CWC (Cabot Watch Company)

Cabot Watch Company was founded in 1972 by Ray Mellor but is now owned by Silverman’s see http://www.silvermans.co.uk/ based in London, UK. CWC watches are of good sound quality and G10 models were supplied to the British Forces in the past although currently as confirmed by the link below the current supplier is MWC, for the RAF the Seiko PX8307X1 with 905 issued since late 2010 (as of mid 2012) was the current choice but clearly the Citizen model is still in extensive use too, for Naval Divers the Citizen BN0000-04H is the current choice along with a CWC Black PVD Dive watch which is apparently issued primarily to elite units and has been provided since the 1980s so this is a seriously tried and tested mode - see https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XKWMnePVJA7ugMz4WuDvBUt6ioNncqCT/view?usp=drive_linkl 

Something that is becoming very clear is that bit by bit CWC is heading down the same road as Rolex and IWC in the past when they were just too costly for the military to procure and effectively became commercial brands with a military heritage. In summary I have always found that CWC are fine and I have several in my collection although the models are rather dated in many ways maybe due to the conservative requirements laid down by the British MoD although these seem less rigid in recent years, some of CWC's remakes and retro models are actually very interesting and and are here https://www.cwcwatch.com/collections/heritage-reissue-historical-watches.

The conservatism shows in some models because CWC still use plexiglass in some of their G10 and all W10 watches where other companies have moved to mineral glass or sapphire crystal for improved durability. In addition the UK forces have not opted for Self Luminous technology which employs vials of active tritium gas. 

The price of a surplus CWC watch is usually high in the UK and it frequently makes more sense to buy a new one. Unless of course you want to watch which is of a particular age for example the Falklands war versions command very high prices, a friend bought a mint 1989 First Gulf War CWC a year back in pristine condition for £110 where the current equivalent is £219 so it was quite a good buy. 

It's quite interesting that the initial plan in 1980 when the British Ministry of defence were looking to replace the mechanical W 10 with a quartz model was that the new G 10 would use the same case pattern as existing watches, the problem was that the size of the watch movements at the time meant there was no quartz movement available that would fit into the W10 case - interestingly if you look at the specification sheet set down by the Ministry of Defence you will see that it pictures a W10. 

The first quartz watches issued to British Army soldiers are known as G10 “fatboys”, this is due the very thick cases, there was no alternative but to use these cases because the ESA Quartz movement was very bulky  by modern standards with a short battery life. The first CWC quartz watches were  issued in 1980, with further batches also produced in 1982 which  were used by British forces in the Falklands War. By the late 1980s the Fatboy model was no longer in production and the watches were significantly slimmer and much more manageable, these watches were the second case pattern with the current models being classified as the third case pattern. According to reliable sources the CWC G10 was issued from 1980-2006.

Occasionally  you might well come across old CWC G10 models at Militaria fairs that are up to 40+ years old and still going strong. I think that says quite a lot about the long-term reliability.

The mechanical non-dated CWC chronograph from the 1970s is based on a design originally developed by Hamilton, where Ray Mellor worked before founding CWC. 

The watch features a polished stainless steel case with a screw-back design and an acrylic crystal. The crown is recessed and well-finished, offering a sleek and functional aesthetic.

• Movement: Mechanical hand-wind
• Caliber: Valjoux ETA 7760, with modifications
• Jewels: 29
• Chronograph Functions: 30-minute counter at the 3 o'clock position
• Running Seconds: Subdial at the 9 o'clock position
• Case Material: Polished stainless steel
• Strap Bars: Solid
• Strap Size: 20mm
• Crystal: Acrylic
• Warranty: 3 years
• Swiss Made

• Width: 40mm
• Thickness: 13mm
• Lug to Lug: 46mm

A fellow collector sent me one of these watches for review, and it came with a grey NATO strap, which is historically accurate. However, many wearers opt for a black strap or the black-and-grey James Bond pattern. US-style military straps in khaki or black also pair well with the watch.

After wearing the watch for three weeks, I found it to be exceptionally accurate, gaining only 15 to 20 seconds per week. The Valjoux ETA 7760 movement is renowned for both its accuracy and reliability, and the chronograph functions were precise and responsive. I couldn’t find any faults in its performance.

The CWC chronograph is a highly desirable timepiece with strong historical significance, though its price of £2250.00 may be a consideration for some. Given its heritage, the watch is likely to hold its value well. You can find more information on the CWC website.

https://www.cwcwatch.com/collections/heritage-reissue-historical-watches/products/cwc-1970s-reissue-chronograph 

If this watch is too costly look around for a Precista PRS-5 or a Newmark which are made to the same design as the Hamilton and CWC. 

MWC also produce a decent pilots chronographs in stainless steel and black PVD but these are based on later NATO specifications but are in a similar spirit to the original watches See https://mwcwatches.com/search?q=chr2 . Of course where the MWC wins hands down if you don't want to pay the price of the CWC is that in the UK it's £275 vs £699 even for the quartz CWC,  the MWC is a hybrid quartz mechanical not a pure mechanical watch although in terms of the way it behaves anyone handling it would assume it was mechanical because it has a fly back secondhand etc. It is also 100m water resistant vs the 30m rating of the CWC. To see the CWC models ranging from £699 to £4995 in the UK see https://www.cwcwatch.com/collections/chronograph Another contender might be the Hamilton 

https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-int/h76416735-khaki-pilot.html but at €1775 (£1595) although at this price you are not far off the CWC's price  there and I would be tempted to pay that bit more because the CWC will retain its value much better.

 Although the CWC and Precista chronographs share a similar outward appearance, they are in fact quite different in terms of movement and overall design, despite both being of excellent quality and offering great value for money. Unfortunately, the Precista is no longer in production. The CWC features a 29-jewel mechanical hand-wind Valjoux ETA 7760 movement with modifications, while the Precista uses an ST-19 movement, a 19-jewel column-wheel chronograph directly descended from the Venus 175 movement, which has been tried and tested over many years.

The history of these watches is intriguing. From the 1970s through the early 1980s, the UK military issued mechanical chronographs with two subsidiary dials, which were used by both RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots. Four versions of this watch were built to DEF STAN 66-4 (Part 2) Issue 2 specifications: the Hamilton (which later became CWC after Ray Mellor left Hamilton to form CWC), Precista, Newmark, and another model. All these watches originally used the Valjoux 7733 hand-winding chronograph movement, which is now replaced by the Valjoux ETA 7760 in modern iterations. They featured acrylic plexiglass crystals and tritium-painted hands and hour markers, with water resistance ratings of 3ATM, typical for watches with plexiglass crystals.

Upon close inspection, the CWC and Precista models share some similarities but differ in notable ways. In terms of case finish, the Precista’s sandblasted case gives it an edge over the polished stainless steel of the CWC. However, the CWC is still a very solid offering, though its price has increased substantially over the years. A fellow collector, who lent me his CWC for review, bought it for £899 four years ago, a price I confirmed through archived records. Today, the same watch is priced at £2250, reflecting the rising cost of Swiss-made watches and the strength of the Swiss Franc. In comparison, the Precista is not available for purchase, but the CWC remains available at £2250.

In terms of dimensions, the Precista is slightly thicker at just under 15mm compared to the CWC's 14mm, though both have the same 41mm diameter, including the crown. The lug-to-lug measurement is marginally different, with the Precista coming in at just over 46mm, while the CWC measures 47mm. Both watches share a 20mm strap size.

Despite these minor differences, both watches perform exceptionally well. I found their movements to be smooth and highly accurate during the test period. The Precista’s ST-19 movement, when examined by a watchmaker, appeared to be based on the Venus 175 calibre, which was produced from the 1940s to the mid-1960s. Seagull reportedly purchased the original tooling from Venus, making parts for the Sea-Gull ST1901 interchangeable with the original Venus 175.

For those interested in these models, there's an excellent article that provides an in-depth comparison of the various watches, along with numerous images to highlight their subtle differences. While the watches may seem quite similar at first glance, these small distinctions are important to collectors and enthusiasts alike.

In conclusion, while the CWC remains a valuable piece with a rich heritage, its current price may put it beyond the reach of some buyers. However, its historical significance and tendency to retain value make it a worthy investment for many.

https://wornandwound.com/time-spec-1970s-british-military-asymmetrical-chronographs/

The hand-wound  W10 was the predecessor to the quartz G10/98 models used by the armed forces of today. Interestingly in the British MOD specifications from February 1980 inviting companies to tender for contracts to supply watches to the British forces the requirement foresaw that the W10 pattern watches would continue with a quartz movement, however, there was a major problem because at that time no quartz movement could fit the case due to being far too thick. This situation led to the watches we still refer to as the G10 which are the current issue watches.

I was talking to another manufacturer who mentioned that their watchmaker was looking at a W10 casing a couple of years back and discovered that a Swiss quartz Ronda 715 movement would fit perfectly this meant that while the model in the MOD spec sheets which was not able to be produced 40 years ago using the ESA Quartz movement as mentioned above could be made now. Clearly CWC must have come to the same conclusion at some point that I'm remake of this watch that couldn't be made at the time was now possible, CWC have stuck very closely in many ways to the original specification but I note that MWC developed a hybrid model which not only looks outwardly mechanical but also has the accuracy of a quartz watch, a glass crystal giving it 100m water resistance (the originals used perspex) and a screw-on case back and a locking crown. Although this watch is a significantly updated version of the original 1960/70s models it successfully retains the originals outward appearance.

 Interestingly Hamilton have also remade this model and it must be remembered that Ray Mellor who founded CWC originally worked for Hamilton brought the Hamilton W10 over to CWC the Hamilton remake is here https://www.hamiltonwatch.com/en-int/h76419931-khaki-pilot.html 

It has to be said with the CWC mechanical at £449, the CWC quartz at £249 now factoring in  the MWC mechanical at £225 and the MWC Hybrid at £149.95 I would be hard pushed to justify spending close to £700 on the Hamilton. Not only that but I think that visually the CWC and MWC look somewhat better I don't know what it is but there's something about the dial on the Hamilton just does not look right.  Interestingly I note that this  dial finish seems to be used on quite a few of the current Hamilton models and I guess some people might like it but we don't find it at all appealing.

We have always found CWC watches to be a solid and durable. Something which is evidenced by  the G10 models which you occasionally  find at Militaria fairs that are 30+ years old and still going strong.

The traditional G10 with battery hatch watch shown above was issued for many years although no longer issued it was a British Army staple for around 20 years. Interestingly the CWC don't appear on recent lists of UK issued models see  https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540450/DE_S_FOI_2016_06648___Information_of_British_Armed_Forces_Watches_and_suppliers_in__Annex_A_.pdf  nor back in 2012 see https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzqjx2t3PlpWT2Fub1N5cFpCTUE/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-93yh5O-Mz6n0PfWeRxt8MA

This classic G10 has a solidly made stainless steel case with a hatch on the back and has a matt finish with an acrylic crystal. 

• Width 38mm,
• Thickness 10mm 
• Lug to Lug 42mm
• Movement: Ronda 715
• Accuracy during test:  Excellent during the 4 week test period at a consistent +4 secs/week 
• Strap/options: Mine came with a grey NATO strap which is the most historically accurate but there are multiple options and olive drab, James Bond (Black and Grey) and black all look good.

This model is something which I find still very serviceable in spite of the low water resistance because it looks good also the crown is nicely finished and recessed.  One other factor to look at if you are thinking about buying a CWC is they also produce the thicker watch which is the iconic G10 Fatboy. This watch is interesting to a lot of people because it was issued during the Falklands war.

My colleagues and myself have owned quite a few CWC models over the years we tend to prefer the models from the 1980s and 1990’s some of which still surface now and then at various military sales or watch fairs. 

With thousands of these CWC G10 models issued it is a tried and tested timepiece that is not likely to give you any nasty surprises. 

A friend of mine bought one of the Precista PRE-10 G10 models, this watch is pictured at the link below, it is cheaper than the CWC 50 meter model at £195 but it actually compares more closely to the CWC 200 meter water resistant G 10 which is significantly dearer at £349.

https://www.timefactors.com/collections/precista/products/precista-prs-10-sapphire

What's particularly interesting about all three models—whether it's the MWC, CWC, or Precista—is that all  have opted for the same movement. This likely speaks volumes about the reliability and performance of that movement. It’s worth noting that the Ronda 715Li is currently the only movement that offers a 10-year battery life. Moreover, the CR2016 battery is widely available, ensuring that future replacements will be easy to source when the time comes to change the battery. In fact, many people may choose to pressure-test their watch before the battery even needs replacing.

Another strong contender is one of MWC's 300-meter water-resistant titanium watches. While they are more expensive than the Precista models, they  remain more affordable than the 200-meter stainless steel CWC, making them a very attractive option, especially considering the high specifications and GTLS options. Having personally examined one of these titanium watches and being a fan of the material, I find it difficult to choose between the models. However, one of MWC’s standout offerings is their stainless steel 100-meter watch, which is currently supplied to the MoD. You can view it via the link below. Many would agree that if it’s good enough for the British Army, it’s good enough for them! MWC also offers a dated version of this model.

https://mwcwatches.com/products/mwc-g10-100m-1000ft-water-resistant-stainless-steel-military-watch-with-sapphire-crystal?_pos=1&_sid=ab0c61dfa&_ss=r

One significant difference between the three watches lies in their overall dimensions. The MWC is notably larger, measuring 42mm including the crown, while the CWC (39.5mm) and Precista (39.1mm) are more compact. Personally, I find the larger case of the MWC enhances dial visibility at night, but this isn't a deal-breaker, as both the CWC and Precista perform exceptionally well in low-light conditions. The key factor will likely be personal preference, as well as whether owning the current MoD-issued watch is important to you.