Military-issue timepieces from the 20th century are among the most collectible in the watch world. Their rugged styling, vintage looks, and innate toughness simply resonate with a wide swath of horological fans. If you’d like the look of military watches adorning your wrist, but aren’t quite enthused with four-figure and higher prices, you might want to fix your attention on the AVI-8 x Worn&Wound WANDW1 instead.
Designed by Worn&Wound and built by AVI-8, it borrows various elements from popular military watches of the mid-20th century, creating a look that’s equal parts rugged, vintage, and stylish enough to pair well with any modern outfits. It doesn’t resemble any classic model, in particular, but perfectly nails the aesthetic all the same, making it ideal for military watch fans who are working with a less-than-exorbitant spending budget.
The AVI-8 x Worn&Wound WANDW1 has a two-tone black PVD and brushed steel case that measures 42 x 48 x 13.5 mm and a transparent caseback with a thick steel border. It features a dial largely modeled after pilot watches, with a matte black surface, pale green indicators that glow in the dark, wide hour and minute hands for maximum visibility, and a sub-seconds dial near the six o’clock position as a nod to earlier iterations of the military watch. Features include a domed sapphire crystal lens, 50 meters of water resistance, Miyota 8245 automatic movement, and three bundled straps (two nylon Mil-Straps and one Oliver Horween Model 2).
Available now in a limited edition of 150 units, the AVI-8 x Worn&Wound WANDW1 is priced at $399.