Our D-Day watches commemorate the Normandy landings of June 6, 1944, and each carries material from that story. The A-11 Utah Beach Sand MK2 dial is made with sand collected at Utah Beach. The Neptune 44 case was aged in the sea off Utah Beach. For collectors of WWII history, each D-Day watch starts at $495.

A D-Day watch made with material from Normandy

Two years before the 80th anniversary, Praesidus released an A-11 with a dial made from a Marston Mat found near Utah Beach. For the 80th anniversary, the brand obtained two doors from C-47 Skytrains that had carried airborne troops, including Tom Rice of the 101st Airborne, from England to Normandy on June 6, 1944. The aluminum was cut into dials, keeping the wear the planes collected in service.

The Neptune 44 goes further: each case was submerged off Utah Beach, so no two look the same. A percentage of each Neptune 44 sale goes to the Utah Beach Landing Museum.

Specifications

• A-11 Utah Beach Sand MK2: 38mm stainless steel, 10 ATM, Miyota 9039 automatic, double-domed acrylic crystal, Super-LumiNova sword hands. From $495.
• Neptune 44: 38mm or 42mm, 10 ATM, Miyota 9039 automatic, double-domed sapphire. $550.
• 81st anniversary coin ($50) and commemorative box ($100).

For the A-11 history behind these dials, see our A-11 watches. Pair any of them with a strap from our watch straps collection, or browse the full military watches collection.

FAQ

What is a D-Day watch?

A D-Day watch commemorates the Normandy landings of June 6, 1944. Praesidus D-Day watches use material tied to that day: Utah Beach sand in the dial, aluminum from C-47 Skytrain doors, or cases aged in the sea off Utah Beach.

Is the Utah Beach sand in the dial real?

Yes. The A-11 Utah Beach Sand dial is made from sand collected at Utah Beach, with a color cut inspired by the Normandy coastline. The watch has a 38mm steel case, 10 ATM water resistance and a Miyota 9039 automatic movement.

Where does the C-47 dial come from?

The C-47 D-Day dials are cut from two aluminum doors that came from C-47 Skytrains used on D-Day to carry airborne troops from England to Normandy. The original wear on the metal is kept on each dial.