1980 CWC RAF Pilots Chronograph 6BB Valjoux 7733
Ref: 6BB-924-3306

Specification

Points of Mention

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original CWC box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with a 20mm CWC NATO. The watch is from Circa. 1980 and is sold in worn condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-waterproof Warranty.

The Watch

CWC (Cabot Watch Company) was founded by Mr Ray Mellor in 1972, he was formerly the Contracts director of Hamilton Watch. He quickly secured contracts to supply the British MOD and supplied them with many thousands of watches. In 1996 on Ray’s retirement he sold the company to Silvermans Ltd which sold CWC watches to the public, since that time and due to the increased costs of producing watches in Switzerland, the British MOD requirements of buying cheap have meant they have ceased using Silvermans.

Here we have a 1980 CWC RAF Pilots Chronograph 6BB with a 40mm stainless steel asymmetric case, issued to the RAF, three other companies part of the “Fab Four” produced the same spec of the watch between 1970 and 1982, Hamilton, Newmark, and Precista. The 38.5mm brushed stainless steel case curves over your wrist with tapered fixed lugs, on the right side, we have the chronograph pushers and a recessed crown. A stepped bezel holds a domed acrylic crystal above a black dial, an outer minute track with Tritium lume pips and Arabic numerals for the hours. At 12 and 6 the numerals are slightly larger, at 3 o’clock a 30-minute register and at 9 o’clock a 60-second register, the Bi-Compax chronograph is nicely balanced and treated with Tritium luminance. Sword hands coated in the same lume with a chronograph hand complete the dial, in the centre, we have the Broad Arrow (pheon) signifying a British military issue, British government property. Below the CWC at 12 o’clock we have the “T” in a circle which indicates Tritium. On the reverse is a screw-down case back, engraved into the back is the Royal Air force code, Type of watch number, Service number and finally, the Released date. Inside a Manually Wound Valjoux 7733, 17 jewels, 18,000 beats per hour, the watch comes on a 20mm CWC NATO strap.

Personal Note

Over the years interest in Military watches has increased and prices have followed. But, I personally still feel that there is plenty of room for growth and appreciation, especially as more people get into the hobby. If only these watches could talk and tell their story, that is the appeal of vintage, in my opinion, the potential life it lived.