Manufacturers of High Quality Military Watches Since 1974

MWC Stainless Steel Automatic Military Divers Watch - Tritium / GTLS Illumination, Sapphire Crystal and 60 Hour Power Reserve

£449.00 GBP

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Product Details

SKU: DV2001/SS/AU/GTLS

MWC first manufactured the predecessor to this 300m/1000ft water-resistant diver's watch between the early 1990s and 2004. This model is closely based on a watch introduced by MWC in 2005, which was their first diver's watch to use tritium gas tubes. The self-luminous GTLS tubes make the watch very easy to read at night, with light sources remaining consistently bright from dusk until dawn. The hour and minute hands, as well as the hour markers, each have a brightly glowing vial of tritium gas. While the vials contain radioactive gas, their total combined amount is less than the personal limit of 25 millicuries, in accordance with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations 10 CFR 30.15.

Superior Night Readability

Military watches of this type are the easiest in the world to read in low light or total darkness thanks to the self-activated light source, which is up to 100 times brighter than traditional luminous paint. The light-emitting tubes require no battery power or any other form of charging and never need servicing or maintenance. The life expectancy of the light sources is at least 10 years, after which they can start to fade.  

Rediscovery and Remake

Although the predecessor to this watch was discontinued by MWC in 2007, an interesting turn of events occurred when an MWC distributor in Australia discovered 500 brand-new quartz versions of this range in their storeroom. Made between 1999 and 2001, these watches were part of a procurement contract. When the distributor's son conducted a detailed stock check, these watches came to light. We were offered the opportunity to buy them back, and their popularity prompted us to remake the watches in the same design with significant upgrades.

Upgrades and Improvements

Advances in watch manufacturing over the years allowed us to enhance the overall specifications:

  • Movement: Automatic Miyota 8315 movement with a 60-hour power reserve, which can also be hand-wound and has hacking for synchronization.
  • Crystal: Upgraded from hardened mineral glass to sapphire, which is highly scratch and shatter-resistant.
  • Bezel: Upgraded to a 120-click bezel versus the earlier 60 or 90-click versions.
  • Tritium Tubes: Improved performance of Swiss Tritium GTLS tubes.

Historical Case Design

These watches are based on a case design originally made by the renowned Swiss case-making firm MRP S.A. Founded in 1953, MRP is now independently owned by Patrick Hauert. The case design has remained largely unchanged since the late 1970s. More information can be found on their website: MRP S.A..

Notable Users and Legacy

This case pattern has been used by various companies, including Precista, Nilax, Elvia, and Heuer (predecessors to Tag Heuer). Notable models include the Heuer 844-1 (1979) and the Chronosport Sea Quartz 30, worn by Tom Selleck in Magnum PI. Elvia continues to produce watches using this case, and MWC is a factory-authorized distributor for this brand. CWC and other companies also continue to use this case design, which has been in continuous production for over 40 years.

Dimensions and Specifications

  • Casing: Satin Finish Non-Reflective Stainless Steel
  • Crown: Screw-down Locking
  • Water Resistance: 30 ATM / 300m / 1000ft
  • Movement: Miyota 8315 with 60-Hour Power Reserve
  • Dimensions:
    • Width including crown: 45mm
    • Width excluding crown: 40mm
    • Thickness: 14.4mm
    • Lug to lug: 46.5mm
    • Crystal diameter: 31mm
  • Crystal Type: Sapphire with non-reflective coating
  • Luminous Material: Tritium Gas Tubes
  • Bezel: 120-click unidirectional
  • Weight: 89.5g
  • Strap Bars: Spring
  • Strap: 1 x Black and 1 x Grey Nylon Webbing Straps
  • Guarantee: 24 months

Benefits of Sapphire Crystal

Synthetic sapphire is the best material for watch crystals due to its strength and shatter and scratch resistance. These characteristics make it appealing to military and security personnel, police officers, and active outdoor enthusiasts, who account for over 70% of our customers. When clients have accidents resulting in a cracked crystal, over 90% involve watches with mineral glass crystals. Even hardened mineral crystals do not match sapphire's durability under adverse conditions. Sapphire crystals are heat-treated to remove internal stresses, enhancing their strength, and are made into watch crystals with two layers of anti-reflective coating. While more expensive, sapphire crystal is typically fitted to higher-end watches and is now used in the latest iPhone models.

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