This one is sly, and that’s why I love it. It’s a Breitling that doesn’t scream Breitling. In fact, it doesn’t even say Breitling anywhere on the outside of the watch; the only hit to the watch’s maker is the script “B” on the crown. These mono-pusher chronographs were issued to Royal Canadian Air Force pilots throughout the 1960s, along with watches from Omega, Wittnauer, and Rodania. They all feature white or off-white dials, single-button chronographs, and most, like this one, are unsigned on the dial. The CWC G10 is a classic, first issued in 1980 and still available, solid and robustly built they have gone through a variety of different case designs as the quartz movement technology evolved. The first pattern ar very collectable and known as the "fat boy" due to the chunky case. CWC G10 “fatboy” (left), the first ever Quartz watch issued to the British military, and reverse of 1982 issue G10 “fatboy” (right). 1980 was the last year that the non-circled CWC logo was used. Reflecting again on the “fantasy” element of military watch collecting, the 1982 “fatboys” tend to sell for a higher price as this was the year of the Falklands War, Britains last colonial war. Pulsar “Gen 1” RAF issue chronograph watch. Unusually for a chronograph the central seconds hand is not a chrono hand but the continuous seconds hand.

This attractive military-style model would be my first choice for a Pulsar solar watch. It's similar to the G10 model that Pulsar supplied to the British army. It's also very affordable. What I find particularly appealing about the Precista is the fact it closely resembles one of the early G10 watches whilst having the benefits of modern usability. Although it's a little bigger than my confort area at 40mm, the watch wears great due to the lugs being curved down. Speaking of lugs, you gotta love the attention to detail: you have drilled lugs to easibly change straps. The company went on to release a calculator watch in the mid-1970s. They were then acquired by Japanese giants Seiko a few years later. Reverse of the three generations of CWC G10. From left to right; 1982 British Army issue (W10) “fatboy”; 1985 Royal Navy issue (0552) “medium fatboy”; 1995 Royal Marines issues (0555) the final G10 variant.

More About British Army G10 Military Watches

Another high-quality option if you are looking for a G10 pattern watch is the Precista PRS10 this is another watch very much in the same type of design as some of the CWC and MWC watches. I particularly like this watch personally because the crystal whilst Sapphire that would be looks visually very close to the old original plexiglass G10 watches. The watch pictured above is by far the closest marathon watch to what we would classify as a G10, the water resistance rating is however significantly less than the other watches shown here at 50 m it also uses a 16 mm strap which seems rather unusual because most at least 18mm and more commonly now 20 mm the watch is available in both automatic and quartz the quartz model can be seen here https://www.marathonwatch.com/collections/general-purpose-quartz-watches/products/stainless-general-purpose-quartz-gpq-us-markings Perhaps PXH35 has a stronger touch feeling than G10. However, G10 has more presence at the wrist, thanks to the 20mm width strap and cleaner face.

Finaly, I'm surprised that the PXH35, according to their loyalty to the military standards, cool look, price and quality has not become yet into a more desired object. Over the past 100+ years, wrist chronographs have been staples of military kit, being issued to armed forces all over the world. You could easily fill a book with all the various pieces that exist (and people have), but today we’ll just take a look at a handful of lesser-known examples from throughout the past century. 1930s: Hanhart Calibre 40The Nite MX-10 isn't really what would be classified as a standard G10 pattern watch but it is a contender and is targeted at the same type of military, law enforcement or government procurement buyers. We have included it because it's a nice watch generally and gives someone an alternative to the standard G10 models. This watch like some MWC G10's uses tritium GTLS light sources for first-rate nighttime performance, all the leading manufacturers of military watches with GTLS tritium tubes namely Marathon, Nite and MWC would all be buying the tubes from the same Swiss manufacturer because there are no other high-quality sources of supply hence performance would be the same between all three brands. The Pulsar brand name was originally used by Hamilton when it announced the release of an LED watch. Their first Pulsar model was released in the early 1970s. The first commercially available quartz watch released to the public was the Seiko Astron in 1969, so why did it take so long for this technically superior movement to make its way to the military? Currently the Royal Navy issue divers watch is the Citizen Divers Watch BN0000-04H NSN: 6645-99-852-5953, these were supplied to the Ministry of defence by Northern Diver International Ltd. The watch has a solid one-piece case with screwdown crown, they are a low maintenance watch with an Eco-Drive movement. In the first column the document from 2016 confirms that 316 had been issued so considering it's over fairly long period of time once again quite a small number.

So what we have here is a tool watch. Or a field watch if you'd prefer. Either way, it's a practical piece that is designed to be legible and durable. The Solar movement enhances that durability.

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was a significant year for British military watches. For the first time in a quarter of a millennium, a British military issued watch was not powered by a mechanical wind up movement, but an entirely new electronic movement commonly known as Quartz. The specifications for this new type of British military watch were laid out in a Ministry of Defence document published in this year, called “Defence Standard 66-4”, the front cover of which is shown below. With regard to the surplus watches specifically described as “in need of attention” we would not recommend that customers buy them unless they have basic horological skills or access to a friendly watchmaker who will carry out the work needed. As with most field watches, it's mid-sized and uncomplicated. In keeping with the military aesthetic, the top of the case is brushed to give an understated look.