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William Wood Dunkirk 42mm Mens Watch Black
Ref. WWDK01
The Massey Shaw was a London Fire Brigade fireboat that crossed the Channel in 1940 and brought back more than 600 people from the beaches at Dunkirk. William Wood built this watch in direct collaboration with the vessel, and the connection runs deeper than the name: the caseback carries a fragment of metal salvaged from the ship's actual engine room, set into an engraved three-tone bronze scene of Operation Dynamo. Buyers have their name added to a plaque on the Massey Shaw herself, timed to the evacuation's 80th anniversary crossing. The dial takes its geometry from the twin wheelhouse telegraphs that controlled the fireboat's pumps and engines, with open-worked hands echoing the telegraph arms and the words STOP and LONDON illuminating in red Super-LumiNova alongside aged champagne on the remaining indices — a two-tone lume treatment that reads as period-correct rather than decorative. The red steel piping around the case sides is a direct lift from the engine room aesthetic, and the CuSn8 bronze will develop a patina that no two watches will share in quite the same way. At 13mm thick for a 42mm bronze case this is not a slim watch, but the rubber strap with its textile inlay and titanium buckle keeps it practical rather than ceremonial, and the Sellita SW220 running underneath has been finished to Premium Top Grade tolerance, a meaningful step up from the base specification.
- Reference
- WWDK01
- Brand
- William Wood
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 13mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Bronze
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- SW220
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Fabric strap
- Strap colour
- Beige
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49.5mm
- Power reserve
- 38 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about William Wood
Jonny Garrett founded William Wood Watches in 2017 and named it after his grandfather, a firefighter who served twenty-five years with the Newcastle and Gateshead Fire Brigade at Pilgrim Street on Blue Watch. In June 1966 he and three colleagues were awarded a Certificate of Merit for rescuing five children from a house fire.
The materials carry the story rather than merely referencing it. The crown, and on the chronographs the pushers, are cast from a melted-down British brass firefighter's helmet of the 1920s. Straps are made from decommissioned fire hose used in real fires, in the colours of the services they came from — London Fire Brigade through to Sacramento.
The detailing runs deeper than most themed brands attempt. The Valiant diver takes its seconds track from the chequered markings on the side of a fire engine and its seconds hand from a vintage fire bell. The Triumph chronograph uses fire-engine dashboard dials and gauge hands, behind a caseback reading In Case Of Fire Break Glass. The Fire Exit model animates a running man across the day wheel.
Movements are Swiss, mostly Sellita SW220 and SW510. A donation from every sale goes to firefighting charities, among them The Fire Fighters Charity, the London Fire Brigade and the FDNY Foundation.
- 1966
- William Wood is decorated for rescuing five children from a fire.
- 2017
- Jonny Garrett founds the brand in his grandfather's name.
- 2019
- The Valiant diver establishes the collection.
- 2021
- The Triumph chronograph adds a Sellita SW510.
- 2024
- Stocked by Goldsmiths and Watches of Switzerland.
Also in 1 collection
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,417).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 49.5mm lug-to-lug keeps the 42mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
William Wood Dunkirk alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | WWDK01 | 85237AA53.BVA33 | FC-718N4NH6B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,995 | £3,750 | £3,995 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Fabric strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 38 hours | 38 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 38 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 49.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £3,995, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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