This MWC watch is a modern recreation of the original Vietnam War design from the 1960s, now featuring a high-performance hybrid movement, glass crystal, screw caseback, and 100m water resistance. The hybrid movement combines the best of traditional and contemporary watchmaking, featuring a battery-powered mechanism with a quartz oscillator and mechanically actuated hands. This allows the watch to retain the classic sweep second hand of automatic watches while offering the low-maintenance benefits of quartz.
The watch maintains its classic 1960s appearance but incorporates key updates for modern use, including improved water resistance from 30m to 100m and a screw-down crown and caseback. This model is part of a family of watches that includes the A-11, based on the WW2 USAAF pilot's watch, and the A-17, based on the Korean War issue model.
Originally, these watches used plexiglass, which did not meet modern standards for water or scratch resistance. The updated version features a special curved glass crystal that mimics the original's look while providing enhanced durability. This makes the watch suitable for swimming and other water activities, while still retaining its historical retro appearance.
The watch has a heavy stainless steel satin finish case made from Military Grade 316L stainless steel, a sweep second hand, hacking function, black dial, and Luminova markings and hands for excellent night-time performance.
The A-11, A-17, and GG-W-113 watches were recreated following a request from a US veterans association in January 2009. They wanted a GG-W-113 watch identical in appearance to the original models made by Hamilton, Bulova, and Benrus during the Vietnam War. After examining original samples and specifications, MWC produced a watch very close to the original, using a high-grade fully jeweled hand-wound movement. This led to the recreation of the A-11 and eventually the development of the new 100m series in 2019, which combines traditional appearance with modern performance standards.
Specifications:
Width Including Crown: 40mm
Width Excluding Crown: 38mm
Crystal: Hardened Glass
Thickness: 11.5mm
Weight: 52g
Lug Size: 20mm
Lug to Lug: 45mm
Water Resistance: 100m
Caseback and Crown: Screw-down
Movement: Hybrid Mechanical/Quartz with "Hack System"
