SKU: ABACH/DUHR2/HW

This classic hand-wound Aeschbach* military watch is inspired by the watches produced for the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Featuring a traditional subsidiary seconds dial, it closely follows the design of the original watches supplied under contract to the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM – German Air Ministry).

Unlike modern military watches, these timepieces were generally issued to aircrew only for the duration of a mission and returned to the unit quartermaster after landing. Today, surviving originals are highly sought after by collectors and often command substantial prices.

This watch is based directly on one of Aeschbach's original wartime designs and is outwardly almost indistinguishable from the watches manufactured by the company during WWII. It retains the authentic acrylic crystal and classic proportions of the original while incorporating discreet improvements for modern everyday wear. The original 15-jewel movement has been upgraded to a reliable 17-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement with hacking seconds, providing improved performance without altering the historic appearance.

The case is manufactured from military-grade 316L stainless steel and features a black dial with luminous markings, making it both practical and faithful to the original design.

Specifications

• Case Diameter: 36.5 mm (excluding crown), 39 mm (including crown)
• Lug to Lug: 43 mm
• Thickness: 13.5 mm
• Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
• Caseback: 316L Stainless Steel
• Crown: 316L Stainless Steel
• Water Resistance: 5 ATM (50 metres)
• Movement: 17-Jewel Hand-Wound Mechanical
• Power Reserve: Approximately 36 Hours
• Hacking Seconds: Yes
• Crystal: Acrylic (Plexiglass/Perspex)
• Luminous Material: Super-Luminova
• Lug Width: 18 mm
• Strap: Black Leather
• Serial Number: Individually engraved on the caseback
• Presentation: Supplied in a presentation box
• Guarantee: 24 Months

The History of Aeschbach

Aeschbach was founded in 1923 and became one of the many Swiss and German manufacturers supplying watches to the Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

While Britain is well known for the famous "Dirty Dozen" military watches, Germany employed well over one hundred different manufacturers, making collecting the German equivalents considerably more challenging.

During the war, Aeschbach's factory was located in Pforzheim, one of Germany's principal watchmaking centres. Tragically, the city suffered catastrophic destruction during the Royal Air Force bombing raid of 23 February 1945, when approximately 83% of the town was destroyed and the Aeschbach workshops were completely lost, bringing production to an abrupt end.

Many decades later, while sorting through the belongings of a deceased family member, descendants of the original owners discovered surviving technical drawings, documentation and a number of original watches. This remarkable discovery provided the foundation for reviving the Aeschbach name and reintroducing these historically significant military timepieces.

For further information about the history of Aeschbach watches, please see the link below.

MWC are the official distributors of Aeschbach watches.

Essential Winding Instructions

When fully discharged, the movement requires approximately 30 turns of the crown to achieve a full wind. This is slightly fewer than many traditional hand-wound watches, which often require 40 turns or more.

Once fully wound, the watch offers an average power reserve of approximately 36 hours.

If you wear the watch daily and wind it every morning, a full 30 turns will generally not be necessary. Many owners find that around 25 turns every 24 hours comfortably maintains the power reserve, although individual winding habits naturally vary.

Important

This is a traditional manually wound movement and must not be overwound.

Once resistance increases noticeably, stop winding immediately. Continuing to force the crown beyond this point may damage the mainspring or winding mechanism.

Unlike manually wound watches, automatic movements are designed with slipping clutches and normally cannot be damaged by overwinding.

Europe, UK, and Rest of World

Tracked Mail:

• Europe: €11.75 / £9.99 / US$12.95
• UK: £7.95 / €9.50 / US$10.50
• Rest of World: US$22.75 / €20.50 / £17.50

Express Courier (UPS or FedEx):

• Europe: €23.50 / £19.99 / US$25.95
• UK (UPS/DPD):  £12.95 / €15.25 / US$16.95
• Rest of World: US$45.50 / €41.25 / £34.95

Note: The exact shipping cost may vary slightly depending on the weight and dimensions, but it will only differ by a small amount and will be shown at checkout. The above rates cover approximately 85% of parcels.

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If you are not satisfied with your purchase or it does not meet your requirements, you can return it within 14 days of receipt. The item must be in its original condition and packaging. To return a watch, please notify us using the form at the link below.

Please note that the watch, strap, or other purchased item must be in new and resalable condition. The returns policy will not apply if the item has been worn, the plastic protectors on the dial and/or caseback have been removed, or if there are other signs of usage, such as a worn strap. Essentially, the goods should not have been used beyond what would be expected if you had handled or examined an item in a shop before purchase.

To request a return authorization number, please visit this link.

Read our full returns policy here