In November 2024 John Senior and good friend Tom Boyle discovered a previously unknown Precista signed watch. After close examination it turned out to be a civilian version of the sterile 6BB Lost Navigator. Precista was the trade name used by Southern Watch & Clock Supplies Ltd (SW&CS) of Orpington Kent when in business. The link between SW&CS and trade name Precista existed for many years and their premises at 48/56 High Street Orpington was also known as Precista House.

Precista branded wrist watches and stop watches supplied to MoD and used across the three services is a well established fact. The recently discovered ‘Lost’ Precista, which is identical in all respects to the ‘Lost’ Navigator (except for military markings on the back), is compelling evidence that SW&CS was the likely originator and supplier of the sterile 6BB to MoD in 1976.

The two documents following hopefully show the relationship between the two watches and we can finally say the ‘Lost’ Navigator belongs in the Precista family of military watches. The original 2012 Lost Navigator article has been revised to update what is known to date.

Thanks Eddie for hosting the documents.

Terry

Three of a kind(ish)

40s USAAF Bulova A11 in silver case
50s USAF Bulova A17A
60s-80s USAF Hamilton GG-W-113

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It’s not really a military watch but as it is a CWC I thought this was the best spot. CWC made a quartz chrono that is vaguely similar to one they supplied to the BAF but with a number of difference including dial layout, different movement and subdials. Has anyone owned one and if so what are they like in the met, so to speak. Below is a link to the original CWC listing.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080119…artzchrono.htm