SMITHS W10 (Review): The Quintessential Field Watch

roadwarrior

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Aug 26, 2020

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IDGuy

A Discussion and Review of the Smiths Military PRS-29A / W10 & Questioning why Field Watches should be more appreciated by the broader community. A watch that serves as an excellent first watch to get someone involved with the hobby. The video focuses on Design Inspirations, looks into the Official MOD (Ministry of Defence) contract set for the W10 in 1966 / 67 and refers to how the watch has impacted my thinking when looking at a piece designed for utility with elegance in its DNA.

All Images are Sourced from either Press Release Photos or Public Listings.
Below are a list of the common sources that are used in no particular order:

Bob’s Watches | Revolution Watch | HQ Milton | Hodinkee | Monochrome Watches | Jomashop | Analog Shift | Bulang and Sons | Robb Report | Watchfinder | WatchBox | Phillips Watches | Christies | Timekeepers Club | Fratello Watches | Bexsonn | Worn and Wound | A Collected Man | Oracle Time | Time + Tide Watches


https://wornandwound.com/time-spec-smiths-w10/

Powering the W10 is the cal. 60466E, a 17-jewel manual movement produced in-house by Smiths. The plates and bridges feature frosted gilding, a type of decoration commonly found across English watchmaking. The 60466E was heavily influenced by the architecture of the Jaeger LeCoultre caliber found in the Mark XI dating back to the late ‘40s, likewise sharing a dust cover to protect the caliber from magnetization. Per military specifications, the movement hacks.

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PRS-29 Link

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Although only issued for 4 years between 1967 and 1970, the Smiths is probably the best known of all British military watches and until quite recently, one of the more affordable for collectors.

This reintroduction is a completely new watch, built from scratch and incorporating improvements over the original. It is available only in 36mm diameter, now having a hi-dome sapphire crystal and drilled lugs with shoulderless springbars to allow a greater choice of straps to be fitted. Both versions have a soft iron dial and anti-magnetic cage, giving an anti-magnetic rating of 20,000 A/m (251 Oe). Both the black dial and white dial (Air Ministry) versions have also been allocated a NATO Stock Number (NSN).

Supplied in a 2- watch travelling case with 24 months guarantee.
SMITHS Military PRS-29

  • 316L stainless steel, brushed finish
  • Diameter 36mm
  • Lug to lug height 46.8mm
  • Thickness 11.1mm to top of the crystal
  • Lug spacing 18mm
  • Anti-magnetic 20000 A/m
  • WR 10ATM/100 metres/330 feet
  • 51 grammes (head only)
  • Full anti-magnetic cage, screw back, shoulderless springbars with drilled lugs
  • Semi-matte black, white printed numbers
  • Hour markers Super Luminova C3
  • Polished steel frame, luminous fill
  • Luminous: SuperLuminova C3
  • Sapphire box crystal, 31.5mm diameter x 1.5mm thick x 3.6mm high with A/R coating on the underside
  • ETA2801-2, 17 jewels, Incabloc, hacking seconds and hand-winding
  • Fitted with grey NATO strap
CASE
DIAL
HANDS
CRYSTAL
MOVEMENT
STRAP
SPECIFICATIONS
SMITHS Military 36mm PRS29-A
SMITHS Military 36mm PRS29-AM

  • 316L stainless steel, brushed finish
  • Diameter 36mm
  • Lug to lug height 46.8mm
  • Thickness 11.1mm to top of the crystal
  • Lug spacing 18mm
  • Anti-magnetic 20000 A/m
  • WR 10ATM/100 metres/330 feet
  • 51 grammes (head only)
  • Full anti-magnetic cage, screw back, shoulderless springbars with drilled lugs
  • Semi-matte vintage white, black printed numbers
  • Heat-blued steel
  • Sapphire box crystal, 31.5mm diameter x 1.5mm thick x 3.6mm high with A/R coating on the underside
  • ETA2801-2, 17 jewels, Incabloc, hacking seconds and hand-winding
  • Fitted with black NATO strap
CASE
DIAL
HANDS
CRYSTAL
MOVEMENT
STRAP
NATO STOCK No.
NATO STOCK No.

  • 6645-99-515-2365
  • 6645-99-515-2365
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TIME FACTORS makes nice homages top/ strong specs

you have to thread the eye of the needle to get 1...

-they seem worth having...haven't worked myself up sufficiently to time the opening...more lazy than crazy
 
I mentioned to my watch manufacturer that I want to make a Silver Jubilee edition of the Everest with aventurine dial to mark 25 years of selling watches on the internet (1996-2021). I think the jubilee part confused him
😉
What do you think?

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wow...SMITHS homage military ...high quality...going to AVENTURINE aka VENETIAN GLASS...STARRY STARRY NIGHT... DRESS MIL

i like it... will take E.T. VENETIAN GLASS DIALS more seriously... like a guy that only did missionary becoming enlightened by KAMA SUTRA ... gotta " open " my mind to the galaxy of the horo possible
 
i like smith's homage...nothing to do with SMITH'S that ceased production 1979

but not sure I like a military field watch with aventurine glass jmho
 
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