MWC first manufactured the predecessor to this 300m/1000ft water-resistant diver’s watch in the early 1990s until 2004. Over time, minor changes to the dial design were made, but the clean, highly readable 1999-2001 dial pattern emerged as the most popular, particularly for its excellent nighttime visibility. This model retains the original design, with retro-style luminous paint, echoing the look of MWC’s watches from three decades ago. While the original models used tritium, the updated versions now use Luminova, though the encircled “T” remains for historical reference.
Nearly 20 years after MWC discontinued this model, a distributor in Australia discovered 500 brand-new watches stored in their stockroom. They surfaced when his father retired, and his son conducted a thorough inventory. Made between 1999 and 2001, these watches had been delivered in batches over three years, with the final delivery mistakenly overlooked. MWC reacquired and sold all 500 units, prompting us to recreate the model in the same design with significant upgrades, benefiting from advances in watch manufacturing.
Upgrades:
A high-performance automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve, a notable improvement over previous models.
The movement supports hand-winding and hacking for precise synchronization.
The crystal has been upgraded from hardened mineral glass to sapphire, providing superior scratch and shatter resistance.
An enhanced 120-click bezel, compared to the 60 or 90-click bezels on earlier models.
These watches are based on a case design originally produced by the Swiss case maker MRP S.A., founded in 1953. MRP remains an independent, family-owned company under Patrick Hauert. In addition to MWC, similar case designs have been used by Precista, Nilax, Elvia, and Heuer, who crafted the 1979 Heuer 844-1. Chronosport, Elvia, and CWC also continue to use this iconic case style, which has been in continuous production for over 40 years.
The MWC design adheres closely to a British Ministry of Defence (MOD) specification, as shown in the final two images.
Crystal Type: Sapphire with non-reflective coating
Luminous Paint Type: Luminova
Bezel: 120-click unidirectional
Weight: 89.5g
Straps: 1 x Black, 1 x Grey nylon webbing NATO straps
Guarantee: 24 months
Why Sapphire Crystal? Sapphire crystal is the preferred material for watch faces, offering superior strength, shatter, and scratch resistance. These qualities make it ideal for military and security personnel, police officers, and individuals with active lifestyles. Over 70% of our customers fall within these groups. Despite using hardened mineral crystals, they don’t match sapphire’s durability in tough conditions. The synthetic sapphire undergoes heat treatment to remove internal stress, followed by a double anti-reflective coating. Though more expensive, sapphire crystal remains the choice for premium watches and is also used in the latest iPhone models.
