P.W.C. Waterproof Watch Steel — Black and Grey Two-Tone Dial (1950s)
Only 1 available
Shipping from Europe — taxes and customs duties are the buyer's responsibility outside the EU
Lifetime authenticity guarantee
Movement checked & guaranteed for 1 year
International shipping
Photo taken on a 17.5 cm wrist
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Atelier Note
A grey disc within a black ring, twelve numerals whose lume has taken on the colour of sand, a numbered railroad track like a cockpit dial, a red seconds hand: the design of post-war service watches, signed with three letters.
A vintage P.W.C. watch from the 1950s, steel with a two-tone military-style dial
This vintage P.W.C. watch, for Practical Watch Co., bears a discreet three-letter Swiss signature and a dial that says everything about its era. Waterproof, Incabloc, Anti-Magnetic: the three promises of post-war watches, a case designed against water, a shock absorber against impacts, alloys against magnetic fields. And a service watch design: a two-tone black and grey dial, luminescent numerals, a numbered railroad track, syringe hands, a red seconds hand, the vocabulary that the armed forces had imposed on watchmakers in the 1940s and that civilian watches retained in the following decade. A mechanical watch with hand-wound movement from the 1950s, in 33mm steel.
Its original dial is read in three circles: at the centre, a silvered grey disc, marked by time, bearing the signature; around it, a black ring where twelve luminescent Arabic numerals have taken on a sandy hue over the decades; on the outside, a white railroad track numbered from 5 to 60 in golden print. Two original syringe hands with patinated luminescent channels, and a central red seconds hand sweeping across the whole. Swiss Made at the bottom.
The steel 33mm case, 40.4mm Lug-to-lug and 9.3mm thick, features a slim bezel and straight lugs, with a steel caseback and an acrylic Crystal; the fluted crown was replaced during the life of the watch. The hand-wound mechanical movement, with Incabloc shock protection, has been checked by our partner watchmakers and is guaranteed for one year. The watch is fitted with a black leather strap with white stitching and a steel Buckle, both later additions.
Three points to note
01
Two-tone service dial — grey disc, black ring, patinated luminescent numerals, numbered railroad track.
02
Waterproof, Incabloc, Anti-Magnetic — the three promises of post-war watches, written on the dial.
03
33mm steel, red seconds hand — hand-wound, central seconds, for him as well as for her.
Why choose a vintage military-style watch?
This vintage P.W.C. watch holds a precise place among vintage men’s and women’s watches: its 33mm size can be worn by both, and it offers the complete design of military-style watches from the 1950s, two-tone, luminescent, with numerals, with a red seconds hand, under a discreet signature. A Swiss vintage mechanical watch with character, at an entry-level budget for authentic vintage.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our partner watchmakers: verification of the movement, examination of the dial, hands and case. Every vintage watch we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year warranty, and lifetime-guaranteed authenticity.
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Technical characteristics
- Brand: P.W.C. (Practical Watch Co.)
- Model: Waterproof, two-tone dial
- Estimated year: 1950s
- Origin: Switzerland
- Gender: Men’s and women’s watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, Incabloc, anti-magnetic, checked
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds
- Case: Steel, round, steel caseback
- Diameter: 33mm (35.3mm with crown)
- Lug to lug: 40.4mm
- Thickness: 9.3mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Fluted, not original
- Dial: Two-tone, grey center and black ring, luminescent Arabic numerals, numbered railway track, original
- Hands: Syringe with luminescent channels, patinated, red seconds hand, original
- Crystal: Acrylic (condition 9/10)
- Strap: Black leather, not original
- Buckle: Steel, not original
Condition and warranty
- Overall condition: Good state of preservation for its age. The original two-tone dial bears the marks of time on its grey center and a sand-patinated luminescent material on the numerals and hands, specific to this example. The steel case shows the signs of wear of a worn watch, which our photographs show without retouching. Crystal acrylic crystal in very good condition (9/10).
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanical: Checked movement, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Invoice Atelier Victor
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
Who is P.W.C.?
Practical Watch Co., a discreet Swiss brand from the 1950s whose history is undocumented: no known manufacture, no known catalogue. Like hundreds of small assembly workshops of the period, it bought its movements from ébauche makers, its cases and dials from other specialists, and signed the whole with its initials. It is chosen for its dial, not for its signature.
Was this watch used during the Korean War?
Nothing allows us to affirm that. It bears no military marking, and no independent source documents any issue of P.W.C. watches to an army. What is military about it is its design: the two-tone dial with luminous numerals, the numbered railway track and the syringe hands come from service watches of the 1940s, later adopted by civilian watches of the following decade.
What do Waterproof, Incabloc and Anti-Magnetic mean?
Three common markings on dials from the 1950s: Waterproof indicates a case designed to resist water, Incabloc refers to the shock absorber that protects the balance staff against impacts, Anti-Magnetic refers to hairspring and escapement alloys insensitive to magnetisation. Seventy years later, water resistance is not guaranteed, and the watch should be kept away from water and today's magnets.
Has the movement been checked?
Yes. Our partner watchmakers have checked the movement, dial, hands and case; it is guaranteed for one year. A hand-wound watch should be wound every day, and a vintage watch is not guaranteed water-resistant.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?
With a 33mm diameter, 40.4mm of Lug-to-lug and 9.3mm thickness, it suits wrists of approximately 15 to 18cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its format is that of 1950s service watches, discreet under a cuff. The Lug width measures 18mm, making it easy to change the strap.
Mechanical warranty — 1 year
Each watch is inspected by our watchmakers before shipping. In case of a mechanism malfunction during the first year, we cover the repair.
Authenticity warranty — lifetime
If a watch turns out to be non-authentic, we will take it back and refund you in full. Without time limit.
What is not covered
- Exposure to water or humidity
- Shocks, impacts, or vibrations
- Consumable parts (strap, Crystal, crown, pushers)
- Battery replacement (quartz movements)
- Opening or disassembly of the watch by a third party
- Improper use
The accuracy of vintage watches varies according to the model, movement, and year of production. A request for accuracy improvement deemed within acceptable tolerances cannot be covered by the warranty.
Shipping fees
After-sales service is free. Shipping fees outside the United Arab Emirates remain the responsibility of the customer.
Authentication Process
Each watch is examined by our partner watchmakers before being offered for sale: verification of authenticity, checking the conformity of the components, identification of any modification or replacement of original parts.
If any element has been replaced during the life of the watch (dial, hands, crown, Crystal, strap), we systematically indicate it in the product sheet. You buy knowing the exact history of your piece.
Certificate of Authenticity
Your Atelier Victor invoice serves as a certificate of authenticity: it attests to the origin and conformity of the piece, and is covered by our lifetime authenticity guarantee — if a piece sold by Atelier Victor were found to be non-authentic, it would be fully refunded, with no time limit.
We accept several payment methods:
- Bank card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
- Bank transfer (AED, EUR, USD)
- Cryptocurrency (USDT, USDC)
- PayPal
Other currencies accepted upon request. Exchange fees of approximately 3% may apply.
A 3% discount is granted for any payment by bank transfer from €1,000.
Does the strap not suit you? Add the strap of your choice to your order: we will fit it to your watch before shipment, at no fitting charge.
International Shipping
Shipped within 48 to 72 business hours by DHL Express or an equivalent carrier depending on the destination. Delivery in 2 to 6 business days. Each shipment is insured and delivered against signature.
- Free delivery from €1,000 of purchase, as well as on the Jewelry Atelier Victor
- Tracking number sent as soon as the shipment is dispatched
- For certain destinations, delivery may be made to a secure collection point in order to guarantee the integrity of the shipment
Pickup in Dubai
Hand delivery by appointment in Downtown, Dubai. Make an appointment.
Taxes and Customs
The shipping origin is indicated on each product sheet. If the delivery country differs from the shipping country, customs duties and taxes may apply upon receipt, at the buyer's expense. In exceptional situations, customs checks may extend the delivery time, regardless of our wishes and those of the carrier.
For full details, please consult our shipping policy.
FINAL SALES
All sales are final: no return, exchange, or cancellation is accepted after order confirmation. Each piece is authenticated, inspected, and described in detail before being offered for sale.
BEFORE PURCHASE
Our advisors remain at your disposal for any questions and can send you additional photographs or videos upon simple request, by email or on WhatsApp.
NON-CONFORMING ITEM
In the exceptional case of an item that does not match its listing, please notify us within 72 hours: it will be eligible for a refund or an exchange. If the parcel shows damage upon delivery, it should be refused or its opening filmed continuously.
For full details, please consult our return policy.
A piece selected by Atelier Victor
Authenticated, checked, and photographed by us. As all sales are final, our team remains available 7 days a week on WhatsApp to answer your questions, share additional photos or a video of the piece in hand — so that your choice can be made with complete peace of mind.
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