TYPE A detail
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What is TYPE A Series?
1926: Army Air Corps established. While the importance of air power became widely recognized during WWI, the government still only allowed the establishment of an air force as a component of the Army. It was still a unit that did not conduct independent operations with air power and only followed the chain of command of ground forces. Due to the Great Depression at the time, it does not seem to have been very active. However, wristwatches were an indispensable necessity for pilots from that time on. In 1941, the War Department established the Army Air Forces, and in 1947, the Air Force developed into an independent branch of the military as the United States Air Force. The Type A series, which continued to be produced for pilots through WWII and the Vietnam War, evolved with the increasing importance of fighter aircraft and technological advancements.
The M.R.M.W. TYPE A series comes in 7 variations.
TYPE A-11 White
TYPE A-11 Black
TYPE A-11 24H Black
TYPE A-17a Night & Day
TYPE A-17 Vintage
TYPE A-15 Elapsed Time Watch
TYPE A-7 Aviation Hack Watch
Unique A Series: TYPE A-7 aviation hack watch & TYPE A-15 elapsed time watch
STANDARD MODEL TYPE A
When the TYPE A-1 was issued to the Air Corps, the predecessor of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), in 1926, it was a cockpit clock. The TYPE A-11, which became standard in 1937, began to be issued in 1940. This clock, equipped with a hack function, was distributed to the Army, Navy, and even the British military. The A-11 had a wide variety of dials, up to the last A-series, the TYPE A-16, of World War II.
TYPE A: A Carefully Recreated Classic
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The role of a coin bezel
The bezel around the crystal features a coin-edge finish. This coin-edge finish is incorporated to prevent pilots from having difficulty reading the dial due to light reflection from the metal surrounding it.
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The Role of the Coin Bezel: Part 2
Furthermore, the coin-edge finish, placed at the corners most prone to impact, has the effect of making scratches from bumps less noticeable. The case back also features a coin-edge finish without compromising the design.
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A large crown
The crown is large for a small 32mm watch. A large crown was adopted to make it easier for pilots wearing gloves to operate.
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Vintage-effect printing
M.R.M.W. watches are not merely reproductions of old military watches. The Buships Small Second, for example, recreates the discoloration and corrosion of the dial's indexes and hands over time, applying its own unique vintage processing.
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TYPR A-11 WHITE
購入This is an early model A-11 with a white dial issued to the U.S. Army Air Corps. It was distributed to pilots as standard equipment in 1940. Initially, it had a white dial. The white dial was used until around 1942, after which it was changed to a black dial. Compared to the black dial type, the number of white dial watches is overwhelmingly smaller, making this a复刻 of a rare model.
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TYPE A-11 BLACK
購入The TYPEA-11 was a design adopted by the US Army Air Forces during World War II, with Bulova, Elgin, and Waltham serving as contractors at the time. Testing began in 1937, and it was standardized as issue equipment in 1940, making it a representative model for the US Army Air Forces. It was even nicknamed "the watch that led to victory." Like the instruments in fighter jets, the deep black dial with white Arabic numerals features a minimalist design, boasting extremely high legibility.
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TYPE A-17 VINTAGE
購入This is a reissue of the Pilot Navigation Watch Type A-17. The original was an improved version of the Type-16 and was issued starting in the 1950s. By this era, the advancement of aircraft led to the emergence of all-weather fighter jets capable of sorties day or night, rain or shine. As a result, the need for 24-hour displays on pilot watch dials arose around this time. Inside the 1 to 12 hour markers, 13:00 to 24:00 are printed. The luminous markers from that period have discolored to an orangish-brown due to age-related deterioration, and some peeling has occurred in places. This creates a good vintage feel, and we put a lot of effort into recreating it.
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TYPE A-11 24H BLACK
購入The Type A-11 24H was used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. This is also a rare 24-hour watch where the hour hand completes one rotation in 24 hours. The numerals on the index and the hands were made a slightly brownish color to evoke an antique feel. All-weather fighter jets emerged that could attack day or night, rain or shine. With the development of aircraft, the characteristic black dial with a 24-hour display, unique to military watches, was carried over into the later Vietnam War era.
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TYPE A-17a Night and Day
購入Highly praised as a masterpiece military watch, this popular model has even graced the covers of specialized military watch books. By coloring the AM and PM sections in white and black respectively, it offers excellent visibility and ease of use for pilots and navigators. This watch is a reproduction of the last A-code watch made for pilots, featuring a coin bezel. To be precise, it has a slightly antique feel, with a dial that is not pure white but a creamy white and black. This is also a rare 24-hour watch where the hour hand completes one rotation in 24 hours. It is the last A-series watch used in the Vietnam War.
The Special A Class
・A masterpiece bracelet watch created during the Vietnam War, when soldiers themselves modified their armbands with silver in addition to issued items.
・A masterpiece watch with multiple functions that was never released.
・A masterpiece wristwatch from the early A series.
We have featured some unusual Type A watches.
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TYPE A-17 vintage 925 silver pilot wing strap
Pre-order nowThe Pilot Wing Watch was created in collaboration with the military shop Nakata Shoten in Ueno-Okachimachi. This watch is inspired by pilot wings, which were worn on the sleeves or chests of military uniforms. Back then, pilots would refashion these badges into bracelets or bangles to give to loved ones. They also had a custom of turning them into watch straps for themselves. The "Army aviator badge" part is made of sterling silver 925, meticulously recreating the delicate feather details. We intentionally left the surface uncoated so you can enjoy its aging process.
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TYPR A-15 Elapsed time watch
購入This is a reproduction of a pilot's watch developed in 1944 when the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) was still part of the Army, before the Air Force was established as a separate branch. Although it passed test operations, it was never mass-produced, so it is known as a "phantom watch" with only a small number existing worldwide. Its most distinctive feature is the rotating rim accumulator, which is linked to the upper and lower crowns. These two rotating dials make it a multi-functional watch that can display flight elapsed time and two time zones, despite its small diameter of 33mm.
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TYPE A-7 Aviation Hack Watch White
購入TYPE A-7 Aviation Hack Watch - White
This model featured a white dial until 1940. Time is displayed at the 6 o'clock position in 24-hour format, and the day of the week is displayed at the 12 o'clock position. The body of the TYPE A-7 aviation hack watch White is made of highly polished stainless steel. TYPE A-7 Aviation Hack Watch - White
This white-dial version is a re-release based on pilot watches manufactured by Longines and Meylan in the 1930s and distributed to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). -
TYPE A-7 Aviation hack watch black
購入TYPE A-7 AVIATION HACK WATCH - BLACK
The dial features a "train track" chapter ring outside the hour markers, and outside that, minute and second markers. It's a very beautiful design. The black body has a fine hairline finish, giving it a matte appearance. Time is indicated by a 24-hour display at the 6 o'clock position, and a bold method was adopted for the day of the week, displaying it with numbers 1 through 7 at the 12 o'clock position. This decision was made to preserve the original aesthetic. Additionally, the hour markers on the black dial are vintage-processed, replicating the look of aged lume that has peeled away over time.
TYPE A-17 vintage 925 silver pilot wing strap
TYPE A-17 Vintage
This is a reproduction of the TYPE A-17 pilot navigation watch. The original was an improved version of the TYPE-16 and was issued starting in the 1950s.
During this period, with the development of aircraft, all-weather fighter jets emerged that could fly even at night or in the rain, which led to the need for 24-hour displays on pilot watch dials. Inside the 1 to 12 hour markers, 13 to 24 are printed. The luminous indices of that era have discolored to an orange-brown due to age. Some parts have also peeled off. This creates a good vintage feel, and we have put a lot of effort into reproducing it.
TYPE A-17 Vintage 925 silver pilot wing strap
This pilot wing watch was created in collaboration with Nakata Shoten, a military shop in Ueno-Okachimachi. The pilot's badge is worn on the sleeve or chest of the uniform. Pilots of that era would repurpose these armbands into bracelets or bangles and give them as gifts to loved ones. There was also a custom of making watch bands for themselves. The Army aviator badge (ArmAy viator badge) part is made of pure 925 silver, replicating the fine feather details. We intentionally left the surface uncoated so that you can enjoy its aging process.
TYPE A-15 Elapsed Time watch
This pilot's watch is a reproduction of one developed in 1944, when the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) was still part of the Army and had no independent air force. Although it passed testing, it was never mass-produced, making it a "phantom watch" of which only a few exist worldwide.
The most prominent feature of this watch is its distinctive dial with two rotating internal discs (accumulator dials) operated by two independent crowns. The crowns, which at first glance look like chronograph pushers, rotate the internal discs. The upper crown is linked to the inner "hour" index disc, and the lower crown is linked to the outer "minute" disc. These two accumulator dials allow for time marking, and despite its small 33mm diameter, it is a multi-functional watch capable of measuring "elapsed time" or viewing "times in two countries" with different time zones.
*You can see a video of the rotation operation of the two inner bezels in the Video section.
TYPE A-7 aviation hack watch
Type A-7 Aviation Hack Watch
Based on pilot watches manufactured by Longines and Meylan in the 1930s and distributed to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). These were the first practical wristwatches produced by the Air Corps, the predecessor to the USAAF.
The dial of the Type A-7 is shifted slightly to the right at the 12 o'clock position. This inclined design allows the wearer to read the time without bending their wrist. When holding the control stick, the watch is angled such that 12 o'clock is at the top when viewed.
Both types of the original watch were very large, with diameters ranging from 47mm to 51mm, making them impractical for daily use. We have made them 38.5mm, a size suitable for both men and women. While the original featured a one-push stopwatch function, ours displays 24-hour time and the day of the week.
Additionally, while the original used a movement with a stopwatch function, this product utilizes an easy-to-use quartz movement. It features a 3-hand display, along with 24-hour time and day of the week functions.




















