SMITHS Referee/Parking watch A470

https://i.imgur.com/JdJbJwk.jpg

Been looking through "SMITHS WATCHES" by Barrie Smith pondering on the dial evolution of the Smiths Everest "Expedition" (but that is another story) when I came across this unusual model.

https://i.imgur.com/mQwIUHs.jpg
The pic above is from the 1955 catalogue.

* * *
https://i.imgur.com/7ioZOYC.jpg
The pic above is from the 1957 catalogue.

https://i.imgur.com/ttv0RSQ.jpg

What struck me as particularly unusual was the bezel... which counts down minutes from 45-0... WITH THE REST OF THE BEZEL BEING COMPLETELY CLEAR. This makes the bezel basically useless for anything else...

A remember seeing a reference to this watch in this interview:

A Thoroughly British Obsession: Interview with Watch(Smiths) James Merrens
https://wornandwound.com/thoroughly-...james-merrens/

Google only brings up the reference below and luckily some pictures. Also of interest is the possible Russian connection. Check it out.

https://i.imgur.com/YASbgh1.jpg
This pic is from MWR. More pictures in the link below.

Smiths Referee/Parking watch
https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/show...-Parking-watch

John

I am sure I am not alone in thinking that the Expedition dial hand combo in a similar case with an engraved steel 60 to 0 countdown bezel would make a very nice functional but dressy watch.
The retaining ring caseback on the original is fascinating too.
Dave