Research on Rolex & Omega 1970's issued watches

[D.Bolt1950]

I'm trying to help my son in law out who is a bit of a watch nut, he collects both omega and Rolex watches and is especially into millitary ones.

Does anyone have any info or memories on the Rolex submariner that was issued to the AAC ( or earlier Omega seamasters), from what he has dug up so far he reckons that there were two or three batches of the Rolex supplied VIA COD donnington, in 1977 and 1979, and various Omegas in the late 60's and early 70's.

I came out in 75 and do remember a lot of the pilots wearing omega watches, but a couple of my mates who were in longer have sketchy memories of seeing Rolex's in use.

[Tankertrashnav]

Not sure if this is of any help but as a nav in the 70's I was issued with an Omega - model unknown. All I remember about it is that it was less accurate than my £10 Singapore bought Seiko automatic, which I always wore for preference. I have a wry smile when I see people paying £100's for these on ebay (always advertised as "pilots' watches" incidentally, which is right I suppose as they were close enough for pilots but definitely not for navs!). I often wonder if the buyers are disappointed. Never saw a service Rolex though.

[timex]

The service Rolex was issued to SBS and also to RN Clearance divers, not sure about the other services.

[BobHead]

:ok: I am also studing Military Rolex and Omega wrist watches please send me any examples you have in order that it may assist my studies :D

Thank you in anticipation.


Arfur Daily, Parsons Green, London

[D.Bolt1950]

Hi Timex,

apparently the Navy watches ( 0552 stores numers on rear) are fairly well documented, it's the lesser known about watches supplied to the army air corp he's looking into ( same physical watches though) these carry a W10 stores number.

I guess they could have been issued as pilots would be in splash down gear, but a specialist divers watch to pilots seems odd to me, but then the MOD never made any sense to me.

There is a common 'possible myth' in the watch collecting circles, that these W10 watches actually went to SAS and Rolex just say AAC to be all cloak and dagger but that sounds like serious wishful thinking to me.

[D.Bolt1950]

My SM300 with new glass - The Military Watch Resource - Community Fora (http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=23073&highlight=SM300+MOD)

though he says it would have had a T on the dial and stores numbers on the back