A-11 1940s WWII Pattern Military Watch (Automatic) Brushed Steel Finish with 100m Water Resistance

MIL-0101

FACTORY DESCRIPTION

SKU Code: A-11/100

This watch is a faithful recreation of the original World War II–era design introduced in 1943. While it closely follows the appearance of the historic model, it benefits from several modern improvements including a high-performance 24-jewel self-winding mechanical movement, a screw-down caseback, and 100 m water resistance.

During World War II, watches of this type were produced in slightly different variations by manufacturers such as Elgin, Bulova, and Waltham, all based on a standardised U.S. government specification issued at the time. This particular model most closely resembles the Elgin 539, which used a 15 or 16-jewel movement and was produced for the USAAF between 1940 and 1945.

The original wartime watches were manufactured using plated base metal rather than stainless steel due to wartime material shortages. By contrast, this modern recreation uses solid stainless steel, ensuring significantly greater durability and longevity.

The origins of this recreation date back to January 2009, when MWC were approached by a U.S. veterans association to evaluate the feasibility of producing a watch visually identical to those issued during the Vietnam War by manufacturers such as Hamilton, Bulova, and Benrus. MWC were provided with original watches and specification sheets for examination, which led to the development of a very accurate recreation powered by a high-grade fully jewelled hand-wound movement. This watch became the GG-W-113, a model which remains in production today.

Following the success of that project, MWC were asked to consider recreating this earlier A-11 style model, as original examples from the 1940s are now extremely difficult to find in good condition. This is largely because most surviving pieces were manufactured during wartime resource shortages and were made from relatively inexpensive base metals which have not aged well.

This modern version was developed in 2019, retaining the classic military appearance of the original watches while incorporating several significant upgrades, including:

• Screw-down crown
• Scratch- and shatter-resistant sapphire crystal
• 100 m water resistance
• Screw caseback
• Modern automatic mechanical movement

The result is a watch that preserves the character of the original military issue pieces while offering the durability and reliability expected of a modern timepiece.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Width including crown: 40 mm
• Width excluding crown: 38 mm
• Thickness: 11.5 mm
• Weight: 61 g
• Lug width: 20 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 45 mm
• Water resistance: 100 m
• Screw-down crown and screw caseback
• 24-jewel automatic mechanical movement with hacking
• 20 mm strap

Delivery Charges – Worldwide

Europe

• Tracked Mail: €14.95 / £12.50 / US$16.95
• Express Courier (UPS/FedEx): €28.00 / £23.50 / US$31.75

United Kingdom

• Tracked Mail: £9.95
• Small Items (e.g., 1–2 straps): £5.95
• Express Courier (UPS/DPD): £12.50

Rest of the World

• Tracked Mail: US$23.75 / €20.95 / £17.50
• Express Courier (UPS/FedEx): US$39.25 / €34.50 / £29.00

More information on shipping can be found here.