Praesidus quickly became the go-to brand for military-style watches. The company specializes in creating watches that remember historical military stories from various eras. On top of that, Praesidus offers incredible value to your money. As a result, the watch has become a popular storyteller and is highly praised by fans. Last year’s D-Day 80th anniversary series tells one of the most notable military stories in history. The clock led to many demands of similar homage to the Pacific Campaign during World War II. With the IWO Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 featuring a Black Sand Dial, the brand has created a tribute worthy of the famous battle of the rock Jima on the volcanic island. Let’s find out more!
The Praesidus D-Day 80th Commemoration series is not something you can easily forget. Its first model, the C-47 A-11 D-Day, featured a special dial made from a “burger” door from two D-Day veteran C-47 Skytrains. The second and third models were a trio of Utah Beach A-11 watches with unique dials. Their three-part construction quickly stands out, with the lower part representing the sand of Utah Beach and the other two parts at the top representing the Normandy coast. Available in three colorways, the resulting watch quickly stood out as an appropriate homage to the historic event of June 6, 1944.
Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Series Story
These watches inspired the brand’s new Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 trio. The two Victory Sands models feature a similar dial configuration to last year’s Utah Beach A-11 series.
These dials are extraordinary storytellers as the map combination shows battle progress and IWO JIMA’s black volcanic sand. The Victory Sands model comes in a review version with a high contrast black and orange run, and a more vintage-style stainless steel, black and beige version.
The third option is the Pacific Memorial model. It features a special dial depicting the famous image of the flag featured on Mount Sribachi after 36 days of battle. It has become one of the most iconic images in history that we all have seen before, telling stories of sacrifice and courage. The image of a soldier holding a flag is set against the background of black volcanic sand that the US Marines offered to Praesidus to create a dial.
Battle of Iwajima during World War II
Just as a quick reminder, in February 1945, the US military landed at Iwajima, a volcanic island. The small island will become the central location of some of the heaviest battles of World War II. The US military had established a strategic position on the airfields, and US bombers were using it on their way to the major Japanese islands. It marked the turning point of the first invasion and war of Japan’s home islands.
Over 36 days, the US Marines fought a tough battle to conquer the island’s black sands one inch. The Japanese fortresses made the battle incredibly hard, but in the end the US managed to conquer the island. They then raised the American flag of Mount Sribachi, the highest mountain on the island, to mark victory. This moment became a symbol of sacrifice and courage.
Details of Praesidus iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Victory Sands Model
These three new Praesidus offerings are based on traditional military field watches. Both versions I had for review had stainless steel cases with black DLC coating. However, the third model features a regular stainless steel case. All three cases are 38mm in diameter, 13.2mm thick, and 45mm from lug to lug.
The two Victory Sands versions feature a background made from Iwo Jima’s black sand. For the black DLC-coated variant, a bright orange strategic map of Iwo Jima’s event sits above. However, the regular stainless steel models have the same map of nice cream/beige tones.
Additionally, each dial has a rehabilitation that matches the color of the map. Additionally, orange is present in the text on the black hand and dial. As soon as the darkness falls, the surprising orange elements light up, providing a lovely colorful display of time and maps. I like how Praesidus created two different versions of the same watch. The version we had has a rather stealthy feel, while the other models feel more like a traditional field watch.
Inside the two models’ cases is the Ameriquartz 6130 movement, which powered the A-11 watches previously used by Praesidus. Finally, the black and orange models come standard with black tropical style rubber straps (not shown here). The stainless steel model is shipped in brown leather straps to enhance its classic vibe.
Details of Praesidus iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Pacific Monument
The third version is a Pacific Memorial model with a uniquely designed dial. Like the other two watches in this series, the bottom of the dial is made up of Iwo Jima black sand. However, the top depicts the famous image of a soldier raising the flag, all running in black. This creates a very stealth overall look. The applied index and hand are also black, but with a fast finish to reflect the light. The matte black Lesaude then features a 60-second scale on white Lesaude, and the white Lesaude in the hand also gives a slightly brighter hint.
Within the Pacific Memorial model, Praesidus uses the Landeron L21 automatic movement. This Swiss-made caliber works at 28,800Vph, has 17 gems and offers a 36-hour power reserve. Finally, to give it a calm look, the watch is equipped with a black suede strap with black stitching and a black coated buckle. All of this makes it a watch that doesn’t stand out as a memorable piece at first glance. Therefore, it becomes a much more personal statement of memory.
I’m wearing the Praesidus iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 watch
On the wrist, the Pacific Memorial version looks like a field watch under the radar. It is a very stylish watch and does not seem out of place for everyday wear. I love the clever execution of the design of this model by Praesidus.
The personal approach Praesidus took with the watch shows Grace and Class without sacrificing its memorable value. Plus, it’s interesting to see all the intricate details set against the background of the black rock Zima sand. I loved the black suede strap because it made the watch very comfortable. Overall, I think Praesidus created a watch that quickly finds a way to a fan for $695 USD.
The two Victory Sands models aren’t too subtle and tell the story differently. However, I enjoyed wearing the black and orange model because it’s a well-executed storyteller. The contrast between the black and bright orange details is very good. As you can see, I received a black suede strap watch with orange stitching, but that’s not the final strap. The watch appears in a black tropical style rubber strap that should be extremely comfortable. The stainless steel and beige models come with brown leather straps, and both versions are available for $320 USD.
Final Thoughts on the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Model
Overall, I have to say that the Preasidus iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 truly appreciates the watch for what they represent. They reminded us how important it is to regularly hone our history lessons. I was familiar with the story of Iwo Jima, but these watches sparked my curiosity and learned more about everything that happened on the island in early 1945. If you’re interested in the story, one of these watches may be for you.
Plus, veterans and subsequent generations are linked to the battle in the Pacific. For such people, these watches can be a respectful reminder of events that took place 80 years ago. Once again, I am fully credited to Praesidus to create these watches and generally become the go-to brand of military-inspired watches. The brand offers amazingly affordable watches that tell an incredible story. These new IWO JIMA 80th Anniversary A-11 models are further evidence of their unique position.
If you’re interested in these watches, visit the dedicated page on the Praesidus website for more information.
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