A-11 Utah Beach Sand MK2 - Bronze

The Utah Beach A-11 MK2 Bronze was developed as a unique commemorative piece for the 81st Anniversary of D-Day, following overwhelming demand for a reissue of this now-iconic design. The centerpiece of this edition is its case—crafted from solid CuAL8 bronze—marking the first-ever Praesidus watch produced in this metal.

The dial is made using real sand collected from UTAH BEACH, symbolically representing the broader scope of the D-Day operation. Created in partnership with the UTAH BEACH LANDING MUSEUM, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Museum and to Veteran Associations attending the 81st Anniversary ceremony.

The cutout on the upper dial is shaped to mirror the coastline of Normandy, where the five original D-Day landing beaches—UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, and SWORD—were located. Each landing site is marked precisely on the dial, providing a detailed visual tribute to the operation.

For the indexes, we took a creative approach: the top half of the dial is punched through, allowing the sand beneath to shine through and serve as natural markers. On the bottom half, a transparent layer carries printed solid indexes. On the Brown dial variant, these printed indexes contain minimal luminous material, giving the dial a more subdued, period-accurate look.

The caseback features a stylized depiction of one of the most iconic images from D-Day—an homage to the courage and sacrifice shown on June 6th, 1944. Each watch is individually numbered at the bottom of the caseback.