Grana WWW

As you know, I have restarted my vintage military watch collections and I have slowly built up a small collection of 5 WWW watches. The Grana WWW is the rarest of the twelve watch manufacturers who produced W.W.W. watches for the British military during World War II, known collectively as 'The Dirty Dozen'. Out of the 145,000 W.W.Ws produced, it is estimated that only 1000 - 1,500 were from Grana, making it exceptionally sought after, especially for collectors seeking to own all twelve W.W.Ws. 

I am lucky to be able to find a WWW Grana in good condition. This Grana W.W.W. is from circa 1945 and retains all of its military case-back engravings. The dial features the British military broad arrow, as well a Arabic numerals, a painted minute track and applied Radium index markers. The luminescent material on the hands has aged to a dark brown patina as have the index markers.

The watch is housed in a 36mm stainless steel case with fixed lugs and it has anti-magnetic hands, with an anti-magnetic cage protecting the manual-winding Cal. KF320 movement. The W.W.W. watches were renowned for their timekeeping accuracy, regulated to a chronometer level as this was a fundamental specification required by the British Armed Forces.

The attrativelness of this timepiece is largely underpinned by its exceptional rarity. With sports and military watches very much in demand today, due to its casual and utilitarian feel, this particular piece certainly fits the bill, especially with its wearable 36mm case and with both dial and case in exceptional condition. After finding the Grana WWW, perhaps my collection of the Dirty Dozen can be completed in the foreseeable future. Life is good!