{"product_id":"montre-militaire-bulova-type-a-11-cadran-noir-chrome-32mm-1943","title":"Military Watch Bulova Type A-11 — Black Dial, Chrome 32mm (1943) ","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe issue watch for American aircrews, in its Bulova version\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Bulova watch meets the \u003cstrong\u003eType A-11 specification\u003c\/strong\u003e, established by the U.S. Army to equip \u003cstrong\u003eUS Army Air Forces\u003c\/strong\u003e crews during the Second World War. The specifications were precise: black dial with white Arabic numerals, central seconds, hand-wound movement, dustproof case, and above all a \u003cstrong\u003ehacking seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e feature allowing the seconds hand to be stopped by pulling the crown in order to synchronize a crew's watches to the second. Three manufacturers produced the A-11: Elgin, Waltham and Bulova.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example was assembled in \u003cstrong\u003e1943\u003c\/strong\u003e, in the midst of wartime production, as indicated by the AF 43 prefix of its serial number. Its \u003cstrong\u003e32mm chrome-plated case\u003c\/strong\u003e is that of an instrument: straight caseband, short lugs, screwed steel caseback, and beneath this back an inner Invar shield protecting the movement from the magnetic fields of the cockpit. The domed acrylic Crystal brings the total thickness to 13.5mm. The crown has been replaced, which is common on these watches whose crown was used at every synchronization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eblack dial\u003c\/strong\u003e bears the Arabic numerals and minute track that define the A-11, with light-colored hands standing out clearly against it. It may have been restored during its lifetime: this was common practice on issue watches, whose dials were refinished in military atelier as soon as legibility declined. We note this as a possibility, without being able to confirm or rule it out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe movement is the \u003cstrong\u003eBulova 10AK CSH caliber\u003c\/strong\u003e: derived from a Swiss A. Schild caliber, it was manufactured in the United States by Bulova for the war effort, hence the absence of the \u003cem\u003eSwiss Made\u003c\/em\u003e marking on the dial. The letters CSH designate central seconds and hacking seconds. Serviced by our watchmakers, it displays the hours, minutes and central seconds. English-speaking collectors have grown accustomed to calling the A-11 “the watch that won the war”; the phrase is excessive, but it conveys the place it holds in military collections. This watch is fitted with a black leather strap with Buckle buckle, both later replacements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThree points to note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType A-11 specification\u003c\/strong\u003e — the issue watch for US Army Air Forces crews, produced by Bulova in 1943.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunctional hacking seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e — the feature that defines the A-11, designed to synchronize a crew's watches.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e32mm chrome-plated Case\u003c\/strong\u003e — the period instrument format, now worn equally well by a man or a woman.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy choose a vintage military watch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuying a \u003cstrong\u003evintage military watch\u003c\/strong\u003e rather than a contemporary reissue means wearing an object that was made for use, not for a catalog. The A-11 was never sold in boutiques: it was issued to aircrews, and every surviving example has passed through the hands of people who needed it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis watch occupies a special place among \u003cstrong\u003evintage watches for men and women\u003c\/strong\u003e: its 32mm case, which was the standard size of a military instrument, today corresponds to a \u003cstrong\u003evintage watch\u003c\/strong\u003e in a restrained format, wearable by both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all our \u003cstrong\u003evintage mechanical watches\u003c\/strong\u003e , this one has been opened and inspected by our watchmakers: movement check, examination of the dial, hands, and case. Each \u003cstrong\u003eBulova vintage watch\u003c\/strong\u003e that we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e→ \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/montres-vintage-collection-occasion-luxe\"\u003eDiscover all our vintage watches\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e→ \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/montres-vintage-1000-2000\"\u003eView our vintage watches between €1000 and €2000\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bulova\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Type A-11, US Army Air Forces navigation watch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReference:\u003c\/strong\u003e Type A-11, specification 94-27834\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYear:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1943\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e United States\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGender:\u003c\/strong\u003e Men's and women's watch (Unisex)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wound mechanical, caliber Bulova 10AK CSH, hacking seconds, serviced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hours, minutes, central seconds, hacking seconds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chrome-plated metal, screwed steel caseback, inner anti-magnetic cover, round shape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 32mm (35mm with crown)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug to lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e 39mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13.5mm (including domed Crystal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 16mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrown:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel, not original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black, Arabic numerals, possibly restored\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHands:\u003c\/strong\u003e Light-colored, original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Domed acrylic (condition 9\/10)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrap:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black leather, not original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuckle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel pin buckle, not original\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition and guarantee\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverall condition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well preserved condition for a service watch. Even chrome plating on the case middle, signs of wear on the lugs and caseback. Clean and legible dial, possibly restored. Crown, strap, and Buckle are later replacements.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not guaranteed (vintage watch)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthenticity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lifetime guarantee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMechanical:\u003c\/strong\u003e Serviced movement, guaranteed for 1 year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Invoice Atelier Victor, protective case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot included:\u003c\/strong\u003e Original box and papers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a Type A-11 watch?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is a watch produced according to a United States Army specification for US Army Air Forces crews during the Second World War. The specifications required a black dial with white Arabic numerals, central seconds, hand-wound movement, and hacking seconds for synchronization. Three manufacturers met these requirements: Elgin, Waltham, and Bulova. A-11 watches were never sold in stores; they were distributed by the army, and the casebacks bear the inscription A.F. U.S. Army, the type, the specification number, a serial number preceded by the year, and an order number.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the purpose of hacking seconds?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWhen the crown is pulled, the seconds hand stops. This allowed an entire crew to set their watches to the exact same second before a mission: each person would pull the crown, position the hand at twelve, and all would push the crown back in on the signal. On this watch, the function is operational. It remains useful today for setting the watch precisely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does \"dial possibly restored\" mean?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt means that we can neither confirm nor rule out that the dial has been refinished. Military-issued watches were maintained in atelier service, and dial refinishing was a routine operation there as soon as legibility declined. A crisp dial on a 1943 watch may therefore be original and well preserved, or it may have been redone at the time or later. We prefer to state this rather than decide without proof.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow should a chrome-plated case be cared for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChrome is a plating over a base metal: it withstands everyday use well but wears on edges and friction points, revealing the brass underneath. On this watch, the chrome plating is even across the caseband and marked only on the lugs. A soft cloth is sufficient for care; abrasive products and impacts against hard surfaces should be avoided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat wrist size is this watch suited to?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith a 32mm case and 39mm Lug-to-lug, it is the standard format of military watches from the period, ideally worn on a slim to متوسط wrist, where it retains the presence of an instrument without being cumbersome. That said, a watch is also a matter of style: depending on taste and the look sought, this piece can be worn equally well by a man or a woman, on all kinds of wrists. The measurement is only a guide, never a rule.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Bulova","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53787609629009,"sku":"94.27834 9630 535AC-33934","price":1312.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0703\/8576\/2597\/files\/montre-bulova-type-a-11-vintage-montre-militaire-de-l-us-air-force-wwii-1943-atelier-victor-1.jpg?v=1780999112","url":"https:\/\/ateliervictor.co\/en\/products\/military-watch-bulova-type-a-11-black-dial-chrome-32mm-1943","provider":"Atelier Victor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}