The “Dirty Dozen” refers to a group of 12 British military watches that were issued to soldiers during World War II. These watches were produced by a range of different manufacturers and were selected by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) for use by the British armed forces. These watches were issued to ensure that every soldier had access to a reliable timepiece for synchronization and operations during the war.
Here is the list of the Dirty Dozen watches and their respective makers:
1. Buren
- Maker: Buren Watch Company
- Model: Buren military watch (known for having a reliable movement)
- Details: Buren was known for producing highly accurate and robust watches for the military during World War II.
2. Cyma
- Maker: Cyma Watch Company
- Model: Cyma military watch
- Details: Cyma’s watches were known for their precision and were frequently used by various military branches.
3. Eterna
- Maker: Eterna Watch Company
- Model: Eterna military watch
- Details: Eterna was known for producing robust watches, and their models were issued to British forces during the war.
4. Grana
- Maker: Grana Watch Company
- Model: Grana military watch
- Details: A lesser-known brand in the Dirty Dozen, Grana produced sturdy timepieces for the British forces.
5. Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Maker: Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Model: Jaeger-LeCoultre military watch (often referred to as the “JLC” military model)
- Details: Jaeger-LeCoultre was a renowned Swiss watchmaker and provided the British army with precision watches, which were noted for their high quality.
6. Longines
- Maker: Longines Watch Company
- Model: Longines military watch
- Details: Longines has a long history of supplying military-grade watches and produced models for the British forces during WWII.
7. IWC (International Watch Company)
- Maker: IWC
- Model: IWC military watch (often marked with “IWC” on the dial)
- Details: IWC provided high-quality timepieces and their watches were known for their durability under tough conditions.
8. Lemania
- Maker: Lemania Watch Company
- Model: Lemania military watch
- Details: Lemania supplied military watches that were often regarded for their precision and sturdiness.
9. Omega
- Maker: Omega Watch Company
- Model: Omega military watch (often with “Omega” on the dial)
- Details: Omega is one of the most famous and prestigious watchmakers of the “Dirty Dozen.” Their watches were renowned for being reliable and accurate under tough conditions.
10. Record
- Maker: Record Watch Company
- Model: Record military watch
- Details: Record produced military-grade watches that were reliable and often favored for their ruggedness.
11. Timor
- Maker: Timor Watch Company
- Model: Timor military watch
- Details: Timor produced watches for the British Army during WWII, which were known for being durable and accurate.
12. Vertex
- Maker: Vertex Watch Company
- Model: Vertex military watch
- Details: Vertex is perhaps one of the lesser-known names in the “Dirty Dozen,” but they produced reliable watches for the British forces during the war. Their models are highly collectible today.
These watches were chosen for their durability, accuracy, and readability under tough conditions, and they were issued to various branches of the British military, including the Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Navy, and British Army. They were equipped with manual winding movements, clear dials, robust cases, and often had luminous hands for nighttime visibility.
Today, these watches are highly collectible, and each of the “Dirty Dozen” brands has become a significant part of watchmaking history.