Description
This rare 1979 RAF issue CWC W10 ‘6BB’ is a classic British military watch.
It replaced the Hamilton W10 as the standard MoD field watch, produced from 1976 to 1980 before being superseded by the quartz G10.
The ‘W10’ designation comes from its widespread use in Army contracts, with around 25,000 Hamilton versions alone supplied in 1973. The army service code ‘W10’ was marked on the back. This nickname applies to all versions, including the 1976-80 CWC version and those supplied to the RAF and Royal Navy, which have different service codes on their backs.
The W10 features a solid stainless steel ‘tonneau’ (barrel-shaped) monocoque case with no removable back. Its movement, dial and hands are accessed from the front via a ‘front-loader’ mechanism. Removing the movement requires lifting the crystal and detaching the outer stem and crown.
Powered by the reliable and accurate ETA 2750 hand-winding 17-jewel mechanical movement, the W10 boasts a unique balance wheel compared to most civilian ETA 2750s and includes hacking seconds.
This particular example is a 1979 Royal Air Force (6BB service code) issued watch. Only 2,400 1979 6BB W10s were produced, making it a rare and sought-after piece. Despite its age, it remains both stylish and practical for everyday wear.
The watch is in excellent, clean condition and has recently been serviced.
