Lot 118
IWC. A stainless steel British military issued mechanical wristwatch
Mk X, Issue No. M14936, Case No.1133916, Movement No.1079270, 1940s
Auction: 20 May 2026 from 14:00 BST
Description
Cal.83 hand-wound 15 jewel movement with overcoil hairspring, matt black dial with white numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, baton hands, satin-finished stainless steel case with solid strap bars, military insignia and issue number to the reverse and inner. Case, dial and movement signed.
Dimensions
Diameter 35mm.
Footnote
This watch is one of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ watches commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence during World War II. Twelve companies, including IWC, Vertex and JLC, fulfilled the brief for these custom-built wristwatches, the first non-civilian watches worn by British soldiers. The W.W.W. engraving, standing for Watch, Wrist, Waterproof, on the case back makes these watches instantly recognisable. They have become some of the most collectible, especially amongst those interested in British military history.
According to IWC records, only 6,000 Mk X wristwatches were produced featuring letter code M. Source: British Military Timepieces by Konrad Knirim, pages 560-563.