Record Watches
dirty dozen royal army - Dirty Dozen

Vintage British military watch Record “Dirty Dozen” from World War II (WWII), featuring Royal Army engravings. The name “Dirty Dozen” refers to a Ministry of Defence tender during the war, awarded to twelve different brands. These watches were also issued to the Royal Air Force. The Record version is among the rarest of the series, produced in very limited quantities.

The W.W.W. marking on the caseback stands for “Watch Wrist Waterproof,” a designation from the British Ministry of Defence. All twelve models in the Dirty Dozen series share common features: black dial, radium-coated hands (later replaced with tritium), oversized winding crown, fixed strap bars welded to the case, and a screwed caseback with six notches for opening. Assignment markings and serial numbers are engraved below the W.W.W. and the “Broad Arrow”—a heraldic arrow symbol indicating property of the British Crown. When the arrow points upward, it specifically designates property of the British Army or Commonwealth military forces. This symbol dates back to the 16th century and the Board of Ordnance, the naval armament body responsible for equipping the Royal Navy. As such, every rivet head on Royal Navy ships was marked with this arrow.

Standard-issue British military watch with black dial, 12-hour railroad-style chapter ring, and luminous tritium-coated numerals according to the British Ministry of Defence specifications (WWII Military Watch spec). This model, manufactured by Record Company in 1943, was resistant to dust and water splashes. It features a Swiss mechanical ETA movement and fixed bars to prevent loss during operations. It was used by early airborne regiments and the Royal Navy (with different military markings), making it a foundational piece for any vintage military watch collection.

Learn more about watchmaking history and the most iconic models on our Mostra “Watch Stories” page