MWC 24 Jewel 1982 Pattern 300m Automatic Military Divers Watch with Sapphire Crystal on a Stainless Steel Bracelet

SKU Code: SUB/MIL/SS/AUWBL

These diver's watches are a modern remake of our 1980s model, specifically crafted for a U.S. contractor who secured a large sale to one of their clients. The watch features a robust stainless steel case and is equipped with a high-performance automatic 24-jewel self-winding movement. Several upgrades have been made to the original design, including a shatter and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and an increased water resistance rating. The dial is unbranded (referred to in the military as sterile), giving the watch a very clean and uncluttered appearance.

Historical and Technical Background:

This model takes inspiration from the 1980 UK Ministry of Defence specification for automatic diver’s watches (DEF STAN 66-4 [Part 1] Issue 3). It retains hallmark features such as the unidirectional bezel and clearly legible dial, originally marked with tritium.

In this modern version, we’ve swapped the now-obsolete tritium for non-radioactive Luminova and replaced the original mineral glass crystal with ultra-durable sapphire. The final two images show a scan of the original MOD spec file.

Dimensions and Specifications

• Water Resistance: 300m / 1000ft
• Movement: 24 Jewel NH35A with a 41-hour reserve
• Crown: Screwdown
• Caseback: Screw caseback
• Bezel: Scratch-resistant ceramic
• Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating*
• Dimensions:
  • Width: 45mm including the crown, 40mm excluding the crown
  • Thickness: 15mm
  • Crystal Diameter: 31mm
  • Lug to Lug: 49mm
• Weight: 170g
• Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
• Warranty: 24 months

Benefits of Sapphire Crystal

Many customers ask about the benefits of sapphire crystal over standard mineral crystal. Synthetic sapphire is extremely strong, shatter-resistant, and scratch-resistant, making it ideal for military and security personnel, police officers, and active outdoor enthusiasts. These groups account for over 70% of our customer base.

Our observations show that over 90% of incidents involving cracked watch crystals occur with mineral glass. Even hardened mineral crystals do not match the durability of sapphire. Sapphire crystals are strengthened through a heat treatment process that removes internal stresses and are then coated with two layers of anti-reflective coating. While sapphire crystals are more expensive, they offer superior longevity, resilience, and performance, justifying their use in higher-end watches.

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These models represent excellent value and are competitively priced for such a high-performance automatic watch. This watch combines the historical design and functional integrity of its predecessors with modern upgrades to meet the needs of today's professionals and enthusiasts.