Unusual CWC diver. Any info?

Just acquired an unusual Navy diver.
SS case but with day and date alá the SBS.
Case back has NSN of the SS but has
Royal Marines 0555 instead of Navy 0552.
Crows foot then SP
No issue number or date.

A google trawl reveals a little that SP
was a very limited and specific Naval contract
But the only examples I can find were for
Non dated 0552's.

Watch looks legit, nicely ageing tritium,
Fairly marked crystal but nothing really nasty.
Crown slips when changing hands but can be set with care.

Can any of our mil specialists shed any light on this for me please?

I'm wondering whether it's a bit of a "frankie" ?

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psvab09ulf.jpg

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psnl0wsfwc.jpg

I'd say this particular SP example dates from around 1994. I've seen a 1992 version characterized by
the rounded 4 on the bezel and the 0552/ markings on the case back. Later SP examples circa 2002
have also been seen.

I've SP noted as Sample Product, but I can't recall where this came from.

Nice find BTW.

Terry

I followed this one on ebay but resisted because I thought it may be a franken, nice all the same though.

Steve

I have got a modern civilian version of the SBS diver in SS, but I was not aware that there was an issued version. Very interesting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Timelord

I have got a modern civilian version of the SBS diver in SS, but I was not aware that there was an issued version. Very interesting.

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So do I, but it's not particularly unusual is it? I assumed that it was issued before they came out with the PVD black version?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mindforge

So do I, but it's not particularly unusual is it? I assumed that it was issued before they came out with the PVD black version?

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They certainly aren't common, but I don't know how unusual they are. Of course somebody with a SBS diver and a RN could just swap cases and I have heard of this being done before.

""Curiouser and curiouser" said Alice"

Thanks for input so far guys...

I've ran the same query on MWR and a couple of replies are interesting.

"I have seen other examples in the past and they have exactly the same markings as yours.

Recently I did ask CWC if they had any record of what "SP" meant.

" Hi We have been checking and have not come up with any firm answer. What year would the watch be? It could have been done by a special unit. Is it a one off or have you seen others? Sorry can'y answer as yet. We will keep checking and maybe find something in our records, if you know the year. Regards"

Problem is they are never dated.

"SP" examples don't seem to have been issued, and it has been suggested that it could stand for surplus production, special purchase or sample product."

Even CWC/Silvermans don't seem to know a definitive answer.

"I'd say this particular SP example dates from around 1994. I've seen a 1992 version characterized by
the rounded 4 on the bezel and the 0552/ markings on the case back. Later SP examples circa 2002
have also been seen.

I've SP noted as Sample Product, but I can't recall where this came from."

Somebody has also suggested that SP may have
stood for Special Procurement, regarding a limited RM/Boatie order

I seem to recall silvermans sold a day/date diver without pvd coating a few years back. I only ever saw black sbs divers always with full markings on i.e number and year. With urgent operational requirements (UOR) ive seen even dive watches with a sticker attached with the numbers on. Needless to say they soon fell off!!.

The one occasion that I have seen a CWC diver in the possession of a member of the SBS, to whom it was issued, it was SS not PVD.

During a conversation I specifically referred to the issued divers watches used by his unit and he fished the watch out of his daysack, he was a London based liaison officer and his daily wearer with his suit was one of the SBS badged SMP GMTs that have been mentioned in threads previously. I can't recall the vintage of the CWC watch but he stated that he was keeping hold of this particular watch as a different model was being issued from the stores now which he viewed as inferior (Possibly the issue Citizen diver?). He attributed the change in watch to costs associated with the way in which the stores had been managing watches.

By his account watches were not issued in the same numbers as they had been previously (the conflict in Afghanistan giving rise to certain military 'fashion trends' such as big chunky Suuntos), consequently watches spent longer on the shelves and when they left the stores it was often with short battery lives. The watches would stop relatively soon after, they would be returned to the stores where the recent date of issue would be compared against the now stopped watch and it would be judged faulty, whereupon the watch would be beaten against the stores counter to ensure that a broken watch was being back loaded.

The conversation took place sometime between July 2010 and Dec 2011.