Any love for CWC SBS Diver?
My latest pickup is this CWC blacked out SBS quartz diver.
I am not a great expert on these things - but as far as I know it was introduced in 1987 - blacked out for special boat service operatives to be a little stealthier.
Also I understand it is still issued to this very day - so a real tool watch?
What do you think? Any enthusiasts? Can anyone tell me if I got something wrong or a little more about these!
I think it looks really cool - with the moonwatch-like case hugging the wrist..
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Justin
Fairly new to watch collecting. Super fast collecting journey! I've had a bit of everything, small gold pretty watches, large rugged watches, vintage British field watches. From Casio to Patek and eve...
London
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It is a great military watch created for the English Royal Navy, in fact yours is the SBS I have the MK2 Automatic
I love this watch, it is the most comfortable thing I have worn in the last 6 months.
This is slick! Love that case.
I would have children with that watch.
How durable is the black coating on this watches?
Such a cool, instantly recognizable design.
How durable is the black coating on this watches?
This is from 2014 and I can see a few minor marks. Have a feeling its the sort of thing that will look a little better the more worn it gets...
Love these models need to make an excuse to myself why I need to buy one 🤔I've got it I've not got an all black watch in my collection 🙄😂see ya off to ebay be back in a year with one on my wrist 👌
Love mine!!
Pure killer 🔥 I have been looking at these for years by now. Just never pulled the trigger
What would you rate the stock NATO?
How durable is the black coating on this watches?
"I would have children with that watch"
Hopefully durable enough for this.😃
Beautiful
TBH I like their stuff but I find them a bit on the expensive side for a quartz.
What would you rate the stock NATO?
This was second hand right? So I rated it to be rather grimy and immediately put on a very similar replacement (pictured.)
I was split between the SBS and the RN, the PVD was the decider in the end, I already have lots of black watches and I think the RN is a bit more versatile with straps.
They are apparently still issued to this day, although Elliot Brown is another company that claims to have supply contracts with special forces so I'm not sure where the lines blur...
CWC are definitely on the expensive side for what they are, however they really hold their value, since getting my RN I've hardly taken it off, it's so comfortable and legible, not once have I looked at it or held it and felt short changed, I'd say it was worth every penny.
This was second hand right? So I rated it to be rather grimy and immediately put on a very similar replacement (pictured.)
Ah. Thank you.
I was split between the SBS and the RN, the PVD was the decider in the end, I already have lots of black watches and I think the RN is a bit more versatile with straps.
They are apparently still issued to this day, although Elliot Brown is another company that claims to have supply contracts with special forces so I'm not sure where the lines blur...
CWC are definitely on the expensive side for what they are, however they really hold their value, since getting my RN I've hardly taken it off, it's so comfortable and legible, not once have I looked at it or held it and felt short changed, I'd say it was worth every penny.
That’s a beauty and I see me listing after one of those too..
Legendary Operator Here
And pretty sure Jason Statham wears one in Meg 2. Maybe not mil issue but love his acting style and his partnership with Guy Ritchie.
CWC, Marathon, and Tudor, with a dash of Bremont/Breitling seem to be the last big brand holdouts of analog issued watches.
Elliot Brown, Sangin, and Ares are also issued or bought commercial off shelf, but very niche, small unit purchase stuff. In fact I became aware of EB via a UK dude I knew during some Red Ops work I helped with.
Winfield Watches and Stirling are owned by serving or retired mil types, and have given watches to units, but again small scale stuff.
For US/Canadian on the GSA schedule Marathon was the only option last I checked. UK side the MOD still gives/issues CWC.
Tudor has unit issued stuff, but you gotta be in the special dudes with beards club to access. Rumor is they also allow individual purchase at VERY discounted prices.
One of these days I plan to add a destro G10 acrylic and a destro SBS no date! Good looking watch dude! 👌🏻🤘🏻🤙🏻
It’s a brilliant watch; genuinely issued to the RN SBS. I put a CWC orange Nato on it this summer to add some pop!
It is a great military watch created for the English Royal Navy, in fact yours is the SBS I have the MK2 Automatic
Unfortunately, there's no such a thing as the English navy, its the brutish navy & has been since 1707ish. Cool watch though
I have the RN Diver and I really like it. I was looking for a dive watch that wouldn't readily get recognized, that I can wear during travels. This meets the requirement, and I actually like the heritage of it.
I did managed to cause an issue with the bezel, but I also don't baby my watches. Contacted CWC and they told me they'll take care of me since it's still under warranty. Will be sending it soon.
What would you rate the stock NATO?
I like the nato that my RN Diver came with. There isn't any fraying which is the main requirement for a good nato for me. The hardware is standard nato hardware and nothing luxurious like special polishing or square cut shapes. Though given this is actual the nato strap that actual NATO will order, the standard hardware seems all too right and feels special in that way.
My only real issue is with how far apart the holes for the buckle are. I seem to land in the weird in between size and I can't get a good fit with the nato. I noticed most of my other natos have much closer together holes for the buckle and I can get much better fit with those.
I was down in Plymouth last year , the home of the Royal Navy, and every pawn shop I went to had one of these😂 Great looking watch, love it.
Fun lume!
After the no date RN myself.
Love the late 60's Omega vibe.
Very cool indeed.
https://youtu.be/tz5h1FF3DfI?si=0AGFnqY5ZHHP-D6j
Funnily enough,watched this last night (MadWatchCollectors review of this SBS variant)
If you're after more info https://cwcaddict.com/ is definitely the place to go!
Man! That watch is so beautiful... makes me want to brake my watch collecting rules and get it.
Great looking watch 👍🏻