This is a classic 1940s Swiss-made Army Trade Pattern (ATP) watch, the standard British military field watch issued during World War II.
The ATP (Army Trade Pattern) was the British War Office's first standard-issue military wristwatch, introduced in 1939 and used throughout WWII. It's the direct predecessor to the more famous "Dirty Dozen" watches of 1945. Your example shows the classic design language: Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock, and "SWISS MADE" at the dial base.
Key Details

Era & Origin

- Production: ~1940s (WWII period)
- Made in: Switzerland — marked "SWISS MADE" on the dial
- Manufacturers: 19 different Swiss firms made ATP watches to the same specification — Lemania, Cyma, Rotary, Timor, Vertex, Buren, Cortebert, Enicar, and others. The exact maker of yours would be stamped on the movement or caseback

Design & Features

- Dial: Warm champagne/gilt dial with black Arabic numerals 1–12, outer minute/second track, small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock marked 15/30/45/60
- Case: Polished chrome/nickel-plated brass or stainless steel, approx 38mm diameter, snap-back design
- Movement: Manual-wind mechanical, typically 15 jewels, adjusted to ±30 seconds per day, no hacking seconds
- Hands: Simple pencil-style steel hands — originally had radium lume (now likely degraded/non-luminous)
- Strap: Aftermarket leather; originals were issued without straps — soldiers fitted their own leather or later canvas/paratrooper straps

Production Scale

- Roughly 133,600 ATP watches were purchased by the British government during the war, at an average cost of £3 each

💰 Collectibility & Value (UK Market)

- Civilian-marked ATP (no military markings on caseback): £80–£160 in running condition; £200+ if serviced and crisp
- Military-issue marked ATP (caseback stamped "ATP" / broad arrow): £250–£450+ depending on maker and condition
- Rare makers (Lemania, Ebel, Grana) command premiums; common makes like Cyma, Rotary, Timor are more affordable
- Your dial has developed attractive tropical patina — generally desirable to collectors, adding character without affecting value negatively

 🔧 Care & Identification Tips

- To find the exact manufacturer: You'll need to carefully remove the caseback — look for a brand name or hallmark stamped on the movement or inside the case
- The dial patina is natural aging — don't refinish it; original patina is preferred by collectors
- Service every 3–5 years if worn regularly — these 80+ year old movements need fresh oil to stay happy
- Avoid water exposure — these have minimal or no water resistance by modern standards
It's a wonderful piece of WWII-era British military horology history!

🔍 Movement Identification — A. Schild AS 1130 (often called the "Wehrmachtswerk")

This is one of the most iconic and widely used Swiss military-style movements from the mid-20th century!

 

📋 Key Details

- Manufacturer: A. Schild SA (Grenchen, Switzerland) — one of the largest Swiss movement makers
- Caliber: AS 1130
- Type: Manual / hand-wind mechanical
- Jewels: 15 jewels (clearly marked on the bridge)
- Frequency: 18,000 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
- Power Reserve: ~38–42 hours
- Size: 13''' (approx. 29.3 mm diameter) — standard military watch size
- Era: Produced ~1940s–1960s
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o'clock
- Markings: "F S / A R" on the regulator bridge = Fast / Slow — Avance / Retard (French for "Forward / Back") — the time adjustment scale

🛡️ Why it's famous

Nicknamed the "Wehrmachtswerk" — it was the standard movement used in British and German military issue watches (ATP watches, WWW British military watches, and many other brands like Record, Helios, Elvia, Longeau, etc.)

It earned a reputation for being incredibly robust, reliable, and easy to service — that's why it was used by so many different watch brands of the era.

💡 Condition & Care

- Your movement looks complete and original — always have it professionally serviced every 3–5 years if you plan to wear it regularly
- Parts are still relatively easy to find, which is great for restoration
- It's a classic workhorse movement — nothing fancy, just solid Swiss engineering that was built to last