Men’s 1945 Timor ‘Dirty Dozen’ British Military Watch

In 1923, Messrs. Bernheim and Luthy established Timor Watch Company in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, with the ambition to craft durable timepieces suitable for rigorous daily use. They lived up to their motto, "Trust Timor, It's Tested," by meticulously examining and testing every watch before it left their workshop.

By 1944, the British War Office was in search of a replacement for the Army Trade Pattern (ATP) watches, which had been in service since 1939. They sought a watch optimized for military use, boasting a robust waterproof case with fixed lugs, a black dial, and an oversized face for improved visibility. This specification, dubbed "WWW" for Watch/Wrist/Waterproof, was tasked to 12 esteemed Swiss watchmakers, each challenged to craft their interpretation for the British forces. These creations, produced from 1944 to 1945, are now revered as "The Dirty Dozen" – a testament to wartime resilience and precision.

Timor, honored among the select 12, met this challenge by delivering a timepiece that upheld their reputation for excellence.

We are delighted to present one of Timor's notable contributions to the war effort: a Timor "Dirty Dozen" caliber 6060 British military wristwatch. This watch remains in its original, untouched stainless steel case, featuring a satin finish, measuring approximately 45mm lug-to-lug by 37mm, excluding the oversized crown designed for use with gloves. The case is marked with "W.W.W." for "Watch/Wrist/Waterproof," the Broad Arrow, and a military serial number consisting of a capital letter followed by five digits.

The watch sports a black dial with a graduated sub-seconds register, Arabic numerals, and an outer minutes track and is marked "Timor" with Broad Arrow pheon. We believe this example was worn and cherished for military use after WWII, as its uncommon dial variant appears to be MOD issue installed by the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanic Engineers), who were responsible for maintaining all timepieces for the British military.

We've taken the liberty of cleaning, oiling and calibrating the piece, as well as fitting it with a correct NATO strap. Please take a moment to enjoy the images of this handsome WWII British military timepiece, as it's a treasure!