PRE-ORDER finished  october 2025, delivery November

Bastogne Field Watch – 80 Years After the Battle of the Ardennes

In December 1944, amid the frozen forests of the Ardennes, Bastogne became a crucible of endurance. American troops held the line through encirclement, snow, and relentless fire — a stand defined by grit, clarity of purpose, and the will to outlast the cold and the danger.

there. Built in the spirit of the era, it’s an automatic 36 mm field watch — the authentic, compact size of the 1940s — engineered for all-day comfort and reliability on the wrist.

Legibility was life back then, so it’s super readable, with cathedral hands over a clean, purpose-driven dial. The lume carries a warm vintage tone reminiscent of radium from that time — but today it’s completely safe, with no radioactivity of any kind.

This special edition comes from a collaboration with the winner of our design contest, brought to life with the talent of Lorentz Sarkozy. It’s a timekeeper that could have passed inspection in 1944, and a companion built for today — a reminder of endurance, resolve, and the quiet strength to keep going when the winter is at its worst.

The Bastogne Field Watch is our tribute to those who fought

1. Battle of Bastogne: “NUTS!” — Defiance in the Snow

In December 1944, Bastogne, Belgium, was under siege—cold, surrounded, and outnumbered. On December 22, the German commander demanded the American forces surrender or face obliteration. The visibly weary but resolute acting U.S. commander, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, famously responded with a single word, “NUTS!”

As the story goes:

• McAuliffe, half-awake and incredulous, muttered, “Us surrender? Aw, nuts!”

• Lieutenant Colonel Harry Kinnard urged him to use that defiant word in the formal reply. The message was typed:
  “To the German Commander: NUTS!
  The American Commander”

• German officers, unfamiliar with American slang, asked if it meant yes or no. Colonel Joseph Harper translated gently: “In plain English, it’s the same as ‘go to hell.’” Wikipedia+4Wikipedia+4History Stack Exchange+4.

This bold retort epitomized the American refusal to yield—even when hope dimmed—and became the enduring symbol of Bastogne’s stand.

2. The Bastogne Field Watch: Endurance & Defiance in Time

Watch Concept & Inspiration

• The Bastogne Field Watch honors the courage and resilience of all who stood firm in Bastogne.

• Named for the pivotal town itself, the watch echoes the spirit of “NUTS!”—a vow not to surrender.

Design & Features

• 36 mm automatic field-watch case, true to the compact dimensions of WWII-era timepieces—comfortable, purpose-built, and built to last.

• Super-legible dial: Clear, no-nonsense layout with cathedral hands for easy reading in all conditions.

• Vintage-style lume: Warmly colored like classic radium, but entirely safe and non-radioactive.

Robust build: Reliable automatic movement, crafted for enduring standards of timekeeping.

Collaboration & Storytelling

• • A winning design from our creative contest was realized by Lorentz Sarkozy, whose vision captured the essence of unbowed courage.

  • It’s a wearable testament to defiance, persistence, and the American stand at Bastogne.