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Sand from the beaches of Normandy
From 699€
Crystallized sand from the beaches of Dunkirk
From 549€
INSPIRED BY A SPITFIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL
From 599€
Presented to prominent European leaders
From 549€
Encapsulated water in memory of the Marines
From 599€
Crystallized sand from the beaches of Dunkirk
From 549€
Our Battlefront collection at Col&McArthur features military watches and a pilot’s watch designed to tell stories you can wear. Swiss automatic movements, tangible elements, and stories from World War I and World War II, including a reproduction of a Spitfire speedometer. Models feature leather, steel, NATO, or vintage M1928 military canvas straps, ranging from €549.00 to €1,889.00 depending on the model and finish.
This page presents the selection criteria, the mechanisms that define the quality of each timepiece, the history behind them, and the complete collection. All of this is in pursuit of the mission that is dear to us: to convey history through our timepieces, and to ensure that we never forget the heroic deeds of those who sacrificed themselves for our freedoms.
Choosing a watch means choosing the story you’ll wear on your wrist. Four criteria guide this choice: the movement, history, the artifact, and technical specifications.
THE MOVEMENT
Choose between the art of mechanical watchmaking—featuring a Swiss Sellita or Japanese Miyota automatic movement—and the flawless precision of Swiss Ronda quartz. Whatever your preference, your timepiece will stand the test of time and will always embody the strong values that drive Col&McArthur and its stories, blending watchmaking tradition with proven reliability.
History
Col&McArthur watches stand out for their powerful concept: telling the story of history. British aviation, military conflicts such as the Normandy landings—these are all defining moments immortalized in their designs. It is these dials, filled with symbolism and references to history’s greatest moments, that define the uniqueness of your timepiece.
The artifact
Each Col&McArthur watch features a signature element—a tangible expression of history. From an authentic fragment of an American soldier’s helmet to the crystallized sand from the beaches of Dunkirk, to the encapsulated water symbolizing Pearl Harbor, each artifact makes your watch a precious testament to the past—one you can wear every day.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Other factors influence your choice: the strap—whether it’s elegant leather or cool-looking stainless steel—or the case, which is made of 316L steel (the industry standard) or, in some collections, titanium, which is lighter and more durable. Thickness also plays a role, with notable differences between quartz and automatic watches.
THE MOVEMENT
Choose between the art of mechanical watchmaking—featuring a Swiss Sellita or Japanese Miyota automatic movement—and the flawless precision of Swiss Ronda quartz. Whatever your preference, your timepiece will stand the test of time and will always embody the strong values that drive Col&McArthur and its stories, blending watchmaking tradition with proven reliability.
History
Col&McArthur watches stand out for their powerful concept: telling the story of history. British aviation, military conflicts such as the Normandy landings—these are all defining moments immortalized in their designs. It is these dials, filled with symbolism and references to history’s greatest moments, that define the uniqueness of your timepiece.
The artifact
Each Col&McArthur watch features a signature element—a tangible expression of history. From an authentic fragment of an American soldier’s helmet to the crystallized sand from the beaches of Dunkirk, to the encapsulated water symbolizing Pearl Harbor, each artifact makes your watch a precious testament to the past—one you can wear every day.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Other factors influence your choice: the strap—whether it’s elegant leather or cool-looking stainless steel—or the case, which is made of 316L steel (the industry standard) or, in some collections, titanium, which is lighter and more durable. Thickness also plays a role, with notable differences between quartz and automatic watches.
Signed on November 11, 1918, in a dining car set up in the Compiègne Forest, this agreement brought an end to the fighting of World War I on the Western Front.
It was not a definitive peace treaty—that would be signed later in Versailles—but rather an immediate cessation of hostilities, following more than four years of conflict and nearly 10 million military deaths.
| Model | Commemorated Event | Movement | Artifact | Materials | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armistice 1918 Watch
|
The Signing of the 1918 Armistice | Quartz |
A watch presented to heads of state
|
316L stainless steel | Limited to 1,918 copies |
Dunkirk 1940 Watch
|
Operation Dynamo | Quartz / Automatic |
Crystals from the sand of Malo-Les-Bains
|
316L stainless steel | Quartz: 500 pieces / Automatic: 200 pieces |
Spitfire 1940 watch
|
The Battle of Britain | Quartz / Automatic |
A replica of the speedometer from a Spitfire
|
316L stainless steel | Quartz: 1,940 pieces / Automatic: 500 pieces |
Pearl 1941 Watch
|
The Attack on Pearl Harbor | Quartz / Automatic |
Encapsulated Water
|
316L stainless steel | Quartz: 1,941 pieces / Automatic: 500 pieces |
Normandy 1944 Watch
|
The Normandy Landings | Japanese/Swiss Automatic |
An Authentic M1 Military Helmet
|
316L Stainless Steel / Titanium | Numbered / Limited to 1,944 copies |
Discover what sets our quartz and automatic watches apart at their very core, and the tangible evidence of history they embody.
The sand was collected from the beach at Malo-les-Bains, the site of the embarkation for Operation Dynamo in 1940. The collection was authorized by the coastal protection authorities. After being melted down into crystal, it is then incorporated into the watch.
A tribute to the iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain, this dial is an exact replica of the airspeed indicator that was installed in RAF pilots’ cockpits. A symbol of technical superiority, it embodies the spirit of this historic epic, steeped in the memory of those who gave their lives in the skies for peace.
Evoking the waters of the Pacific where 2,335 soldiers lost their lives, this water trapped within the dial serves as a tribute to the memory of American heroes. It embodies the spirit of this historic site, steeped in the memory of those who gave their lives for freedom and carrying their courage with it every second.
The dial is crafted from the steel of a U.S. Army M1 helmet dating from World War II. The piece comes from the collector and dealer Gustafson, who provides his own certificate of authenticity. This document is included in the package delivered with the watch.
The sand was collected from the beach at Malo-les-Bains, the site of the embarkation for Operation Dynamo in 1940. The collection was authorized by the coastal protection authorities. After being melted down into crystal, it is then incorporated into the watch.
A tribute to the iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain, this dial is an exact replica of the airspeed indicator that was installed in RAF pilots’ cockpits. A symbol of technical superiority, it embodies the spirit of this historic epic, steeped in the memory of those who gave their lives in the skies for peace.
Evoking the waters of the Pacific where 2,335 soldiers lost their lives, this water trapped within the dial serves as a tribute to the memory of American heroes. It embodies the spirit of this historic site, steeped in the memory of those who gave their lives for freedom and carrying their courage with it every second.
The dial is crafted from the steel of a U.S. Army M1 helmet dating from World War II. The piece comes from the collector and dealer Gustafson, who provides his own certificate of authenticity. This document is included in the package delivered with the watch.
Each timepiece is born of mechanical precision worthy of the instruments that have guided men through the skies and across theaters of operations. Assembled in our Belgian workshops by certified watchmakers trained at IATA, the leading school of Belgian watchmaking, our watches carry on a rare and demanding tradition of craftsmanship.
The automatic movement, the heart of our most prestigious models, carries on the tradition of mechanical watchmaking: a Swiss or Japanese caliber that winds itself through the simple motion of the wrist, prioritizing precision over ornamentation. The speedometer, readable at a glance, reflects the rigor of cockpits where every second counted. Swiss quartz offers uncompromising reliability, resistant to shocks and the test of time. Cases are crafted from 316L stainless steel or titanium, depending on the collection: each timepiece is rigorously tested before bearing the name of a numbered edition, worthy of being passed down through generations.
