Every year, Praesidus commemorates D-Day with a series of special editions.
This year, June 6 marks the 82nd anniversary of the Allied forces landing on the beaches of Normandy. On that day in 1944, 156,000 Allied soldiers successfully stormed the French shores as part of Operation Overlord. To honor this event, Praesidus releases the A-11 watches with unique dials made from the hoods of the legendary Willys MB Jeeps. The collection features five dial options, and I had the chance to review two of them. These watches serve as a precise reminder of the day that ultimately led to the end of World War II.
History of Praesidus' Unique Editions
Let's start by commending the brand for consistently creating original collections. We've already seen radically different versions of Praesidus watches, inspired by or made from authentic materials from World War II. For example, two years ago, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the brand introduced the C-47 A-11 D-Day model with dials made from the metal doors of C-47 Skytrain planes that participated in the operation. Even earlier, for the 78th anniversary, the A-11 "Marston Mat" model was released with a dial made from Marston Mat metal mesh found on Utah Beach in Normandy. For the new A-11 LMUV series, the brand developed special dials using Willys MB hoods.
Praesidus A-11 LMUV Series: History and Features
For the creation of the new A-11 LMUV watches, hoods from the legendary Willys MB - the standard light army vehicle of the U.S. in World War II - were used. Willys MB was manufactured from 1940 to 1945 under strict requirements for reliability, simplicity, and field repairability. Over 362,000 of these vehicles were produced, and they were used on the fronts of North Africa, the Pacific, and Northwest Europe.
On June 6, 1944, Willys MBs also landed on the beaches of Normandy as part of the largest amphibious operation in history. Praesidus was able to obtain a Willys MB hood to produce the steel dials for the new A-11 LMUV series. The paint layer on the dials - olive drab over red oxide on bare metal - is original, preserved from that time.
Special sandblasting treatment reveals the colors and texture, with no additional materials added. As a result, five dial options in green, yellow, gray, red, and brown were created, each with its unique appearance. The gray and yellow variants were presented for review.
Five Dial Options with Distinctive Military Style
All dials feature an open minute track with luminescent dots every five minutes. Outside the track, numbers are displayed every ten minutes, while inside, large Arabic numerals are in the typical military style for watches.
The hands are sword-shaped with luminescent coating. At the "6 o'clock" position, the inscription "America’s Greatest Contribution To Modern Warfare" is applied - a quote from General George S. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, dedicated to the Willys MB.
The dials are housed in a 38-millimeter matte stainless steel case with water resistance up to 100 meters. The case height with double-domed sapphire crystal is 12.5 mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is 45 mm, ensuring a noticeable wrist presence. To complete the look, there is a choice between a brown leather strap and a green textile 20 mm strap with quick-release spring bars.
Miyota 9039 Movement Inside
Behind the case back with commemorative engraving lies the automatic Miyota caliber 9039 movement. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, contains 24 jewels, and provides a power reserve of up to 42 hours. The screw-down crown is easy to use: there is no play, allowing for precise time setting.
The case back is engraved with an image of the Willys MB and commemorative text. Each piece has an individual number from the series of 800 A-11 LMUV watches. The first batch of 380 pieces will go on sale on June 6 at a price of $550 USD, with the second batch of 420 pieces to follow later.
New Praesidus A-11 Utah Beach 82nd Anniversary Series with Hand-Painted Dials
In addition to the A-11 LMUV, Praesidus has introduced the new A-11 Utah Beach 82nd Anniversary series. The Utah Beach collection was first described by me two years ago along with the C-47 A-11 D-Day models. Those watches used real sand from Utah Beach, where Allied troops landed. In the new 82nd-anniversary edition, the concept is enhanced.
Dial Construction of the Utah Beach Series
The dials consist of three parts depicting the Normandy coast. The lower part is made from sand from Utah Beach. Above it are two parts symbolizing the Normandy coast with five beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The colored part represents the sea, and the visible sand represents the real beaches where 150,000 soldiers landed on June 6, 1944. The five beaches are also marked directly on the dial, giving it a unique look.
Hand Painting for Anniversary Models
In honor of the 82nd anniversary, the landing scene is hand-painted on the upper part of the dial, and the lower part is filled with sand, as in previous versions. The case remains classic - 38 mm stainless steel with a combination of polished and matte surfaces. The bezel with notches adds character. 150 pieces of the Surf Blue series with unique hand-painted blue dials have been released. Each dial is unique.
Steel Tide Model with Detailed Painting
In addition to Surf Blue, 10 pieces of Steel Tide with even more detailed hand painting, depicting soldiers, landing boats, and the shore, will be released.
Dark Storm Model with Black and Gray Palette
There will also be 5 pieces of Dark Storm, where the image is executed in black and gray tones. In this version, the clock hands are coated with beige Super-LumiNova instead of white. All models feature the same Miyota 9039 movement, hidden behind a commemorative case back.
The A-11 Utah Beach 82nd Anniversary models will be available for purchase on June 6 on the official Praesidus website at a price of $495 USD.
Final Thoughts on the New Praesidus Models Dedicated to the 82nd Anniversary of D-Day
Overall, I highly commend Praesidus for creating special watches in memory of D-Day - an event that marked the end of World War II. The significance of these watches lies not only in the accurate reproduction of historical themes but also in the use of real materials and elements associated with that day. I am confident that all 800 pieces of A-11 LMUV and 165 watches of the Utah Beach 82nd Anniversary series will sell out very quickly.
Each model comes in special commemorative packaging that matches the series concept. Praesidus reaffirms its leadership in the military-themed watch segment. The brand not only perfectly crafted the design but also created a strong narrative integrated into each model. Among my many favorite collections, the commemorative D-Day models hold special significance due to their deep historical context. It will be interesting to see what new ideas the brand will propose in the coming years to commemorate this important date.