Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.

Wristwatches were not unheard of at the start of World War 1, certainly, in 1880 a swiss manufacturer supplied a number of specially modified watches to the German Imperial Navy, and during the Second Boer War, at the turn of the century, British officers had been issued with 'wristlet' watches. However, they were still seen as feminine items and were rarely worn by men.
The increased importance of timing in the battlefield, especially in the use of new technology under development both on land and sea as well as the emerging air force units, meant pocket watches became too cumbersome to use quickly, a watch worn on the wrist could be read in seconds at a glance, and they became a necessity for officers.
Commercial retailers quickly realised the market and Mappin and Webb were among those ready to sell to eager young officers on their way to serve on the front. Although too early to be standard military issue the addition of the word 'campaign' on the dial increased the appeal to the military market of these "Trench" watches




Case
Polished 34.2mm case, 37.3mm with crown, 8.6mm deep, 40.233mm Lug to Lug, 14mm lug width.

Interior diameter 30.2mm, 7mm deep, 4.3mm 'Onion' crown, 30mm flat glass,

Dial

White Dial with unmarked black Railtrack minute scale at the outside edge. Hours indicated with numbers 1 to 12 in serif style

Black hour and minute hands, in a Cathedral style with Yellow Infill, and a slim black seconds hand.

Strap

Brown PU leather strap 14mm at the lug, narrows to a 12mm polished buckle, approx. fitting 165/210mm





This watch sees the introduction of a third 'standard' movement. The ISA K63, although similar in shape the spacers have not been designed for the movement and a piece of sticky foam is placed on the battery to hold it in place.
The movement has far less 'slop' when the stem is pulled out and the hands are much easier to set accurately than the Epson AL55 normally used
Note the stem release needs a pin to actuate, there is an arrow on the circuit board to left and below where it says "F-9". it points to a tiny hole which a pin needs to be inserted with gentle pressure, before you pull the crown and stem out, another press is needed when inserting to lock the stem back in.


just a little note, in the first picture the dial looks massively off centre, this is just not the case, or rather it is because the inside rim of the case is very reflective.