Horophiles who manage to snag one of Cabot’s soon-to-be-released fiftieth-anniversary watches – a piece aptly named the Cabot Fifty – will likely be asked whether the watch is an heirloom, perhaps worn by a grandfather or great-grandfather during the Second World War. That’s because Cabot has taken great pains to create a singular piece that accurately reflects the spirit of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ watches commissioned by the British Ministry of Defense during the war.
Take the watch’s case, which CWC crafted using brass recycled from original wartime 1937 belts, packs, canteen carriers, and other equipment. The case’s 38mm size includes the crown, which can be used to hand-wind the piece and hack the second-hand (for those who don’t trust the Elabore Swiss Sellita SW216-1 caliber movement).
The straps have even seen action: CWC sourced their material from original WWII Denison parachute smocks worn by paratroopers who landed on the continent. The black dial features plain, easily read white lettering and thick hands. CWC claims they designed the face to provide legibility even in the heat of battle, but we’ll take their word for it.
The whole thing comes together to form an example that’s every bit as wearable and durable as the original ‘WWW’ (milspeak for ‘Watch, Wrist, Waterproof’) pieces it seeks to emulate. CWC enthusiasts can sign up to get notified when it’s time to drop $2,690 at the end of January.
For more from CWC, check out the Cabot Bren Watch Roll.
