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The 1940s was a decade defined by global conflict, and watchmaking was fundamentally shaped by it. The demand was for simple, robust, and highly legible timepieces that could serve as reliable tools for soldiers and civilians alike. This created a powerful and enduring design language that we now call “military style.” While many major brands received official contracts, a host of smaller, quality-focused firms like Fairfax produced watches that adopted this same utilitarian aesthetic, offering the public a taste of that purpose-built military cool.
This Fairfax from the 1940s is a fantastic and evocative example of the era. It’s a watch that is all about function, but with details that reveal a surprising level of thought and style. The 33mm stainless steel case is perfectly proportioned for a vintage piece, and it features two key details that ground it firmly in the WWII period. First are the fixed lugs, a simple and strong design that eliminated the potential failure point of spring bars, ensuring the watch stayed on its strap. Second is the handsome “coin-edge” or reeded bezel, a classic decorative touch that adds a bit of visual flair and makes the watch incredibly pleasing to handle.
The dial is the heart and soul of this piece. It features the quintessential military layout: large, bold Arabic numerals for instant legibility, a complete railroad track for precise minute-reading, and a subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock to keep the main dial uncluttered. The original cream-colored finish has aged beautifully, taking on a warm, honest character. The blued steel hands have retained their original luminous fill, which has patinated to a lovely khaki hue. And then there’s that pop of color—a vibrant red seconds hand that provides a fantastic, eye-catching contrast.
Proudly printed on the dial is “Incabloc,” a testament to the watch’s quality. In the 1940s, this patented shock protection system for the movement’s balance staff was a crucial piece of technology. It transformed watches from fragile instruments into durable, everyday companions, a feature that was especially important in a watch designed with military ruggedness in mind. Inside beats a reliable Swiss manual-wind movement, a sturdy 17-jewel caliber that is a pleasure to wind and operate.
