This watch appears to be in excellent condition and was one of the prototypes of this model, originally used for evaluation purposes by MWC in 2008, along with several other samples. An email in the tin between two MWC offices sent back in 2008 referenced this watch and others as evaluation prototypes.
The bezel is very stiff and difficult to turn, and the watch runs intermittently and a note at the auction said it was not running but looking at the images which our colleague took of the Watch. It clearly must've been running at the time he photographed it because of the movement of the secondhand so on this point we're not entirely clear. Given that this is a 2008 model, it's likely due for a service after 16 years. We believe that a thorough service, including lubrication of the movement and a case reseal, should resolve the issues.
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Unfortunately, we don't have much information about this watch, except that it features an automatic movement and is rated for either 200 meters or 300 meters of water resistance. It is clearly a rare sample, sharing characteristics with several other watches MWC produced both at that time and in the present day. However, it most closely resembles some of their current 300-meter dive watches, though this particular model is unique due to its helium valve.
One very distinctive aspect of this watch is its ceramic bezel. MWC had not widely introduced ceramic bezels at the time this watch was made, so it’s clear that this model incorporated a range of features that were only later added to their other watches. Unfortunately, we don’t know the full background of this specific model.
