Military pocket watches, along with their civilian equivalents, are experiencing a significant rise in popularity. Historically, these watches were often employed for both land-based and naval applications. During WWII, they were frequently used by both German Forces (Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine, and Luftwaffe) as well as British and American forces. The primary reason for their popularity was that wristwatches at the time were usually very small and hard to read, with an average diameter of just 32mm. In contrast, pocket watches had a larger size of close to 50mm, making the time much easier to see.
This classic WWII-pattern Selza* military watch, featuring a small subsidiary dial second hand, is based on the typical designs used by the German Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during World War II. A distinctive feature of watches made for this branch of the German forces is the initials "K.M" on the dial, short for Kriegsmarine, and light-colored dials in either cream or white, as opposed to the black dials used for other branches of the German forces. This watch closely resembles one of Selza's WWII designs. Although original watches are now quite rare and tend to fetch high prices, this watch is outwardly almost indistinguishable from the factory's WWII models but has been upgraded to a more scratch-resistant glass crystal instead of the plastic acrylic crystals used on the original watches. The watch retains a traditional 17-jewel hand-winding mechanical movement.
During WWII, Selza, along with Siegerin, was one of the leading manufacturers for the Kriegsmarine (German Navy). They also produced watches for the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht. Most German military pocket watches during the war were fairly similar, sharing much the same case design and general appearance. There was a large range of manufacturers, of which Siegerin and Selza are just two, but many of the other manufacturers are now defunct.
A group of military watch enthusiasts has compiled a list of these manufacturers, which appears on their website at this link. They would appreciate any contributions to fill in the few remaining gaps.
This particular pocket watch features a solid stainless steel case made from Military Grade 316L stainless steel and a subsidiary dial second hand.
SPECIFICATIONS
Diameter: 47.5mm
Length with crown: 58mm
Thickness: 14mm
Crystal Width: 40mm
Crystal Type: Domed Glass
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Caseback: Stainless Steel
Luminosity: Luminova
Movement: 17-Jewel Handwound Mechanical Movement
Complete with chain
Delivered in its original box with a 2-year factory guarantee
