Finally found a watch I like!
Discussion
OK, confession time; mid-40's, not 'into' watches, own a nice Longines and use a Seiko 5 for an everyday watch and that's about it. I know what I like in watches (dark face, simple design, small, very un-showy) and once owned something very like this as it fitted the bill so well.
Sadly it broke and was thrown away but was possibly one of the best-looking watches I have ever seen. Yes, I meant that.
However I've just seen this;
... and think I am in love! Does anyone have one? Are they any good as watches? Who is the Cabot Watch Company? Are they really military suppliers or is it all a bit 'Walt'?
I hate to ask this but is there a cheaper thing that looks similar as £300 is quite a lot to spend just at the moment ....
Sadly it broke and was thrown away but was possibly one of the best-looking watches I have ever seen. Yes, I meant that.
However I've just seen this;
... and think I am in love! Does anyone have one? Are they any good as watches? Who is the Cabot Watch Company? Are they really military suppliers or is it all a bit 'Walt'?
I hate to ask this but is there a cheaper thing that looks similar as £300 is quite a lot to spend just at the moment ....
Cabot Watch Company are legit, formed in 1972 to supply watches to the Ministry Of Defence under contract (one of the Military Watch experts will be along to advise more, I’m sure).
They basically make that watch to an MOD-mandated design standard ‘DEF STAN 66-4’ – which is why there have been other very similar examples from the likes of Pulsar, Precista, Smiths, Hamilton etc. over the years, depending upon who held the contract at the time.
Often called a ‘G10’, because that was the form (G1098) that personnel had to complete to request one.
The vast majority are Quartz movements, but there have been mechanical versions over the years too, plus versions with a dive bezel.
They are great, no-frills watches – nothing fancy, but then they’re built for simplicity, legibility & durability. Hence the battery hatch on the rear being easily accessible using just a coin edge, and not requiring tools.
The one I have dates from 1998 and uses an ETA 955 Quartz movement, which is actually a very decent quality workhorse – Swiss, seven jewels, accurate, reliable, hacking/stop seconds function & an ‘end of life’ battery indicator.
Silvermans now run CWC and their prices have gotten a bit steep in recent years – I picked my ‘issued’ (allegedly) 1998 version up for £80 delivered a few months ago on a watch forum, with new NATO fabric strap & battery fitted, but they go for even less than that.
If you’re into the ‘Walt’ side of things, then many try and pick up an ‘Issued’ version – which simply means that CWC supplied them under contract to the MOD and they were issued to a Quartermaster’s store. The mere fact of being ‘issued’ doesn’t mean they were used in hand-to-hand combat in Kandahar or the Falklands, but simply that they were in a store at one point – they may or may not have seen ‘action’, and that action may merely have been worn around base. There were penalties for non-return (they had to be signed in & out), but I don’t think they were especially desirable to most military personnel, but never-the-less as the non-return fee was so low many were kept & sold to the public by ex-military owners.
The issued thing becomes even murkier because those that have been carry the ‘broad arrow’ or ‘pheon’ stamped arrow marking on the rear (denoting crown property), but then CWC have been inconsistent over the years and also make brand-new ones for public sale with the same markings, so it’s hard to tell.
An issued watch has a row of numbers on the rear, denoting the branch of military supplied to, plus a serial number for the issued year, and the year of issue etc.
In short, they’re good, comfortable, tough, legible watches with an interesting history (if a bit small for some tastes today - not mine, they’re perfect to my eyes), and although low-cost they’re definitely not low-quality.
Bear in mind that version you’ve pictured has a black PVD finish, which will scratch & rub-off over time.
Yours has ‘L’ on the dial for modern Luminova lume – older ones have ‘T’ for Tritium lume.
There’s loads second-hand on e-bay if you want a lot cheaper, but mainly stainless steel - if you’re set on the black-cased version it’s not as common, plus many come without a Date display.
(EDIT: Just checked the CWC website and yours is more expensive at £300 because it has a Sapphire crystal, plus screw-down crown & case-back (the latter of which allow it to be 200m water resistant). There is a version on the website not in black PVD, with no date, 50m water resistant and a more traditional Acrylic crystal, for £199.)
They basically make that watch to an MOD-mandated design standard ‘DEF STAN 66-4’ – which is why there have been other very similar examples from the likes of Pulsar, Precista, Smiths, Hamilton etc. over the years, depending upon who held the contract at the time.
Often called a ‘G10’, because that was the form (G1098) that personnel had to complete to request one.
The vast majority are Quartz movements, but there have been mechanical versions over the years too, plus versions with a dive bezel.
They are great, no-frills watches – nothing fancy, but then they’re built for simplicity, legibility & durability. Hence the battery hatch on the rear being easily accessible using just a coin edge, and not requiring tools.
The one I have dates from 1998 and uses an ETA 955 Quartz movement, which is actually a very decent quality workhorse – Swiss, seven jewels, accurate, reliable, hacking/stop seconds function & an ‘end of life’ battery indicator.
Silvermans now run CWC and their prices have gotten a bit steep in recent years – I picked my ‘issued’ (allegedly) 1998 version up for £80 delivered a few months ago on a watch forum, with new NATO fabric strap & battery fitted, but they go for even less than that.
If you’re into the ‘Walt’ side of things, then many try and pick up an ‘Issued’ version – which simply means that CWC supplied them under contract to the MOD and they were issued to a Quartermaster’s store. The mere fact of being ‘issued’ doesn’t mean they were used in hand-to-hand combat in Kandahar or the Falklands, but simply that they were in a store at one point – they may or may not have seen ‘action’, and that action may merely have been worn around base. There were penalties for non-return (they had to be signed in & out), but I don’t think they were especially desirable to most military personnel, but never-the-less as the non-return fee was so low many were kept & sold to the public by ex-military owners.
The issued thing becomes even murkier because those that have been carry the ‘broad arrow’ or ‘pheon’ stamped arrow marking on the rear (denoting crown property), but then CWC have been inconsistent over the years and also make brand-new ones for public sale with the same markings, so it’s hard to tell.
An issued watch has a row of numbers on the rear, denoting the branch of military supplied to, plus a serial number for the issued year, and the year of issue etc.
In short, they’re good, comfortable, tough, legible watches with an interesting history (if a bit small for some tastes today - not mine, they’re perfect to my eyes), and although low-cost they’re definitely not low-quality.
Bear in mind that version you’ve pictured has a black PVD finish, which will scratch & rub-off over time.
Yours has ‘L’ on the dial for modern Luminova lume – older ones have ‘T’ for Tritium lume.
There’s loads second-hand on e-bay if you want a lot cheaper, but mainly stainless steel - if you’re set on the black-cased version it’s not as common, plus many come without a Date display.
(EDIT: Just checked the CWC website and yours is more expensive at £300 because it has a Sapphire crystal, plus screw-down crown & case-back (the latter of which allow it to be 200m water resistant). There is a version on the website not in black PVD, with no date, 50m water resistant and a more traditional Acrylic crystal, for £199.)
Edited by UnclePat on Friday 2nd November 17:18
Edited by UnclePat on Friday 2nd November 17:23
Edited by UnclePat on Friday 2nd November 17:27
Another alternative if you like the military style would be the general purpose quartz watches by Marathon. They have Tritium lume, have Swiss quartz movements and are designed to US and Canada military spec.
https://www.marathonwatch.uk/collections/quartz-wa...
Other lower priced simple dial watches with a similar look to your old Casio are the Timex Weekenders and Expeditions and the Braun quartz watches have a classic design. Both are on Amazon.
https://www.marathonwatch.uk/collections/quartz-wa...
Other lower priced simple dial watches with a similar look to your old Casio are the Timex Weekenders and Expeditions and the Braun quartz watches have a classic design. Both are on Amazon.
You could replace the Casio for 11 quid.
Casio Collection Men's Watch MW-240-1BVEF https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BMG1PI6/ref=cm_sw_r...
Casio Collection Men's Watch MW-240-1BVEF https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BMG1PI6/ref=cm_sw_r...
MWC do a G10 for around £80 .....not bad quality
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MWC-G10LM1224-PVD-Milit...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MWC-G10LM1224-PVD-Milit...
Guys,
Sorry to have taken a while coming back to this thread. Thanks for the answers.
UnclePat - that's a really useful background to CWC and military watches. I've googled some of the bits you mentioned and I think I like CWC watches based on what I've read! Small, tough and no-frills is good in my book.
The thing that I particularly liked about that one was the dark case and face, although it sounds like that will scratch over time, which is a shame.
Geezerbutler - those Marathon Watches look good although are more expensive than the CWC ones. Well, more expensive than some of the CWC ones, and it seems that there is a large range within the description 'CWC'. I've seen the Timex ones you mentioned and they look OK although I've never been tempted to buy one, not sure why.
Bingyboingy, skirk, DickyKnee, thanks for the links - all interesting!
I am now wondering whether one of these needs to make it's way onto my Christmas list. Hmmmm.
Thanks for your help.
Sorry to have taken a while coming back to this thread. Thanks for the answers.
UnclePat - that's a really useful background to CWC and military watches. I've googled some of the bits you mentioned and I think I like CWC watches based on what I've read! Small, tough and no-frills is good in my book.
The thing that I particularly liked about that one was the dark case and face, although it sounds like that will scratch over time, which is a shame.
Geezerbutler - those Marathon Watches look good although are more expensive than the CWC ones. Well, more expensive than some of the CWC ones, and it seems that there is a large range within the description 'CWC'. I've seen the Timex ones you mentioned and they look OK although I've never been tempted to buy one, not sure why.
Bingyboingy, skirk, DickyKnee, thanks for the links - all interesting!
I am now wondering whether one of these needs to make it's way onto my Christmas list. Hmmmm.
Thanks for your help.
skirk said:
MWC do a G10 for around £80 .....not bad quality
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MWC-G10LM1224-PVD-Milit...
If you have any respect for military watches then please do not buy an MWC. They claim to have military connections but do not. They are a falsehood. Their watches look good but the internals are cheap rubbish.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MWC-G10LM1224-PVD-Milit...
bingybongy said:
You could replace the Casio for 11 quid.
Casio Collection Men's Watch MW-240-1BVEF https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BMG1PI6/ref=cm_sw_r...
And they wonder why the high street is failing! Unbelievable vfm!Casio Collection Men's Watch MW-240-1BVEF https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BMG1PI6/ref=cm_sw_r...
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