As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaches on June 6, watch designers from around the world are gearing up to release new timepieces to commemorate the historic event. The Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France on that fateful day, marking the beginning of the action that ultimately led to the end of World War II.
One such company, Vertex Watches, has created the Vertex M36, a 36-millimeter brushed steel watch with a Swiss automatic movement. The watch, priced at 2,250 pounds (or $2,826), pays homage to the original model produced for British troops during the war. Vertex was one of the 12 companies authorized by the British military to produce timepieces for its troops, and the M36 stays faithful to the design of the original Cal 59 W.W.W. watch.
Bausele, a watch company based in Sydney, Australia, is also releasing a D-Day commemorative watch called the Langstone Field Watch. This stainless steel watch features a Japanese automatic movement and even contains sand from a beach in Normandy code-named Sword. The founder of Bausele, Christophe Hoppé, has a personal connection to the D-Day landing, as he believes it ultimately saved his grandfather’s life.
Avi-8, an aviation-inspired watch brand, is collaborating with the Royal British Legion to release the Spitfire D-Day 80 watch. This 42-millimeter timepiece features a unique 24-hour dial display and is limited to 250 pieces. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to the charity to support members and veterans of the British Armed Forces and their families.
Despite some shipping delays due to current conflicts affecting the supply chain, the demand for these anniversary watches remains high. Companies like Elliot Brown have already sold out of their limited edition D-Day 80th watches, showing the continued interest in these historical timepieces. With the anniversary of D-Day fast approaching, watch enthusiasts and history buffs alike are eagerly anticipating the release of these special timepieces.
