THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: PRECISTA
MODEL: PRS-93
YEAR: 1993
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 39mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: TEXTILE NATO
MOVEMENT: QUARTZ

When it comes to military watches, most people know the heavy hitters: the SAS-issued 5513/5517 MilSubs, the Panerai Radiomir, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, and the IWC Mark series, to name a few. But there are other military-issued timepieces that can easily challenge these titans in both rarity and heritage—many of which are still attainable at relatively reasonable prices.

The MOD stopped issuing Rolex Submariners as part of clearance divers’ kits in the late ’70s due to cost. From that point, only the SAS retained the luxury of using them into the ’80s. In 1980 and 1981, UK-based company CWC, founded by Ray Mellor, won the contract to supply the Royal Navy with a purpose-built automatic dive watch. Unexpectedly, CWC lost the 1982 contract to a lesser-known company: Precista. A year later, CWC regained the contract, and for the next decade or so, the two brands went back and forth.

The present example is a Precista Royal Navy Diver from 1993—issued for just one year. It is part of a batch of only 300 watches, with estimates suggesting that fewer than 100 have survived to this day. This is easily one of the finest examples we’ve come across. The dial is flawless, and the tritium lume has developed a rich pumpkin patina, perfectly matching the (equally pristine) bezel insert. The case is remarkably clean, showing minimal wear.

The watch comes on its original Phoenix NATO strap. If you’re reading this, you likely already know just how special this watch is—an incredibly rare piece of British military history.