| A Brief History of Military Watches | | | | military budgets and military technology boomed. In the |
| Military watches, as their name suggests, were | | | | era of nuclear bombs the airplane ascended to its |
| developed for use in the armed forces. The first | | | | most powerful military and political role in history. |
| military watches were naval pieces, chronometers that | | | | Watchmakers rose to the call by designing an |
| worked well for their purposes, but as other branches | | | | instrument worthy of going into battle with humankind's |
| of the military - aviation in particular - made major | | | | most powerful weapon. Those were the Glory Days |
| technological advances around the time of the Second | | | | of the military watch, although no one design house |
| World War, precise seconds became critical. As the | | | | can claim full credit for the strides made in the industry |
| saying goes, "necessity is the mother of invention," and | | | | during that time. |
| Navigator (also known as "Pilot") watches were born. | | | | Cold War-era military watches were much larger in |
| In Navigator watch design, the seconds bezel allowed | | | | size than the average American navigators before |
| the pilot to synchronize the seconds hand with correct | | | | them. Averaging 36mm in diameter, the crafting of |
| reference time before takeoff, and to make manual | | | | these timepieces was moved to Switzerland and |
| corrections to radio time signals while in flight, thus | | | | Swiss military watch companies with centuries' old |
| eliminating any "chronometer error" and the navigational | | | | reputations for precision. Like those before them, these |
| errors that could result. | | | | Navigators also featured a matte black dial marked |
| Great War, Great Technological Advances | | | | with white Arabic numerals 1-12, and with white indices. |
| Seconds continued to be of the essence in both | | | | The new designs did not have white numerals at |
| military technology and military watches. | | | | cardinal 3, 6, 9, and 12. Another new addition was a |
| "Center-seconds" hands, (also called a "hack seconds | | | | shatterproof Perspex acrylic crystal, which protected |
| feature") - the feature that allowed for synchronization | | | | its large 12 ligne movement from magnetic fields. |
| between two timepieces - continued to improve and | | | | These hand-wound watches were expected to be |
| advance. | | | | water-resistant to 20 feet, including water-resistance |
| The definitive Navigator "hack" watches feature a | | | | under low-pressure at operational altitudes. |
| black dial and white Arabic numerals and indices, hour, | | | | Own A Piece of History - At A Reasonable Price |
| minute, and center-seconds hands. Sizing is all over the | | | | While several of the top-tier watchmakers are reviving |
| board; historically, such notable companies as Elgin, | | | | this classic style, vintage quality does not have to |
| Waltham, and Bulova Watches crafted watches (for | | | | break the bank. Seiko watches established a |
| the renamed Army Air Force in 1941), as small as | | | | reputation for the brand, recognized by watch |
| 31mm in diameter. The German army tended toward | | | | collectors. You can buy watches from Seiko for |
| larger faces, often in the 55mm range. These watches | | | | reasonable prices, classic Navigator-style watches can |
| were worn on the outside of a flight jacket or on the | | | | be enjoyed by all. |
| navigator's thigh. The Germans also added | | | | This Article is Originally Published here: Military Watches |
| antimagnetic protection to their chronometers. | | | | Learn More: |
| Within another major Axis power, Seiko produced a | | | | When you buy watches online, be sure to check size, |
| staggering number of military watches for the | | | | warranty information, shipping guarantee and their |
| Japanese Imperial Army and Navy. These watches | | | | return policy. Kenmar Watches has been selling |
| averaged around 49mm in diameter. | | | | watches on the internet since 1997. They have been |
| Navigating The Cold War | | | | providing 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION from |
| As the days of WWII faded into memory and the | | | | beginning. |
| strained peace of the "Cold War" became reality, | | | | |