I just can't see them as good value. Sorry. Why?
- Because they used to be a lot cheaper and the price went up very quickly for no apparent reason of inflation. They definitely made money before the price hiked, it is clear they are making lots more now.
- Because there are equally well made equivalents that are considerably cheaper (PRS-3 or Zeno)
- I am not so taken with the heritage argument, as has been pointed out above, the CWC diver is a re-used Monin case, fitted with Omega-derived dial and hands
- And because there are higher specification alternatives that are still cheaper (as I sit here wearing my Newmark 71).
I can totally see the value argument for a genuine issued example, there is some cachet to something that has actually been bought and used by the military.
It also lends a genuine rarity, given a watch with real provenance.
But a simple straight-from-CWC purchase is not that, it is a normal watch produced for public consumption with a military design.
Think of the difference between a Milsub and a Civillian Sub, or MN Tudor and a normal Snowflake. Massive differentials between the issued and the civil verisons.
CWC's pricing seems to want to justify charging the higher price for the unissued version.
So worth it? No, well, not to me.
Dave