GG-W-113 U.S 1960s Pattern Military Watch with Shatter and Scratch Resistant Sapphire Box Crystal (automatic)

SKU: GG-W-113

In October 1962 the U.S Government set down a specification for infantry watches which became known as GG-W-113, this was MIL-W-3818B and which replaced the earlier MIL-W-3818A from March 1956. This full specification details be seen at thisB linkB

In January 2009 MWC was approached by a U.S veterans association who asked us to examine the viability of making a watch which was indistinguishable in appearance from the original watches which were made by Hamilton, Bulova and Benrus during the Vietnam war. We were sentB examples ofB two watches to examine and also the original specification details, the result was a watch which is very close to the original in appearance and uses a high grade fully jewelled automatic movement with hacking function, this movement is very similar to the original 1960s hand-wound movements except that it has the addition of a rotor to remove the need for manual winding although it retains the ability to be woundB by hand should you wish to do so.B

In 2023 we also decided to make a furtherB improvementB to this watch by upgradingB to a box sapphire crystal, box sapphire has the advantage that it is both shatter and scratch resistant whilst being visually identical in appearance to the original plexiglass crystal used in the 1960s and 70s.

The actual Benrus sent to us in 2009 was from 1965 but as you can see from the final image of an original watch our homage watch is virtually indistinguishable from the watches which were manufactured at the time.

The originals of these watches are now very difficult to find in good sound condition at a realistic price but this watch is a very convincing recreation with all of the advantages of modern technology, such as the self winding and the increased water resistance and general reliability making the watch suitable for day-to-day use.

DIMENSIONS

• Width Inc Crown: 38mm
• Width Exc Crown: 36mm
• Thickness: 12.9mm
• Lug Size: 18mm
• Lug to lug is 43mm
• Dial Colour: Black b (
• Case Material: 316L stainless steel
• Caseback: Screw-down 316L stainless steelb (
• Crown: 316L stainless steelb (
• Water Resistance: 5 atm (50m/165ft) *
• Movement: 24 Jewel Automatic b (
• Crystal: ShatterB & Scratch Resistant Box Sapphire with Anti Reflective Coating*
  
• Luminous Material: Luminova
• Serial number on caseback
• Strap: 18mm x 2
• Supplied in a gift box

*B A lot of people ask us what are the benefits of sapphire crystal over a standard mineral crystal? The answer is that synthetic sapphire is by far the best material for watch crystals because it is very strongB and alsoB shatter and scratch-resistant, these characteristics make it very appealing to military and security personnel,B policeB officers and people who lead active outdoor lifestyles, these groups account for over 70% of our customers. To get things into perspective we find that when clients have accidents with watches resulting in a cracked crystal over 90% usually watches with mineral glass crystals, even factoring in that we use hardened mineral crystals they still do not come close to sapphire for durability under adverse conditions. The reason that sapphire crystalsB are so strongB is that after the sapphire glass is manufactured it is also heat-treated to remove its internal stressesb which can cause weaknessb it is thenB made into the watch crystals and two layers of anti-reflective coating are applied,B interestingly sapphire crystal is now used on the latestB iPhone. Of course, sapphire crystal comes at a price hence you find that it’s normally only fitted toB higher-end watches.B

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