Military watches, especially vintage military watches, are one of the most valuable and interesting collection items that a person can have. An old vintage military watch brings a certain kind of nostalgia, because they go way back.
Military watches were used by the armed forces as naval pieces. Chronometers were used in aviation, especially during the Second World War.
Vintage Military watches were built for utility. They are accurate for their time and ergonomic for fit, function, precision and readability. They contain just the essentials required by the soldier that wore them.
Many of the well refurbished vintage military watches are purchased by sellers or resellers. Buyers of these elegant timepieces often purchase such watches for their good looks and their mythical appeal as an investment.
Pocket watches were used extensively during WWI. However officers wanted faster access to the time. Since wrist watches were not manufactured during that time wrist watches were constructed using pocket watches or pendant watches converted to be worn on a leather strap. These are sometimes seen with schrapnel/crystal guards designed to protect the glass crystals.
The Swiss are known to be one of the best makers of military watches. During the war, wrist watches were not really in use, but soldiers needed faster time access. One of the first military watches ever released was created by the Hamilton Company, known for producing very fine watches in America. There were a total of about 168,000 vintage Hamilton military watches made by Hamilton during WWII. It is believed that this does not include pre-1940 production.
Hamilton Vintage Watch
During WWII, Hamilton supplied watches for the US Army, Navy, and Marine Corps [the Air Force was the Army Air Force]. Hamilton also supplied some watches for allies in WWI, specifically for Russia, and for the Royal Canadian Air Force [RCAF].
Owning a vintage military watch is like owning a piece of history. There is a great feeling in knowing that the mechanism in your hand is something somebody used a long time ago. It feels even better if the watch that you have was once owned by a soldier, which he used to navigate and tell time on the battlefield.
Buying used military watches can give you a historical accessory without breaking the bank.