Record W.W.W. “Dirty Dozen” British Military Watch – Mismatched Case Numbers – Caliber 022K

Specifications

• Brand: Record
• Model: W.W.W. (“Watch, Wristlet, Waterproof”) – British Military Issue, part of the “Dirty Dozen”
• Case size: 36mm (excluding crown)
• Case material: Stainless steel case back; chrome-plated brass mid-case
• Movement: Record Caliber 022K, 15 jewels, hand-wound

Condition
The watch winds and runs but has not been tested for timekeeping accuracy. Given its age, a full service is recommended before regular use. The watch comes as found, with no restoration carried out.

The case back is stainless steel, while the mid-case — in keeping with original Record construction — was chrome-plated brass rather than solid steel. On this example, plating loss has revealed the brass beneath, which is consistent with the known original manufacturing of Record cases rather than a later replacement or repair.

The serial numbers on the case back and mid-case do not match. Mismatched serials are commonly found on Dirty Dozen watches, including Record examples, as cases were frequently serviced and parts interchanged by military repairers during and after WWII. A mismatch does not necessarily indicate the watch is incorrect or incomplete — it is a well-documented characteristic of watches that saw genuine wartime and post-war service use.

History
During the Second World War, the British Ministry of Defence commissioned twelve Swiss watch manufacturers to produce a standardised military wristwatch to the “W.W.W.” specification — Watch, Wristlet, Waterproof. These twelve companies, including Record, later became known to collectors as the “Dirty Dozen,” a name borrowed from the 1967 war film. Record was one of the largest contributors to the programme, producing approximately 25,000 examples — placing it joint-top alongside Omega for the highest production volume of the group. Each watch was built for durability and legibility in combat conditions, featuring a black dial with luminous Arabic numerals, a broad arrow military ownership mark, and a small seconds sub-dial.