CYMA Tank ‘Jumbo’

By World War II, wristwatches had become essential parts of military equipment. For the millions of Allied troops scattered across Europe, North Africa and the Pacific, accurate and durable watches served as lifelines on the fast-paced, multi-level battlefield. To fulfill the growing need for accurate timekeeping, a coalition of manufactures was ordained to produce military-grade wristwatches to a specific design. Twelve Swiss companies fulfilled the contracts: Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor, and Vertex. They have since become known to watch collectors as the Dirty Dozen. Cyma was one of the more robust producers of the W.W.W., but not all the brand's pieces were robust military watches. They also made some incredible, more traditional pieces, such as this incredible Tank design. Midcentury watchmaking has many themes, and one of them is undoubtedly the manually wound Tank. Cyma's counterpart to the Cintree, this piece features a lovely 26mm stainless steel case, stylized numerals in lovely condition considering this piece's age, a retro-style syringe handset, and a railroad track on the subsidiary seconds display at 6 to match the broader railroad minute track on the outside of the dial. Combining vintage details with fantastic condition, this Tank is an affordable and classy look into the world of midcentury watchmaking. Considering how expensive Tanks can be these days, finding a watch like this one with so much character is a compelling addition for any collection.