The A-11 Medal of Honor Edition
At the Medal of Honor Ceremony in Dallas, Praesidus unveiled its first hand-painted dials; five one-of-a-kind watches created by British artist Matt Anderson. These pieces are not for sale.
They’ve been donated to the Medal of Honor Museum as a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and wisdom behind the Medal itself.
This marks the beginning of a new chapter: where American military heritage meets handcrafted art,
and every dial tells a story worth preserving.
Limited Edition : A Tribute to Tom Rice
To mark the 5th anniversary of Praesidus, we return to the story that started it all; Tom Rice’s jump into Normandy on June 6, 1944.
A paratrooper of the 101st Airborne, Tom lost his original A-11 watch during the D-Day drop. That moment inspired our very first timepiece in 2019, now known as The Lost Watch of D-Day.
This new edition honors that legacy through hand-painted artistry.
Limited to just 120 numbered pieces, 60 in 38mm and 60 in 42mm, each watch captures the chaos and courage of that night, built as a tribute
to the man who helped shape our mission from the beginning.
THE A-11 TOM RICE
The A-11 Spec was originally released in 1942 by the US Army and set the standard for field watches up until today.
The design specified for a black dial with white indexes to promote absolute legibility in all conditions. The US Army contracted three manufacturers: Elgin, Bulova & Waltham - however, from our work with Tom Rice, we identified that he originally wore the US Navy Spec: FSSC 88-W-800 built by Hamilton originally during his D-Day Jump. This spec had a single added requirement of a radium luminous dial for peak night-time legibility and featured a different dial design than “standard” A-11s. The A-11 Spec is a brilliant example of US ingenuity & industrial prowess with tens of thousand produced from 1942 to 1945.
Matt Anderson
Turning Field Watches
into Living Canvases
About the Artist
Matt Anderson is a self-taught British artist working under the studio name Resurfaced.
A lifelong vintage-watch collector, Matt explores the intersection of time, cultural history, and miniature art, transforming field watches into wearable canvases that connect past and future.
The Art Within the Function
Painting under magnification, he uses traditional techniques; layering pigment, texture, and symbolism to restore meaning to objects shaped by time and use. His pieces often begin as antique or military watches, reborn through the fusion of art and mechanical craft. “Each watch I paint carries two histories, its past life as a timekeeper, and its new life as a piece of art. My goal is for the art to live within the function, not to dominate it, but to complete it.” — Matt Anderson
A Dial Devoted to Courage
“This dial is a tribute to the values embodied by the Medal of Honor.
It features Minerva, symbol of wisdom and protection, accompanied by the bald eagle, America’s emblem of vigilance and strength.
The blue tunic of the goddess mirrors the Medal’s ribbon, while the oak wreath beside her represents those who have saved the lives of others.
The composition draws from classical art, celebrating heroism through calm strength rather than aggression.
Painted entirely by hand on a Praesidus field watch, it is designed to remain functional and legible, blending with the dial rather than overpowering it.”
— Matt Anderson, 2025
A-11 TOM RICE
SPECIFICATIONS
Case:
38mm & 42mm, Stainless Steel, 10 ATM Water Resistance
Hands:
Super Luminova
Index:
A-11 Spec Index with Superluminova
Glass:
Double Domed Sapphire Glass with Anti-Reflective Coating
Movement:
Miyota Automatic 9039 (40h power reserve)
Straps:
Green Canvas
US ASSEMBLY
As is standard for Praesidus -
the A-11 Tom Rice is assembled & quality controlled in the USA at our workshop. Just like the original A-11 Spec watches were.
A Collector’s Tribute
to American Heroism
The five unique hand-painted pieces created for this launch will remain on permanent display at the Medal of Honor Museum in Dallas, as part of Praesidus’ ongoing tribute to American heroism.
The Tom Rice Hand-Painted Edition (120 pieces) will be available exclusively on Praesidus.com following the event. Each collector’s set includes:
A hand-signed certificate of authenticity (by Matt Anderson & Praesidus) A numbered caseback engraved with Tom Rice’s insignia
A special edition presentation box with commemorative plaque
The Next Chapter
Your Own Hand-Painted Watch
This first series marks only the beginning. Following the Tom Rice Tribute Edition, Praesidus will open the Hand-Painted Dial Program, allowing collectors to commission their own custom piece through our Concierge Service on our inquiry form. Each future owner will be able to select their Praesidus model, starting with the Type 44, and create a one-of-a-kind dial that reflects their story, service, or heritage.
This bespoke experience will be limited to a few commissions per year, continuing the same philosophy: human craftsmanship serving human stories.
Coming soon, a new way to carry your own legacy on your wrist.
Copyright © 2024 Praesidus.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2024 Praesidus.
All Rights Reserved