Waterproof wristlet watch
Encyclopedia
The waterproof wristlet watch (WWW) standard for wristwatches by the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
is believed to be one of the first official standards for a military issue watch
. Timekeeping in disciplines such as navigation, and warfare have always been of vital importance. Mechanisms for telling things such as direction, star position, and time on boats date back to antiquity, but World War I
was the first time that soldiers wore timepieces on their wrists in the form of trench watch
es. The obvious characteristics of a trench watch were that they were repurposed small sized (size 0, 7.5 ligne, 29.62mm) pocket watches protected with crude metal used to protect the glass crystal covering the dial.
The invention of the trench watch precipitated the invention of the wrist watch, and these watches were adopted by both the public and the military.
With the invention of the wrist watch came the british military issuing a standard for military wrist watches. This is referred to as the WWW standard. These were characterized by small, simple movements. Among the requirements were matte black dials with luminous hands, numbers and indicies, subsidiary seconds, shatter-resistant perspex plastic crystal, a case resistant to water, dust and shock, and a high-quality, isochronal and robust, 15 jewel movement, and a water resistant winding crown of a good size. Twelve companies (Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, Omega, Record, Timor, Vertex) responded with conforming designs for what are commonly called WWWs (watch(es), wristlet, waterproof) or Mark X (after the IWC version?). They also featured the typical British military "Broad Arrow" on both the dial, and the case back.
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
is believed to be one of the first official standards for a military issue watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
. Timekeeping in disciplines such as navigation, and warfare have always been of vital importance. Mechanisms for telling things such as direction, star position, and time on boats date back to antiquity, but World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was the first time that soldiers wore timepieces on their wrists in the form of trench watch
Trench watch
The Trench watch was a type of watch that came into use by the military during World War I, as pocket watches were not practical in combat. It was a transitional design between pocket watches and wrist watches, incorporating features of both....
es. The obvious characteristics of a trench watch were that they were repurposed small sized (size 0, 7.5 ligne, 29.62mm) pocket watches protected with crude metal used to protect the glass crystal covering the dial.
The invention of the trench watch precipitated the invention of the wrist watch, and these watches were adopted by both the public and the military.
With the invention of the wrist watch came the british military issuing a standard for military wrist watches. This is referred to as the WWW standard. These were characterized by small, simple movements. Among the requirements were matte black dials with luminous hands, numbers and indicies, subsidiary seconds, shatter-resistant perspex plastic crystal, a case resistant to water, dust and shock, and a high-quality, isochronal and robust, 15 jewel movement, and a water resistant winding crown of a good size. Twelve companies (Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, Omega, Record, Timor, Vertex) responded with conforming designs for what are commonly called WWWs (watch(es), wristlet, waterproof) or Mark X (after the IWC version?). They also featured the typical British military "Broad Arrow" on both the dial, and the case back.