MWC Classic Watch - A-17 Classic 1950s Pattern US Korean War Issue Watch, 24 Jewel Automatic Movement, 100m Water Resistance

This automatic self winding A-17 pattern watch is a classic design based on the typical designs used in the Korean War during the 1950s, it has a glass crystal and the mechanical movement is a self winding automatic with the option to hand wind if desired. The watch offers the benefit of retaining the classic 1950s outward appearance whilst having the advantage of a few important updates to improve its suitability for use on a day to day basis, the main upgrades are an increase from 30m to 100m water resistance and a screw down crown and caseback. The other watches in this family of watches are the A-11 based on the WW2 USAAF pilots watch and the GG-W-113 based on the Vietnam War issue model.

All the original watches regardless of whether they were an A-11, A-17 or GG-W-113 used plexiglass which was fine for the time but does not come anywhere near meeting modern standards for either water resistance or scratch resistance. The updates mean that rather than just being splash-proof like the original models this watch is fine for swimming and other activities involving use in water, although the updates vastly improve the watch in terms of performance it still retains it's historical retro appearance which was achieved by manufacturing a special curved glass crystal which closely mimics the original.

This watch has a heavy stainless steel satin finish case made from Military Grade 316L stainless steel, sweep second hand, hacking function, black dial and Luminova or the markings and hands for first rate night-time performance.

The entire range of A-11, A-17 and GG-W-113 watches came into being because in January 2009 MWC were approached by a US veterans association who were keen to examine the viability of making a GG-W-113 watch which was identical in appearance to the original watches which were made by Hamilton, Bulova and Benrus during the Vietnam war. After receiving samples of watches to examine and also the original specification sheets the resulting watch was very close to the original and used a high grade fully jewelled handwound movement, this watch was the GG-W-113 which is still made by MWC. As a result of making that watch another order was placed with a view to recreating the A-11 which is even earlier model, the original A-11 is now virtually impossible to find in good sound condition, this is primarily because most originals were made from 1943 onwards when resources were very limited due to the war and hence cheap metal was used which meant they were not very durable and the wartime alloy watches could not get close to a watch like this model made in solid stainless steel.

The new 100m series of models were developed in 2019 and encompass the best of both traditional appearance and current day performance standards.

SPECIFICATION

•     Width Inc Crown: 40mm
•     Width Exc Crown: 38mm
•     Hardened Crystal
•     Thickness: 11.5mm
•     Weight: 61g
•     Lug Size: 20mm
•     Lug to lug is 45mm
•     100m Water Resistance
•     Screw caseback and crown
•     24 jewel, mechanical self winding automatic movement. with "Hack System"
•     20mm Strap