The Service Watch is our everyday A-11: a WWII watch based on the specification developed in 1942 for American soldiers. It is for anyone buying a first WWII-style field watch who wants an automatic movement at $259. Choose a white or black dial on a brown leather strap, or a white or green dial on canvas, in 38mm or 42mm. Read more
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Behind the Service Watch
A WWII watch built on the 1942 A-11 specification
The A-11 specification was written in 1942 to give soldiers a simple, dependable watch. The Service Watch keeps that layout, with luminous indexes for low light, and updates what sits inside. It runs on the TMI NH35 automatic movement, chosen for reliability at an accessible price. Two case sizes, 38mm and 42mm, cover smaller and larger wrists, and a double-domed K1 crystal covers the dial. Every Service Watch is assembled in the USA.
Watches with a leather strap, or canvas
Two references come on brown leather: the white dial and the black dial. Two come on canvas: white and green. Leather suits office and weekend wear. Canvas is lighter and closer to a field look. You can change the strap later from our watch straps collection: check the lug width on the product page first.
For the closest reissue of the wartime A-11, see the A-11 Type 44 watches. For watches made under the official U.S. Army licence, see our U.S. Army watches. The full range is in our military watches collection.
Service Watch questions
What watches did soldiers wear in WW2?
American soldiers and pilots were issued watches built to the A-11 specification, written in 1942. Elgin, Waltham and Bulova made the originals. The Praesidus Service Watch follows the same layout, with a modern NH35 automatic movement.
Is the Service Watch automatic?
Yes. The Service Watch uses the TMI NH35 automatic movement, which winds itself as you wear it. It comes in 38mm or 42mm cases, with a white, black or green dial, and is assembled in the USA.
Which Service Watch comes with a leather strap?
The white dial and the black dial references come on a brown leather strap. The white and green dial references come on canvas. All four are priced at $259 and are offered in 38mm or 42mm.
The A-11 Service Watch
A-11 SPEC - 1942
Originally developed by the US military in 1942, the A-11 Spec was the first military watch designed with a sweep second hand and was groundbreaking at the time. Produced by Elgin, Waltham & Bulova at the time, the A-11 Spec equipped most of the US military throughout WW2 in both the Atlantic & the Pacific theaters. They built a reputation for their dependability & precision as they would be used for critical military planning & operations.
The A-11 Service Watch
Dial
Matte Black with green luminous color big numbers & light brown luminous dots / Matte Ivory cream (off white) with black colored numbers & green luminous dots
