1945 ELGIN WWII Military Watch Ref. 6608 Grade 539 U.S.A. Service Watch

Military watches were often developed under contract stemming directly from a country’s armed forces, these watches were designed for timekeeping under particularly adverse physical conditions and often incorporated special features that, over time, found their way into watches meant for the civilian market. These watches were designed with a purpose and to be during service on the wrists of infantrymen and women, divers, explosive ordnance disposal personnel, special operators and other folks who regularly put their lives at risk in combat.  Sensing the inevitable entry of the United States into the war in Europe, Elgin prepared several service models in 1940 to be ready for the 1941 catalog. Service watches by this time were also in demand in countries that were already at war with Germany abd where Elgin watches were sold, e.g., Canada, Great Britain, etc. These watches are not engraved on the case back with the U.S. ordnance numbers because the United States was not yet officially