MWC NATO Pattern Stainless Steel Military Pilots Chronograph with Sapphire Crystal and Swiss Ronda Movement - 12 Hour GMT Bezel and GTLS/Tritium Illumination
£349.00 GBP
Product Details
SKU Code: TN5/BD/12
MWC NATO Chronograph – Stainless Steel (Ronda 5040.D Movement)
A Rugged Professional Chronograph with Dual Time Zone Tracking and, Tritium/GTLS Tubes and 200m Water Resistance
Built for the aviation applications and tough enough for any terrain, the MWC NATO chronograph in stainless steel was developed to meet the demanding needs of military aircrews, commercial pilots, and general aviation professionals. While based on the proven specifications used by other NATO chronograph manufacturers, this model brings several smart upgrades that improve functionality, legibility, and real-world practicality.
This model uniquely blends new and traditional technology, retaining all the popular features of our conventional G10 Luminova models while incorporating cutting-edge self-luminous GTLS tritium vials. The specification of this watch adheres to American Military Specification Number: US MIL-W-46374F.
Key Features:
Superior Night Visibility: The self-luminous system ensures exceptional readability at night. This model has a distinctive face layout, with the hour and minute hands each containing a brightly glowing vial of Tritium gas. The 12 o'clock position features an orange tube to assist with orientation if the watch is off the wrist, the other tubes are green. The vials contain less than the personal limit of 25 millicuries of radioactive gas, complying with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations (10 CFR 30.15).
Tritium GTLS Tubes: These military-grade watches are the most readable in low light or total darkness, thanks to the self-activated light source, which is up to 100 times brighter than traditional luminous paint. These light-emitting tubes require no battery power, charging, or maintenance, and have a life expectancy of at least 10 years.
Superior PVD Plating
The special covert matte black non-reflective PVD finish on this watch is often specified in military contracts for special forces, anti-terrorist units, and covert operations. In the PVD process, the steel itself isn’t black throughout; instead, the color is achieved through a specialized chemical plating technique. This method is far superior to the painted finishes found on lower-quality watches, which tend to fade or wear off easily. The PVD process alters the steel at a molecular level, ensuring long-lasting durability even under heavy use. However, the finish can be damaged if the case is gouged by metal or subjected to severe abrasion against rocks or similar materials.
At the heart of the watch is a high-performance Swiss Ronda 5040.D movement, delivering precise chronograph operation with zero-complication ease. The case measures 45.5mm including the crown, striking a balance between bold presence and wearable proportions.
Dual Time Zone Tracking – No Extra Hand Required
With more and more of our customers needing to track two time zones—whether for international operations, travel, or coordination across regions—we’ve opted for a simplified solution over a traditional GMT hand.
Instead of adding mechanical complexity, we’ve included a 12-hour bezel, allowing effortless time zone offset tracking. This bezel, unlike the more common dive-style “count-up” design, lets you read a second time zone at a glance:
Example:
If you're in Paris and need to track Miami time (6 hours behind), simply rotate the bezel so the 9 o’clock marker aligns with the 3 on the dial. Just like that, you’ve got two time zones on your wrist—no apps, no math, no fuss.
This feature is especially useful now that most divers rely on computers underwater, making the traditional dive bezel less essential. Here, it becomes a highly functional tool for everyday, multi-zone use—without compromising the watch's 20 ATM / 200m / 660ft water resistance or its classic diver-inspired style.
Ronda 5040.D Sub-Dial Functions
Left Sub-Dial (9 o’clock):
60-Minute Chronograph Counter
Tracks elapsed minutes when the chronograph is active, up to 60 minutes.
Bottom Sub-Dial (6 o’clock):
12-Hour Chronograph Counter
Records total elapsed hours while the chronograph is running, up to 12 hours.
Right Sub-Dial (3 o’clock):
Small Seconds Display
Displays continuous running seconds for standard timekeeping. This sub-dial runs independently of the chronograph function.
🕹️ Chronograph Controls:
Top pusher (Start/Stop): Starts and stops the chrono.
Bottom pusher (Reset): Resets the chronograph hands to zero (after it’s stopped).
📝 Pro Tip:
If the chrono hands are out of alignment (say, the 1/10th sec hand isn't zeroing properly), you can recalibrate them via the crown pulled out to the second position — each pusher moves a different hand. This means that whereas with many chronographs they need to be booked into a watchmaker to make minor adjustments. This does not apply in the case of this particular model because it is a simple job to find the calibration yourself if it's ever required.
Key Specifications
- Movement: Swiss Ronda 5040.D
- Battery: Renata 395
- Battery Life: Approx. 54 months
- Case Material: 316L Black PVD stainless steel
- Case Diameter: 44mm (excluding crown), 45.5mm (including crown)
- Lug-to-Lug: 49mm
- Thickness: 13.5mm
- Crown: Screw-down locking crown
- Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
- Water Resistance: 20 ATM / 200m / 660ft
- Dial: Matte black with Tritium GTLS Tubes for maximum Nighttime Visibility
- Straps: Supplied with both black and grey 20mm NATO nylon webbing straps
Why Sapphire?
The crystal is one of the most vulnerable parts of any watch—especially in demanding environments. That’s why we’ve equipped this model with a sapphire crystal, known for its exceptional scratch resistance and shatter strength.
In fact, over 90% of cracked crystal incidents we see involve mineral glass. Even hardened mineral simply doesn’t compare. Our sapphire crystals are strengthened through heat treatment to remove stress and double-coated with anti-reflective layers for clear visibility in bright light or at night.
This makes the watch ideal for military and security personnel, police, outdoor adventurers, and anyone who demands real-world reliability. Over 70% of our customers fall into one of these groups, and sapphire crystal is a must for their line of work.
The Bottom Line
The MWC NATO chronograph in stainless steel fuses military-grade durability with modern functionality—making it a versatile and robust timepiece ready for anything. Whether you're piloting, on duty, traveling between time zones, or simply want a watch that does more without overcomplicating things, this chronograph delivers—every time.
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