A field watch is a simple, durable wristwatch first made for soldiers to wear in combat during the Second World War. It has a plain dial that is easy to read and generous luminous material. Today the name is also used loosely for rugged watches that can survive a good soaking.
Where it comes from
The name comes from use ‘in the field’, meaning in combat. Early forerunners of the type were the trench watches worn by soldiers in the First World War. A watch on the wrist let a soldier read the time and still keep both hands free. The field watch proper was first made for soldiers in the Second World War.
What was the A-11 specification?
The A-11 was a US military specification for wristwatches. It asked for a hand-wound movement with a centre seconds hand. The movement also had to hack. On a hacking movement, the seconds hand stops when the crown is pulled out. This lets the wearer set the watch exactly. Three American companies were contracted to build A-11 watches: Elgin, Waltham and Bulova.
What makes a watch a field watch?
The category has no strict definition. It grew out of the military’s need for watches that were simple and durable, rather than from a fixed set of rules. The common ground is practical. A typical field watch is made to be read easily, with a plain dial and plenty of luminous material. By the Vietnam War era, triangular hour markers had become part of the standard field watch look.
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