CWC Chronograph 2003 Re-issue Watch Only

Some of the watch industry’s most collectible watches are military watches. From Rolex MilSubs to Breguet Type XXs and Panerai Luminors to Dirty Dozens, the vintage watch scene is filled with watches that played a role in some military at some point in time. However, none of those brands are as young as CWC, the Cabot Watch Company, which occupies a strange but genuinely important place in British watchmaking history. 

Founded in 1972, the brand spent decades building watches to the exacting standards of the Ministry of Defence’s specification rather than chasing prestige or wider public appreciation through traditional marketing. As a result, the watches it supplied to HM Forces like the RAF and Royal Navy from the 1970s through the 1980s have since become some of the most quietly respected military watches in the collecting world, and even more so within the UK, with CWC’s Royal Navy Diver replacing the Rolex Submariner for Royal Navy Divers, which was no easy task. 

The example we have here is a 2003 limited edition re-issue of CWC's original pilot's chronograph, built to faithfully replicate the vintage watch down to its manual-wind movement, stainless steel case design, and monochromatic black dial layout. A neo-vintage vintage-inspired watch, it's an unusual category for most watchmakers, but given CWC’s relatively short history, it earns its place in our catalogue as an honest, purpose-built, unpretentious, and useful reminder that not every serious watch needs a hefty price tag to have a story worth telling or a history worth studying.

This example’s condition is excellent throughout. Its stainless steel case’s polished finish is well-preserved, and it lacks any large or obvious signs of damage such as dents or deep scratches. Powered by a manual-wind movement, it runs, functions, and keeps time as it should. Its black dial’s lume has aged slightly, which gives its display a vintage aesthetic which builds upon its heritage as a vintage-inspired re-issue.

Brand: CWC
Model: 2003 RAF Re-Issue
Reference: N/A
Set: Watch Only
Year: 2003
Dial: Black with black subdials
Material: Stainless steel
Movement: Manual-wind cal. 7733
Case Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 13.8mm
Lug-to-lug: 46.5mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Bracelet/Strap: Original CWC green fabric strap