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Thread: Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.

  1. #21
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    Issue 14 - 1960s Israeli Naval Commando

    The watch depicted in issue 14 is a representation of an Eterna KonTiki Super watch, it was a preferred watch of The Israeli Navy Special Forces Unit, Shayatet 13. Members of this elite unit go through a two year programme that produces a highly trained soldier capable of operations on land, air and sea, both surface and underwater.



    Case
    Polished 43mm case, 45mm with crown, 52.8mm lug to lug, 10mm deep, 38.2mm interior aperture.
    The back case description is incorrectly spelled as "Commander" not "Commando". 33.7mm flat glass.
    Non rotating bezel, black inlay with silver coloured marks and Roman numerals at 10 minute intervals.
    Dial
    Black 34.5mm dial with white minute markers on the outside ring and green triangular hour marks on the inside ring.
    Chrome green filled hands. Triangular tips, plain chrome seconds hand
    Lume on minute and hour hands only.
    Strap
    20mm Sand coloured, nylon strap, white stitching, polished Buckle, aprox 180-225mm fitting.




    Note:
    Some owners have noted a brown discolouration on the case, left after removing the 'pull' sticker from the watch. I found mine also had the mark, this was easily removed in a few seconds using a specialist stainless steel polishing cloth. However the discolouration worsened over time, I would advise reporting any such tarnishing to Eaglemoss as soon as possible.

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  3. #22
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    Special edition 2 1970s Australian Naval Diver

    The second Special edition watch is an impressive looking piece, and has a functional bezel and date window. So far I have been unable to identify what Eaglemoss based it on, although it is reminiscent of the Certina DS-3 super PH1000M, or perhaps an early model Aquadive watch.




    Brushed 45.2mm case, 48.2mm with crown, 48.1mm lug to lug, 17mm deep (total).
    Inner press fitted polished case liner, 2mm standoff between main body and bezel.
    Deep face, 6mm from glass to face, 32mm face aperture, + 6mm face to back
    36.6mm movement aperture,
    Plated, unidirectional rotating bezel 42mm, 4mm grooved edge, 60 click. 3mm black inlay with silver coloured minute scale, roman numerals at 5 minute intervals
    33mm flat glass, Steel back stamped with description of the watch.
    Dial
    Black dial with white minute/seconds markers on the outside ring. Green printed rectangle hour marks.
    Movement is a miyota 2115. Hacking movement, with functional date window at 3o’clock position. Black Numerals on white background.
    Chromed hands with Green lume. Hours hand is sword blade shaped and the minutes hand straight with triangular tip. Seconds hand chromed with circular lume pip.
    Strap
    22mm Folded Steel bracelet, central narrow links polished, outer links brushed, narrows slightly to a 20mm 'button release' deployment clasp, 6 removable links, fit aprox 175-220mm, each link aprox 6.5mm + 5.5mm in clasp



    With quite an impressive case I found the dial itself to be quite a disappointment, the hands are a little short for the dial, the dial is very flat, the earlier SBS, french and German Commando watches had embossing.
    Bracelet finish is quite loose, and poorly folded, especially the removable links, with hard edges it can feel a little ’sharp'. It also rattles quite a lot.
    For anybody wanting to swap onto another strap there is less than 0.5mm gap between the case and spring bar, reducing options considerably. I did get one NATO on but it took quite a while and did put a lot of load on the spring bars.

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  5. #23
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    Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.

    Issue 15 - 1950s British Air Force

    In 1953 Omega supplied a batch of Chronometer certified antimagnetic watches with radium painted dials, to the British RAF.
    Known to collectors as the Omega '53, the watch had a limited production run and was recalled to have tritium dials retrofitted.
    Original Omega 53s are rare, and the few remaining Radium dialled examples are even more expensive.




    Case
    Polished 36mm case, 38mm with crown, 42.7mm lug to lug, 9.4mm deep.
    Case back engraved with description of the watch. 29.5mm flat glass.
    Dial
    30.5mm Black dial with white minute marker scale with pale green markers at 5 minute intervals, White Arabic hour numerals
    Chrome, green filled, straight hours and minutes hands. Slim straight chrome seconds hand.Lume on minute and hour hands only.
    Strap
    18mm black canvas effect strap with PU backing, narrows to polished 16 mm buckle, aprox 175-220mm fitting



    The British pilots watches a have featured a few times in the collection.

    Although based on watches from different Swiss manufacturers, these three were all produced to a specification laid down by the British military and look very similar.

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  7. #24
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    Issue 16 - 1950s Russian Airman

    This watch is based one that was issued to all graduates of the Orenburg pilots school. The First Moscow Watch Factory "Sturmanskie" (navigator).
    Manufacture of this early Centre Seconds watch was made possible after the purchase of automated equipment from the French watchmaker, LIP.
    Famously this watch was worn by the first man in space, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.



    Case
    Brushed SS 33mm case, 35.3mm with crown, 42mm lug to lug, 8.3mm deep.
    Case back engraved with description of the watch. 29.2mm flat glass.
    NB: The inscription on the Case back reads "1950s Russian Astronaut" not more correctly 'Airman', or even 'Cosmonaut'.
    Of course Russia didn't have astronauts at all, The USA had the 'Astronauts'.
    It is this continued poor attention to detail that detracts from the collection.
    Dial
    Cream coloured dial black minute scale around outer ring. Arabic hour numerals, off white with black border.
    'Moderne' style hours and minutes hands, gloss black border with green infill. Slim straight gloss red seconds hand.
    Lume on minute and hour hands only.
    Strap
    16mm brown leather strap, narrows to 14mm Brushed Buckle, aprox 170-215mm fitting.



    I often feel that the dials can be a little bland, a small 'Eaglemoss' logo would enhance many of the dials greatly.
    Although logos are generally copyright Eaglemoss have copied logos before, the tank on the issue 4 as an example.
    On this watch something similar to the stylised star and wings, like the one on this replica 40th anniversary Sturmanskie, would have been very nice in my opinion.

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  9. #25
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    Issue 17 - 1940s French Navy

    During the years after WW2 the French Navy began a period of rebuilding, there was large scale investment in high quality ancillary equipment, including wristwatches.
    Senior ranks and personnel who's role required accurate timekeeping were supplied with the official 'Marine Nationale' watch, procured from Longines.




    Case
    Brushed SS 33mm case, 35.4mm with crown, 40.5mm lug to lug, 8.4mm deep.
    Case back engraved with description of the watch. 29.8mm flat glass.
    Dial
    White dial face black minute scale around outer ring, each fifth minute marked with small arabic numerals in black, hour numerals marked in pale green with black border.
    Sword style hours and minutes hands, gloss black border with green infill. Slim straight gloss black seconds hand. Lume on minute and hour hands only.
    Strap
    18mm black coloured, quality nylon strap, brushed Buckle, aprox 170-215mm fitting



    The strap is a far better quality than the usual MWC woven bands.
    In the picture below, the usual standard MWC band at the bottom has a loose weave, the French Navy band in the middle has a much tighter, weave similar in quality to the ZULU band at the top.

    Here is a size comparison with the issue 11 French foreign legion and the issue 16 Russian airman.

    The issue 16 and17 cases are very similar, perhaps to reflect the use of French machinery used at the First Moscow Watch Factory in this period.

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  11. #26
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    Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.

    Issue 18 - 1950s Egyptian Naval Commando

    During the mid 1950s Egypt ordered a special version of the Panerai Radiomir for their commando troops, designed for extreme underwater conditions the "Egiziano" had a monster 60mm riveted case, and the signature Panerai Crown guard.
    Sadly the Eaglemoss version is a poor representation of this iconic watch.



    Case
    Polished (possibly chromed) 47.2mm case, 49.7mm with crown, 52.1mm lug to lug, 9.3mm deep. Bezel has moulded fake rivets at hour intervals. 6mm dia grooved crown
    Case back engraved with description of the watch (misspelled as 'commander'). 35.2mm flat glass.
    Dial
    Black dial with green hour marks, Roman numerals at 3-6-9-12, no minute scale.
    Straight style hours and minutes hands with triangle tips, and green infill.
    Slim straight seconds hand.
    Lume on minute and hour hands only.
    Strap
    22mm mid brown coloured. nylon strap, polished Buckle, aprox 190-225mm fitting.
    Epson AL55a movement

    NB: If you do dismantle this watch please be aware that the dial is only 36.5mm across inside of a 41.6mm aperture.
    As you can see the dial appears to have adhered to the case rim and during dismantling the dial paint has peeled off, fellow forum members have also seen this effect to a greater degree, which has permanently damaged the dial.


    Here is a comparison with issue 5 Italian navy watch.


    The brown strap does the watch no favours, a quick change helps.

    Original 2/56 Egizianos are extremely rare, probably only 50 existed. Panerai have since released a run of 500 reproductions, the PAM00341.
    Customers include Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, you need a big wrist to carry a 60mm watch when you aren't wearing full scuba gear.
    The 341 is easy to spot as it has grooves around the bezel. Panerai are very protective of their designs, which maybe why the MWC version sadly doesn't look like this.

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  13. #27
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    Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.

    Issue 19 - 1970s US Navy Diver

    Issue 19 is based on the Benrus type1, standard issue for US Navy SEAL teams during the Vietnam war. Simple and reliable with Swiss ETA Movements they are virtually impossible to find on the collectors market, good quality replicas command four figure price tags. They were found to be expensive to produce and went out of use in favour of off the shelf alternatives.



    Case
    Polished (possibly chromed) 45mm asymmetric case, 46.mm including the partly recessed crown, 51.1mm lug to lug, 9.6mm deep. 38.3mm interior aperture.
    Non rotating 42.2 bezel has a black insert with silver coloured Roman numerals at hour intervals. 5mm dia grooved crown.
    Case back engraved with description of the watch. 31.2mm flat glass.
    Dial
    Black 32.5mm dial with embossed, luminous green hour marks with polished silver coloured borders. Triangle marker at 12, rectangular at 3-6-9, circles at other hour marks, white printed minute scale at outer edge.
    Pencil style hours and minutes hands with triangle tips, and luminous green infill.
    Slim straight seconds hand with luminous green arrow tip.
    Epson AL55a movement.
    Strap
    20mm black nylon strap with pvc bar loops (weak point?), polished Buckle, aprox 170-215mm fitting



    This is quite a good replica apart from the case, the original had a "parkerised" sandblasted finish to prevent reflections giving away the wearers location while on operations. The EM version is polished.
    Note that the case will only allow straight end links, like on this mesh bracelet.

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  15. #28
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    Issue 20 - 1960 Brazilian Soldier.

    Our first Dress watch, and it's Gold too!
    Hardly a Military watch but according to the magazine a similar watches were presented as gifts to Officers in the Brazilian Army.
    This wasn't a watch for the troops, original swiss made versions would have been embossed with the head of Helvetia on the case back, and been made of 18-carat gold.


    Case
    Polished gold coloured plated 34.2mm case, 37.4mm including the crown, 40.mm lug to lug, 8mm deep. 30.2mm interior aperture.
    4.5mm dia gold coloured grooved crown.
    Case back engraved with "1960s Brazil Army". 29.4mm flat glass.
    Dial
    30mm Matt finish white dial with applied gold colour hour markers. Odd numbers are indicated by slim rhombus shapes, even numbers by Roman numerals, gold colour printed minute scale at outer edge.
    Slim tapered style hours and minutes hands with Slim straight seconds hand, polished golden finish.
    Strap
    18mm black padded PU leather (? not marked as leather) mock crocodile pattern strap tapers to 16.5mm polished gold colour Buckle, aprox 170-220mm fitting.
    Epson AL55a movement.


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  17. #29
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    Issue 21 - 1980s French Naval Diver

    The French Navy started to use Tudor brand divers watches for Naval Divers and Marine Commandos in the 1960s.
    Tudor is a more affordable sub brand of Rolex, they use Swiss ETA or Valjoux movements but have similar styling.
    The specification of the watches used changed over time to a Blue Dial/Blue Bezel configuration from the 80s.




    Case
    Polished (possibly chromed) 40mm asymmetric case, 42mm including the recessed guarded crown, 46.6mm lug to lug, 11mm deep. 31.2mm interior aperture.
    Non rotating 39.4mm bezel has a dark metallic blue insert with silver coloured Arabic numerals at 10 minute intervals. 5mm dia grooved crown.
    Case back engraved with description of the watch. 30mm flat glass.
    Dial
    32.5mm dark blue enamel painted dial with green hour marks with white borders. Triangle marker at 12, rectangular at 3-6-9, squares at other hour marks, white printed minute scale at outer edge.
    Sword style hours hand, straight style minutes hand with triangle tip and thin straight seconds hand with a hexagonal shape near the tip. All have luminous green infill.
    Epson AL55a movement.
    Strap
    20mm dark mustard coloured PU backed fabric strap, polished Buckle, aprox 175-215mm fitting.


    Simple steel bracelet

    Of course what we have here is a very similar watch to the issue 3 British SBS watch, which represents a'Rolex MilSub'. Side by side, you get a polished case rather than brushed, but the dial is printed rather than embossed. The Sand PU/canvas strap on the 'Tudor' version feels to be much better quality than the Blue Nylon.

    Quite a large proportion of the collection so far have been 'Diver' style watches. Here are 8, including the Special edition.

  18. #30
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    Eaglemoss Military Watches Collection.

    Special edition 3 1990s USA NASA Astronaut.

    All American Apollo astronauts were issued with Omega Speedmaster Professionals.
    They were worn by Edward H. White on the first spacewalk and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. The regular strap was changed to a long Velcro strap so it could be worn over the Space Suits.
    'Flown' Speedmasters have real historic interest and many are on display, however Buzz Aldrin's "Moon" watch went missing on route to be displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space museum.



    Case
    Polished 42mm case, 44.7mm with crown, 48.6mm lug to lug, 11.8mm deep.

    33.5mm flat glass, Steel back stamped with description of the watch.
    6mm grooved crown. 5mm smooth pushers.

    Bezel is inlaid black with silver coloured 'tachymetre' scale.
    Dial
    Black dial with white minute/seconds markers on the outside ring. Green printed rectangle hour marks.
    Three sub dials show, at 3, 24hour dial. At 6, chronograph seconds, and chronograph minutes at 9. All are marked with white on a black background, and have a concentric ring texture finish.
    Chromed hands with Green lume. Hours and minutes hand straight with triangular tip. Seconds hand chromed with arrow lume pip. Sub dial hands are simple chrome.
    Chronograph function
    One second chronograph. Pusher at 2 starts and stops chronograph. Pusher at 4 pauses, resumes and resets after stop.
    Date window at 4:30 position. Black Numerals on white background.
    Movement is a Sunon PE90, Hacking movement.
    Strap
    20mm Black textured leatherette strap, not leather, 'antiqued textured finish. Narrows to 18mm polished buckle, 185mm - 230mm fitting.

    Comes in a metal tin instead of the usual cardboard.

    At first glance this looks to be a nice addition to the collection, however under examination the functionality of the watch lets it down.
    Having the chronograph seconds on the sub dial and the main seconds run on the centre hand is a 'second best' option. Also centre seconds chronograph usually run at better than 1 seconds.
    The Tachymetre is practically impossible to use as the centre seconds hand is not controlled by the stopwatch pushers.
    Normally you would start the Tachymeter at a zero point then after a fixed distance, i.e. 1 mile, or a number of operations, i.e. 10 rotations of a gear, you stop the measurement by stopping the seconds hand, and calculate the number 'per hour' by reading the scale.
    Also the scale on my example is incorrectly marked, the 180 unit point should be adjacent to 20 second point, on mine it is nearer 22 seconds, other values are also incorrect, it would be very inaccurate to use indeed, particularly at high values.
    The chronograph also has no fly back and returns to Zero point by turning quickly running backwards if less than 30 minutes or forwards after 30 minutes, which takes quite some time.
    A couple of strap options, NATO and steel.


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