US-based Presidus has announced four variations of the "A-11 LMUV D-Day 82nd Anniversary" watch, which features a dial made from the hood steel of military vehicles used during World War II, including the Normandy landings "D-Day," and the "A-11 Utah Beach Surf Blue," which incorporates sand from Utah Beach, the site of the Normandy landings, into its dial. The brand's "A-11" collection was born from an encounter with veteran Tom Rice, who participated in the operation, and all of these new models strongly reflect the brand's historical background.
A new game themed around the Normandy landings has been released.
Presidus, a military watch brand from New York, USA, has unveiled new models in its "A-11" collection, themed around the Normandy landings, "D-Day." Each model is a special edition that uses materials related to the operation.
The "A-11 LMUV D-Day 82nd Anniversary" model features a dial made from the actual hood plate of the "Willys MB" military vehicle that played a vital role in the operation and throughout World War II. The "A-11 Utah Beach Surf Blue" model, on the other hand, incorporates sand collected from Utah Beach, the site of the operation, into its dial. Both models will be available for general sale through the official online store.
Presidus, themed around World War II
Presidus is a watch brand founded in New York, USA in 2019 and now based in Phoenix, Arizona. Founder Oscar Shabra met veteran Tom Rice, who participated in the operation on June 6, 1944, and embarked on a project to recreate the military watch "A-11" that Rice lost during the operation. This sparked a full-fledged effort to convey the history of military watches and the people and events associated with them through modern timepieces.
Furthermore, the company places importance on collaboration with veterans' organizations and museums, donating 5% of the sales of its military and tactical watches to veterans' groups and museums.
The A-11 collection, which forms the core of the brand, derives its name from the specification standard for military watches established by the U.S. military during World War II, and is appealing for its vintage-inspired military design. This new collection is based on the operation in question, which is deeply connected to the brand's origins.
The A-11 uses a steel plate from the hood of an actual "Willys MB" military vehicle used in World War II for its dial.
The "A-11 LMUV D-Day 82nd Anniversary" is themed around military vehicles used in World War II, including the Normandy landings. Its most distinctive feature is that the dial is made from steel sheet cut from the hood of a surviving "Willys MB." The scratches, texture, and layers of paint etched over many years are utilized in the processing of the dial, and by further removing each layer of paint, four variations with different appearances are created.
Four variations will be available: "OG GREEN," which retains the original olive drab color of the military vehicle; "FRESH GREEN," characterized by a bright green color that develops with age; "RED SUB-LAYER," which exposes the rust-preventive red primer to give it a red and brown hue; and "RAW STEEL," which removes the paint to reveal the bare steel plate.
Because the scratches, color variations, and remaining paint on the hood used as the material differ from part to part, each dial has a unique appearance, and no two dials are exactly alike. Rather than artificially recreating the effects of aging, the fact that the design incorporates the actual traces left by military vehicles is a major appeal of this work.
From left to right: OG GREEN, RED SUB-LAYER, FRESH GREEN, RAW STEEL. Automatic movement (Cal. 9039). 24 jewels. 28,800 vibrations/hour. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel case (38mm diameter, 13.45mm thickness). 10 ATM water resistance. 121,000 yen (tax included).
The A-11 uses sand from Utah Beach, the landing site on D-Day, for its dial.
The "A-11 Utah Beach Surf Blue" model incorporates actual sand collected from Utah Beach, where the US military landed during the operation, into its dial. The brand has a long-standing collaborative relationship with the "Utah Beach Landing Museum," and has previously produced watches using sand collected from the site for their dials.
The watch face is covered with sand from Utah Beach, and beyond it, the sea into which the Allied forces advanced is depicted in a vibrant, three-dimensional blue. The boundary between the sea and the beach is modeled after the Normandy coastline, and the five landing points—"UTAH," "OMAHA," "GOLD," "JUNO," and "SWORD"—are inscribed there. The setting of the largest amphibious landing operation in history is meticulously recreated in this small space.
This watch was also produced in cooperation with the museum, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the facility's preservation efforts. This model embodies Presidus's sincere corporate stance, not only by drawing inspiration from historical events but also by incorporating actual materials collected from the relevant locations into the watch and contributing to local preservation efforts.
Automatic movement (Cal. 9039). 24 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 42 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 38mm, thickness 13.5mm). Water resistant to 10 bar. Price: 1,061,500 yen (tax included).
