CWC SBS Special Boat Services c.1993/1994. Milled Back.

*Before we get stuck into the description, we'd just like to make you aware that the Issue Markings (whatever they were), have been milled out of the Caseback. There is no surefire way to tell you exactly how this Watch started life or who or what/if it was issued to. Waecce has consulted with various experts on CWC Wristwatches and they have given us their opinions on the piece. Obviously anything they have said is an opinion and purely speculation. We wanted to bring this example to offer you, our customers, as at the end of the day it is what it is and that is a fantastic looking Wristwatch with amazing patina, that looks awesome on the Wrist.*

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The SBS diver is possibly the quintessential CWC watch; whilst most other CWC watches and clocks have antecedents in other models, or have been made or supplied by other brands, only CWC has ever produced the black day-date dive watch for the British military.  For this reason, as well as for the link to British Special Forces, issued versions of this watch are highly sought-after by collectors.

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The watch was originally designed to the specifications of the Special Boat Service (SBS) in 1987; it has been suggested that special forces operatives wanted a non-reflective black metal finish for night time operations - possibly inspired by Royal Marines based in Hong Kong who had their issued RN dive watches black-coated locally - and that the day-date function was because they spent considerable amounts of time on mission and found it helpful to keep track of the days.  The NSN 7995443 is specific to this watch.

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The watch was first issued in 1988 with an acrylic bezel insert, similar to the Royal Navy dive watches of the 1980s.  It was next issued in 1992 with a metal bezel insert with wide hash marks (unique to the SBS and RN dive watches of that year), and then in following years with the standard, current metal bezel insert with narrow hash marks.  

 

Known issue years and approximate batch sizes are as follows:

1988 - service code 0552 - approximately 100 watches issued

1992 - service code 0552 - approximately 150 watches issued

1993 - service code 0555 - approximately 100 watches issued

1994 - service code 0555 - approximately 300 watches issued

1997 - service code 0555 - approximately 200 watches issued

1999 - service code 0555 - approximately 100 watches issued

2000 - service code 0555 - approximately 50 watches issued

2001 - service code 0555 - approximately 500 watches issued

2005  - service code W10 - approximately 250 watches issued

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Above taken from the excellent CWC Addict Website, you can view this here

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Today's example dates to 1993/1994, we know this due to the style of the Bezel. Unfortunately the issue year and number (whatever they were) has been milled out at some stage in the Watches life.

As you can see above, these SBS Watches are incredibly rare with very small quantities produced. This is estimated to be 1 of 400 produced over the years 1993/1994.

 

We have shown this to various CWC experts, including the author of the CWC Addict website and they are both happy that this was most likely a piece from 1993/1994.

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The author of the CWC Addict Website tells me that there is also a fair chance that this Watch could have been a rarer "SP" Watch, no one knows what "SP" meant and is another interesting read over at CWC Addict, you can read that: here

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The Watch is all original and arrives on the original 20mm NATO.   

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The Specs

Age:  c.1993/1994.
Reference: SBS.
Movement: Quartz with Quickset Day and Date Wheels.
Calibre: ETA 955.122.
Timekeeping: Keeping Excellent Time.
Service History: Unknown.
Dial: Original Mil Spec CWC Factory Dial.
Case: PVD Coated Stainless Steel.
Measurements: 45mm across, 41mm end of lug to lug. 11mm thickness.

Bezel: Unidirectional Bezel.

Water Resistant?: No.
Hands: Original Handset.
Crystal: Original.
Crown: Original Screw Down.
Strap/Bracelet: Rare Original Issued NATO Strap.
Lug Width: 20mm

Getting Acquainted

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Bits that stand out:
- Produced in low numbers.
- Wonderful Patina to Hands and Dial.

- Rare Original Strap.

- All Original.
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Nitty Gritty:

-Some minor Scratches throughout the Watch.

-Milled out issue numbers.

- Some wear to the PVD Coating.

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Overall the SBS is in Lovely Vintage condition.

The Dial and Hands are in lovely Vintage Order and looks absolutely fantastic on the Wrist.

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