This collection gathers every Praesidus watch based on a historical service specification, from the 1942 A-11 field watch to the WWII BUSHIPS dive watch and the 1967 GG-W-113. If you are searching for military watches for men, start here: quartz and automatic models, cases from 32mm to 42mm.

What makes a military watch

People searching for military watches usually mean a watch built to the kind of specification once written for service use: a legible dial, luminous hands and indexes, a sturdy case and a strap that is easy to replace. Each line here starts from one documented reference. The A-11 follows the American WWII wristwatch specification. The DD-45 follows the British War Office watches known as the Dirty Dozen. The A-5 UDT revives the USN BUSHIPS design used by Underwater Demolition Teams. The Jungle Field follows the GG-W-113 specification of 1967.

How to choose

• Size: 32mm or 34mm for period proportions (A-11 Type 44, Spec 2, Jungle Field), 38mm for most wrists, 42mm on the Service Watch and Tom Rice.
• Movement: quartz (Ameriquartz 6130, VH31 meca-quartz) for low maintenance, or automatic (NH35, NH36, Miyota 9039) if you want a mechanical watch.
• Story: watches tied to an event or a veteran, such as our D-Day watches or the Dirty Dozen watches.

Start with the A-11 watches for the core design, or see watches made under the official licence on our U.S. Army watches page.

FAQ

What should I look for in a military watch?

Look for a legible dial, luminous hands and indexes, a case size that suits your wrist, and a movement you can live with: quartz for accuracy with little care, automatic for a mechanical watch. A replaceable strap adds years of use.

What are military watches for men based on?

Most follow a written service specification. Praesidus lines follow four: the American A-11 of World War II, the British War Office Dirty Dozen, the USN BUSHIPS dive watch and the 1967 GG-W-113 field watch specification.

What is the difference between a field watch and a military watch?

The terms overlap. A field watch is a simple, legible, durable watch for outdoor use. Many field watches, including every Praesidus line, come from specifications first written for service use, which is why both terms describe them.