MWC NATO Pattern Black PVD Steel Military Pilots Chronograph with Sapphire Crystal and Swiss Ronda Movement with GTLS/Tritium Illumination

Product Details

SKU Code: TN8/BD/CDB

MWC NATO Chronograph – Black PVD 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 black PVD 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.

Special Covert Matte Black PVD Finish: This finish is often specified in military contracts for special forces units, anti-terrorist units, and various covert operations. The PVD process alters the color of the steel at a molecular level, making it vastly superior to painted finishes that can fade or rub off. This ensures the color does not deteriorate even during heavy usage, although it can be damaged by severe abrasion or gouging. Many customers still have watches from the 1990s with the PVD finish in excellent condition.

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.

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 PVD plated 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.

• Delivery

  • Shipping Information

    Europe, UK, and Rest of World

    Tracked Mail:

    • Europe: €11.75 / £9.99 / US$12.95
    • UK: £7.95 / €9.50 / US$10.50
    • Rest of World: US$22.75 / €20.50 / £17.50

    Express Courier (UPS or FedEx):

    • Europe: €23.50 / £19.99 / US$25.95
    • UK (UPS/DPD):  £12.95 / €15.25 / US$16.95
    • Rest of World: US$45.50 / €41.25 / £34.95

    Note: The exact shipping cost may vary slightly depending on the weight and dimensions, but it will only differ by a small amount and will be shown at checkout. The above rates cover approximately 85% of parcels.

    Order and Shipment Confirmation

    You will generally receive two emails after placing an order:

    1. Confirmation of receipt of the order and payment.
    2. Notification of shipment once the goods are dispatched.

    Processing Time: Orders are shipped by the Post Office or Courier within 48 hours of payment processing. Note that our shipping centers are closed on Saturdays and Sundays; therefore, orders placed during this time may take up to 72 hours to be dispatched. This includes orders placed after 14:00 (CET) on Fridays.

    Estimated Delivery Times (in working days):

    • Europe:
      • UPS: 2 to 5 days
      • Registered Mail: 7 to 14 days
    • UK:
      • DPD or UPS: 24 hours
      • Tracked Mail: 1 to 2 days
    • Rest of World:
      • UPS: 3 to 10 days
      • Registered Mail: 7 to 21 days*

    *Some countries are notoriously slow to process goods on arrival, including Israel, Hong Kong, Macau, Mexico, South Africa, and some South American countries. Significant delays can also occur in other countries in Africa. For time-sensitive deliveries, we recommend using UPS, DHL, or FedEx.

    All shipping estimates exclude Saturdays and Sundays.

    While we strive to deliver within the above timeframes, they are guides, and delivery cannot be guaranteed. We are not responsible for delays caused by couriers or any national postal service. If your goods are not delivered within the estimated time, please contact us at admin@mwc.watch, and we will do our best to resolve the issue promptly. We are not liable for any loss caused by late delivery.

    Our delivery charges cover the cost of shipping to you but do not include import charges and administration fees to clear the goods when entering your country if applicable.

    It is the purchaser's responsibility to understand that charges may be levied and to pay all subsequent import taxes and duties on goods shipped to their country. If items are returned to MWC due to rejected payment, subsequent charges incurred (such as import duty and processing costs) will be deducted from any refund issued. For more information, please contact accounts@mwc-distribution.com

    If you need to clarify any details regarding local taxes for your location, please contact us before placing an order. For clarification, goods shipped to the EU can be dispatched from our EU location if ordered at https://mwc.eu/, and we also have a dedicated UK shipping center at https://mwcwatches.co.uk/. In the United States, orders under $800 do not incur taxes or fees. In Australia, orders up to AU$1000 are tax-free. Many other countries have similar regulations, which you can verify using this helpful link: Zonos De Minimis Values and also this link to calculate taxes for shipments to most countries worldwide https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/

    We do not accept liability for goods lost after delivery to a PO Box. We reserve the right to cancel orders where the delivery address is a PO Box. Similarly, we do not accept liability for goods lost after confirmed delivery to APO or BFPO locations.

    Customer Notification: It is the customer's responsibility to notify us if goods are not received within 21 days of the estimated delivery date. If no notification is made within this period, the buyer is deemed to have received the goods.

    Safe Place Deliveries

    Some delivery companies allow for delivery without a signature, leaving the item in a "safe place" (e.g., shed, garage, porch). If you choose this option, it is at your own risk. We initially send items by a secure service requiring a signature or proof of delivery. Using a "safe place" increases the risk of theft. We advise ensuring deliveries require a signature to ensure safe receipt.

    Failed Deliveries

    If an item is refused and returned to us, we will refund the order less the outbound and inbound shipping charges once the item is received back at our packing and shipping center. For business locations, please notify the receiving personnel of the expected delivery to avoid refusals. Usually, we will be notified of delivery issues and will email you for instructions. It is important to act quickly to avoid return and associated costs.

    For any questions or further assistance, please contact us at admin@mwc.watch.