 Hours”
Lug Width18mm“Lug width 18mm”
Case Diameter36mm“Width (without crown) 36mm”

Visible details

  • Matte black dial marked RECORD below 12 o'clock above a broad arrow pheon
  • Printed white Arabic numerals and outer railway-style minute track with luminous plots
  • Luminous sword hands and subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o'clock
  • Mounted on a grey woven synthetic NATO-style pass-through strap
  • Circular metal case showing superficial wear and patina along the bezel and lugs

Research qualifications

  • Case back military engravings and movement are not visible in the provided photograph and rely entirely on source reporting
  • MoD replacement non-radium dial status is based on seller description

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

Consulted source

Record Dirty Dozen Military WW2 Soldiers Watch - MoD Dial - Non Radium – Vintage Watch Specialist

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record 199c57d55d

Terms in this record

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

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