Russell Sheldrake
British watch brand Zero West has released two very special limited edition watches of the physical connection to World War II and the plane that the man who joined the Great Escape flew. A time-only piece with one black dial that draws inspiration from one blue chronograph, the S6E, and the Dirty Dorse S5E. Both of these drip down historical references, but are built to withstand the most demanding conditions that every Zero West Watch would expect to achieve. Before diving into the details, I want to tell you the incredible story of heroism that led to the Zero West S5E and S6E Spitfire Escape.
story
During Flight Alastair, Li ‘Sandy’ Gun was a pilot of the RAF’s Photo Reconnaissance Force (PRU) and flew a Spitfire armed only with camera equipment behind enemy lines to gather critical information to advance war effort. On March 5, 1942, Sandy was tasked with taking a photo of Tirpitz, one of the largest battleships in the German fleet based on the Norwegian coast.
During this mission, Sandy and his AA810 Spitfire were shot down by two Messerschmidt BF 109s, crashing Norwegian land. He was quickly captured, but Sandy was later discovered and taken to the infamous Starrag Luft III prison. It was here in collaboration with 75 other federal prisoners of war that Sandy took part in one of the most legendary escape attempts in history. Of the 76 who fled, 73 were captured and 50 were executed on Hitler’s personal order. Sadly, Sandy was part of that 50.
His life has been shortened, but his story is now alive and retold. His AA810 Spitfire is currently undergoing reconstruction, with Zero West sponsoring the cockpit instrument. The aluminum alloy that formed part of the Sandy plane’s Merlin engine was recast and turned into a serial number plate on the side of the Spitfire Escape Limited Edition.
This story is slightly personal to me. My own grandfather flew to the RAF during World War II and flew the Dakotas, where he delivered his troops and cargo to the most important areas during the war. He thankfully survived the conflict, but it’s a story like Sandy that shows exactly what these brave service people took risks every time they went to the sky.
Now, on the watch.
case
As you can imagine, the S5E and S6E Spitfire Escape belong to the Zero West Air Family and features the brand’s dual concentric structure, allowing for 100 meters of water resistance. Both use 316L steel, which is given a matte finish separately from the caseback.
Under normal light, you can only see the phrase “Photo Reconnaissance Unit – RAF Wick – March 5, 1942 – Spitfire AA801 (PR-1D)”. However, if you illuminate the UV torch against the caseback, the Morse Code ring will be illuminated. This Morse Code spells “Escape Tunnel Harry 22.30, 24-03-1944 51.5986N-15.3075E” and provides coordinates for the Stalag Luft III camp. Of course, the escape tunnel Harry was used in the famous escape attempt led from the shed 104.
The two are completely different in terms of the complications offered, but the two clocks are actually similar in dimensions. Both are measured on a 47mm lug-to-lag for a period of 42mm, but the chronograph is expected to be in at 13.4mm compared to the 12.2mm of the S5E.
Dial
This is where these two major similarities end, with some design details that keep them visually connected. The S6E chronograph dials are made in a bright blue color and have the ability to link to airspeed indicators you’ll find in the cockpit during the war. Bright Arabian time markers sit on a sculpted track that helps to give this dial a lot of depth and character. The two embedded chronograph subdials are arranged vertically at 12 and 6 with a 30-minute counter at the top and a 12-hour counter at the bottom.
Both watches feature wide sword hands filled with Super Luminova, made to stand out just as prominently as the blues of the S6E and S5E, featuring matte black dials. Its dial is inspired by the legendary pilot’s World War II watch Dirty Dozen, but some tweaks are more practical. To begin with, it has 12 iconic arrows featured on every dirty dozen watches. The pilot turned the clock, even in the middle of the barrel roll. However, what did not appear in these wartime works were segmented color countdowns, ranging from 9 to 12, and from green to red. Perfect for tracking accurately when missions begin or the time before the next meeting.
Movement
Both of these watches are sourced in movement from Cerata, which is regulated and tested in the UK. The chronograph features a variety of automatic SW500 known as the SW500BVC, referring to the direction of the subdial and with a power reserve of 62 hours.
Inside the S5E is another automatic movement, the SW261-1, which is basically a small second variant of the ubiquitous SW200 with a 42-hour power reserve. Both calibres are “premium” grades from the manufacturer, and take a step back from the best (COSC grades) Sellita offers, but with something like this it means you get great specs and great value.
Bracelet and strap
The S5E and S6E come with an incredible number of strap options. The latter is available in four different straps, while the former comes in five options. Both watches can be featured in standard rubber, mounted rubber, padded leather straps or three-link metal bracelets, while the S5E can also be purchased with perforated green rally leather straps. A good option to keep everyone happy.
verdict
I was lucky enough to see these watches and spoke to Andrew Bravin, co-founder of Zero West, on British Watchmakers’ Day, when they were unveiled earlier this year. While relatively small companies rarely take part in such unique projects, like the rebuilding of Sandy’s Spitfire, it makes perfect sense as to who they are as brands and what they represent. Both of these stand out from the Zero West catalogue to me, thanks to this incredible story, but are unmistakable products from this resilient UK brand.
Zero West S5E and S6E Spitfire Escape Prices and Availability
Both the Zero West S5E and S6E Spitfire Escapes are limited to 100 each. Price: S5E starting at £3,350, £3,995 to S6E
Brand Zero West Model S5E Spitfire Escape
S6E Spitfire Escape Case Dimensions 42mm(d) x 12.2mm
