A World War II Military Wristwatch, signed Eterna, known by collectors as one of ''The Dirty Dozen'', circa 1944, (calibre 520) lever movement signed and numbered 3090149 , inner dust cap, black dial with luminous Arabic numerals, signed and with a military broad arrow, seconds dial, luminous hands, stainless steel case with screw back engraved with a broad arrow WWW P 391 3108719 , fixed bars between the lugs, inside back cover numbered 3108719 , broad arrow P 391 and maker's mark Eterna Watch Co Swiss , 36mm wide, 'The Dirty Dozen' is the name given to a group of 12 watches commissioned by the Ministry of Defence for use by soldiers during WWII. The MoD ordered custom-built wristwatches from 12 Swiss watchmakers: Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor and Vertex. Each company was given the specific brief of providing watches that were accurate, reliable and durable, with a black dial, Arabic numerals, luminous markers, a railroad minute track, shatterproof glass and a stainless-steel case. No matter the maker, these watches can be identified by the engraved 'W.W.W.' on the reverse, as well as the broad arrowhead mark on the dial, inner case, and reverse, and both military and civil serial numbers on the reverse.
