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CWC Mellor 72 vs Hamilton Pioneer Pilot

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When you think of watches that have been produced for the military, two brands stand out.


I’m talking about a couple of vintage style watches in my collection that I wear regularly as part of my rotation. These are two pieces you may want to consider adding to your own collection.


I'm referring to the modern reinterpretations of a watch produced in the 1970s by the British watch company CWC and the American-Swiss brand Hamilton. In the early 1970s, both companies made a watch for the British military known simply as the W10.


CWC’s modern version is called the Mellor 72, while Hamilton’s is known as the Pioneer Pilot.


Now, you may be wondering: which of these two watches is the right one for me? While they share plenty of similarities, there are also some meaningful differences—and that’s what we’re going to explore today. So let’s get into it.


### Style


In terms of styling, both watches feature a tonneau-style case, which was very popular in the 1970s. Personally, I love this case shape. I know it’s not for everyone, and if you feel differently, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.


Both watches have a stainless steel case with a brushed finish, typical of military watches.


The Mellor 72 is by far the closest to the original W10 design, while the Pioneer Pilot leans more modern and contemporary.


The Mellor 72 comes in a single dial option—a simple black dial with lume-filled indices. The Pioneer Pilot, on the other hand, features a textured, modern dial with lume-filled indices and comes in three color variations: a textured black with vintage-style lume, a beautiful blue, and the silver version I own. Yes, it looks white in photos, but in person it's a very attractive, lite silver.


### Sizing


Both watches follow the proportions of vintage 1970s military pieces, meaning they wear smaller on the wrist.


They’re similar in size:


CWC Mellor-72 is 38mm including the crown, 42mm lug-to-lug, 30mm dial, and fixed 18.5mm lugs. The fixed lugs limit strap options—you can swap NATO straps, but traditional strap styles are a no-go.

Hamilton Pioneer Pilot is 36mm including the crown, 41.5mm lug-to-lug, 30mm dial, and a standard 18mm lug width with spring bars for easy strap changes.


### Crystals


The CWC uses an acrylic crystal, while the Hamilton comes with a mineral crystal. Some people feel Hamilton should’ve used sapphire at this price point, but personally, I’m glad they didn’t. Anyone familiar with Hamilton knows their sapphire AR coating isn’t the greatest, and I think sapphire would’ve hurt the vintage aesthetic of this piece.


The acrylic on the Mellor 72 does scratch more easily—mine already has a few—but the Hamilton’s mineral crystal has held up well so far.


### Water Resistance & Case Construction


The CWC offers 50m of water resistance and uses a snap-on caseback. The Hamilton bumps that up to 100m and uses a screw-down caseback. If I’m not mistaken, the original W10 was front-loading, meaning the movement was accessed through the front of the watch rather than the caseback. If someone has more definitive info, feel free to share it in the comments.


By the way, original W10s are collectors’ items. Depending on condition, they typically sell in the $600–$1,200 range. There’s a great YouTube video about spotting fake W10s—I’ll link it down below.


### Movements


Both watches use Swiss hand-wound mechanical movements with hacking, but this is where the two really start to diverge.


*CWC Mellor 72:** Powered by the Sellita SW210, offering a 40-hour power reserve.

*Hamilton Pioneer Pilot:** Uses Hamilton’s exclusive H-50, based on the ETA C07.701, modified to deliver an 80-hour power reserve. It’s laser-regulated and features enhanced shock resistance properties.


Both pieces have been keeping excellent time for me—often within just a few seconds per day.


### Straps


Both come on NATO-style straps. The Hamilton’s feels more premium with some integrated leather. I swapped mine out for a different strap because I work in a hospital, and I prefer something easier to clean at the end of the day. But both OEM straps are comfortable. Hamilton also offers a leather NATO, but it’ll cost an extra 50 bucks.


### Pricing


As of this writing:


CWC Mellor 72: Starts at £589, which converts to roughly $775 USD. at the time of this writing. I believe this falls under tariff thresholds, but I’m not 100% certain—don’t quote me on that. I didn’t pay any additional fees when I bought mine. Hamilton Pioneer Pilot: Starts at $975 USD depending on strap choice. However, I have seen these for less, brand new, on Amazon for less - see Affiliate link below: https://amzn.to/47KFDjB

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Both of these watches are excellent choices. Ultimately, your decision will come down to budget and which specifications matter most to you.


Leave a comment to share your thoughts about today’s review.



Save on the Pioneer Pilot: See Affiliate link on Amazon: https://amzn.to/47KFDjB

**This is an affiliate link and we will earn a small commission which helps support this site.

Thank you,


Michael T.


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