Australian watch brand BAUSELE presents a new collection designed and built to U.S. Army military specifications (MIL-W-46374F).

By launching this unique series, BAUSELE became the first and only non-U.S. watch to be granted a U.S. military IP license as per MIL-W-46374F and assembled in the U.S. by U.S. veteran soldiers.

Designed and built to U.S. Army military specifications (MIL-W-46374F), these timepieces are assembled in the United States by watchmakers who are veteran soldiers. In addition, 10% of each sale is donated to veterans’ associations.

The first 500 hundred watches will be a Limited Edition to mark this historic initiative and lay the foundations for an enduring relationship in support of veteran soldiers.

The distinctive Field (ref. 31101) and Dive (ref. 34101) watches – developed and designed to military specifications with a task force of veteran soldiers, watchmakers and watch lovers – are being assembled by veterans in the US. In addition, 10% of sales go to veterans’ associations.

Bausele has been producing military watches since longtime. The brand originally provided limited edition watches for the Australian Intelligence Corps and the Special Operations Engineers Regiment. In 2021, it became the official watch of the Royal Australian Airforce 100th Anniversary.

Bausele was also the official watch of the Invictus Games held in The Hague in April 2022. This global adaptive sports competition is dedicated to inspiring recovery, supporting rehabilitation and generating a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and Servicewomen, both serving and veterans.

Arron Coote, Bausele’s CEO, is a passionate mental health campaigner who lives in Los Angeles. When he first moved to the US, already then, he was taken aback by the many homeless people on the streets. He was deeply affected by the number of veterans living in makeshift tents on the streets around the Veterans Affairs building.

Over the last several years Arron had developed a friendship with a US Army veteran, Jamal Ali. The two had discussed many times the difficulties faced by veterans when transitioning back into society after serving in the military as well as the effects of PTSD on this assimilation process. They found through shared stories and experiences that they had a lot in common around trauma and how it affected their lives.

Arron first pitched his idea of a “mil-spec” watch to raise funds for veteran soldiers in an e-mail to the US Army licensing department on 1st July 2021, expecting the likelihood of ever getting a response to be very small. To his surprise, the next morning he received a reply although the US Army’s licensing program has limited to organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

Within 8 months, with the design ‘task force’ already hard at work on initial prototypes, BAUSELE was granted a US Army IP license.

The Bausele US Army collection is inspired by military watches of the 1940s. These timepieces followed well-defined aesthetic codes. A brushed metal case so as not to reflect light, a black dial with luminous hands and numbers that told time at a glance in the dark of night, and a straightforward but ultra-precise and ultra-robust movement.

The first step was to explore the rich history of military watches. The team then studied the official US Military specifications, MIL-W-46374F, a 36-page document detailing the standards a watch must meet if it is to be worn by members of the United States armed forces. For the BAUSELEMIL-SPEC collection, they chose to stick to the original designs on pages 31 and 34 of the Military Specifications:

Reference 31101 applies to the field watch, the first 2 numerals referring to the page of the official MIL-W-46374F military specifications document where this watch case design is detailed; consequently, 34101 applies to the dive watch. Both MIL-SPEC models come with a 5-year warranty.

Both the MIL-SPEC Field Watch and the Dive Watch come with the BAUSELE crown, a unique feature that has become a brand hallmark. On a BAUSELE watch, a compartment is engineered into the crown that contains a specific element that underscores the unique nature, the identity of each watch, and that evokes special emotions.

For the MIL-SPEC collection, the crown is filled with natural American soil – visible through the transparent crown cap – from military forts throughout the United States.

BAUSELE brought together a design “task force” composed of 11 veteran soldiers and watch specialists who were involved from the very beginning of the design process, making sure that all aspects of the watch were discussed, challenged and validated.

Christophe Hoppé, who usually designs Bausele’s watches by himself, was very excited to bounce ideas around with great minds, pushing the envelope and exploring all the aspects and possibilities of this very special watch design. All Bausele Mil-Spec Watches are assembled veteran soldiers.

Charity

The military watch that helps veterans offers a revenue stream to veteran associations around the country. 10% of the sales proceeds from each watch go to a veterans association.

Both Christophe Hoppé, the Founder, and Arron Coote, the CEO of BAUSELE feel strongly about being part of making the world a better place and giving back to the community. The charity portion of sales is what opened BAUSELE’s eyes to making a meaningful difference to restoring people, not just planes. Not long after this Bausele became the official watch of The Invictus Games, supporting injured service men and women recover through sport.

BAUSELE was selected to create the OFFICIAL WATCH to mark The Invictus Games, The Hague, 2022. This multi-sport competition uses the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans

Following a visit in 2013 to the US-based Warrior Games for wounded, ill and injured military personnel and veterans, Prince Harry was inspired to create an expanded international version. The inaugural Invictus Games in London in the fall of 2014 attracted more than 400 competitors from 13 different nations. The Hague marked the fifth edition after London, UK (2014), Orlando, US (2016), Toronto, CA (2017) and Sydney, AU (2018).

Anti Negative Vibes is engraved on the case back as a reminder to always keep a positive attitude.

Models

BAUSELE MIL-SPEC ‘Field Watch’ Ref. 31101

This classic field watch, reference 31101, meets the standards described in detail for the watch case construction, shape and size on page 31 of military specifications MIL-W-46374F (hence the first two digits of the watch reference).

It features a 316L surgical grade stainless-steel case (untreated or with black DLC coating), a dial and hands with “old radium” Luminova®, and a domed sapphire crystal with five layers of anti-reflective coating. The Seiko NH35 automatic, hacking movement (pull the crown and the movement stops so the watch can be synchronized with another timekeeper) is reputed for its precision, reliability and durability.

It has 24 jewels, a 41-hour power reserve and is accurate to within -20/+40 seconds per day. Various versions will be rolled out starting Q3/2022.

Technical details

Movement
Seiko NH35, hacking, automatic
Power reserve: 41 hours

Functions
Hour, minutes and central seconds

Case
39.5mm diameter (bezel only), 316L sandblasted surgical grade stainless steel, (untreated or with black IP coating). The reference number (31101) is etched between the lugs. Thickness: 12mm. 45mm lug to lug.
Case back: 316L sandblasted surgical grade stainless steel, laser engraved
Crown: Screw-down crown filled with soil from military forts across the USA – visible through the crown cap.
Crystal: Double-domed sapphire crystal with five layers of antireflective coating.
Water resistance: 10 ATM / 100 meters

Dial
2-layer dial, “old radium” Luminova® on numerals and hours & minute hands, 24-hour time (military time) around dial center

Strap
Leather or nylon strap
Strap width: 22mm

Limited edition
“The first 500” – 500 pieces, numbered, designed and built to MIL-W-46374F

Retail price
USD 700.00

BAUSELE MIL-SPEC ‘Dive Watch’ Ref. 34101

This classic dive watch, reference 34101, meets the standards described in detail for the watch case construction, shape and size on page 34 of military specifications MIL-W-46374F (hence the first two digits of the watch reference).

It features a 316L surgical grade stainless-steel case (untreated or with black DLC coating), a dial and hands with “old radium” Luminova®, and a domed sapphire crystal with five layers of anti-reflective coating.

The 26-jewel Sellita SW200 self-winding, hacking movement (pull the crown and the movement stops so the watch can be synchronized with another timekeeper) is known for its precision, reliability and robustness.

It has a 38-hour power reserve and is accurate to within -20/+40 seconds per day. Various versions will be rolled out starting Q3/2022.

Technical details

Movement
Sellita SW200, hacking, automatic
Power reserve: 38 hours

Functions
Hour, minutes and central seconds

Case
39.5mm diameter (bezel only), 316L sandblasted surgical grade stainless steel, (untreated or with black IP coating). The reference number (34101) is etched between the lugs. Thickness: 11.3mm without domed sapphire crystal (12.8mm with crystal). 47mm lug to lug.
Case back: 316L sandblasted surgical grade stainless steel, laser engraved
Crown: Screw-down crown filled with soil from military forts across the USA – visible through the crown cap.
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with five layers of antireflective coating
Water resistance: 20 ATM / 200 meters.

Dial
2-layer dial, “old radium” Luminova® on numerals and hours & minute hands

Strap
Tropic rubber strap
Strap width: 22mm

Limited edition
“The first 500” – 500 pieces, numbered, designed and built to MIL-W-46374F

Retail price
USD 1,200.00