Zero West honour a WWII hero with a duo of Spitfire Escape models
Russell Sheldrake2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War, and to mark this milestone, British watch brand Zero West has released two very special limited edition watches that contain a physical connection to WWII and a plane flown by a man who took part in the Great Escape: one blue-dialled chronograph, the S6e, and one black-dialled time-only piece that draws inspiration from the Dirty Dozen, the S5e. These are both dripping in historical references, while still being built to survive the toughest conditions that all Zero West watches are expected to live up to. Before we dive into the details, I want to tell you the incredible story of heroism that led to the Zero West S5e and S6e Spitfire Escape being made.
The story
Flight Lieutenant Alastair ‘Sandy’ Gunn was a pilot in the RAF’s Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), and flew Spitfires armed only with camera equipment behind enemy lines to gather vital information to advance the war effort. On March 5th 1942, Sandy was tasked with photographing Tirpitz, one of the largest battleships in the German fleet, which was based off the coast of Norway.
During this mission, Sandy and his AA810 Spitfire were shot down by two Messerschmitt Bf 109s, forcing him to crash land in Norway. Although he evaded immediate capture, Sandy was later found and taken to the infamous Stalag Luft III prison camp. It was here, in collaboration with 75 other Commonwealth POWs, that Sandy took part in one of the most legendary escape attempts in history. Of the 76 who escaped, 73 were captured, and 50 were executed on the personal orders of Hitler. Sadly, Sandy was part of that 50.
While his life was cut short, his story is now living on and being retold. His AA810 Spitfire is currently under reconstruction, with Zero West sponsoring the cockpit instrumentation. Some of the aluminium alloy that formed part of the Merlin engine of Sandy’s plane has been recast and made into the serial number plates that sit on the side of the Spitfire Escape limited editions – a small physical connection for those lucky 200 people able to buy one of these.
This story is a slightly personal one for me, as my own grandfather flew in the RAF during the Second World War, flying Dakotas that delivered troops and cargo to the most crucial areas during the war. While he thankfully survived the conflict, it’s stories like Sandy’s that show exactly what these brave service people risked every time they took to the skies. Now, on to the watches.
The case
As you might have expected, the S5e and S6e Spitfire Escapes belong to Zero West’s Air family and come with the brand’s Dual Concentric Construction, which provides for a tighter seal and allows for 100 metres of water resistance. Both use 316L stainless steel that has been given a matte finish – apart from the caseback, which is highly polished with a rather special engraving.
Under normal light, you can only see the words “Photo Reconnaissance Unit – RAF Wick – 5th March 1942 – Spitfire AA801 (PR-1D)”. However, if you shine a UV torch onto the caseback, a ring of Morse code is illuminated. This Morse code spells out “ESCAPE TUNNEL HARRY 22.30, 24-03-1944 51.5986N-15.3075E”, giving the coordinates of the Stalag Luft III camp. Of course, escape tunnel Harry was the one used in the famed escape attempt that led from Hut 104.
Though they are quite different when it comes to complications on offer, the two watches are actually similar in dimensions. Both measure in at 42mm across and 47mm lug-to-lug, although the chronograph is expectedly thicker, coming in at 13.4mm compared to the S5e’s 12.2mm.
The dial
This is where the major similarities end between these two, with a few design details that keep them visually connected. The dial of the S6e chronograph has been done in a bright blue colour and has features that link it to an airspeed indicator that you would find in cockpits during the war. The luminous Arabic hour markers sit on a sculpted track, helping give this dial a lot of depth and character. The two recessed chronograph sub-dials are arranged vertically at 12 and 6, with the 30-minute counter at the top and the 12-hour counter below.
Both watches feature broad, masculine sword hands filled with Super-LumiNova made to stand out equally well against the blue of the S6e and the matte black of the S5e. The latter’s dial is inspired by the legendary WWII-era Dirty Dozen, but with a few tweaks that make it more practical. To start with, we have the iconic MoD arrow at 12 that featured on all Dirty Dozen watches, which also helped pilots orient the watch, no matter if they were in the middle of a barrel roll or not. Something that did not appear on those wartime pieces, however, is the segmented colour countdown that runs from 9 to 12, and from green to red. It’s ideal for tracking exactly when your mission starts, or how long you have until your next meeting.
The movement
Inside both of these watches are supplied movements from Sellita that are regulated and tested in the UK. The chronograph features a variety of the automatic SW500 known as the SW500BVc, which just references the orientation of the sub-dials and has a 62-hour power reserve. Inside the S5e is the SW261-1, another automatic movement which is essentially the small seconds variant of the ubiquitous SW200 with a 42-hour power reserve. Both calibres are the manufacturer’s “Premium” grade, which is one step down from the best (namely COSC grade) that Sellita offers, but for something like this, it means you get fantastic specs and great value.
The bracelet and the straps
Both the S5e and S6e come with a staggering number of strap options. The latter is available with four different straps, while the former has the option of five, which for some may feel like too many, but they all have their pros and cons. Both watches can come on a standard rubber, a fitted rubber, a padded leather strap or a three-link metal bracelet, while the S5e can also be purchased with a perforated green rally leather strap… Enough options to keep anyone happy.
The verdict
I was lucky enough to see these watches while I was at British Watchmakers’ Day earlier this year where they were unveiled, and speaking with Zero West co-founder Andrew Brabyn about them, it’s hard for his enthusiasm for the product and the story not to rub off on you. It’s rare for a relatively small company to get involved in such a unique project like the reconstruction of Sandy’s Spitfire, but it makes perfect sense for who they are as a brand and what they stand for. Both of these stand out from the Zero West catalogue for me, not only thanks to this incredible story, but they are unmistakable products of this plucky British brand.
Zero West S5e and S6e Spitfire Escape pricing and availability
Both the Zero West S5e and S6e Spitfire Escape are limited to 100 pieces each. Price: S5e starting from £3,350, S6e starting from £3,995
| Brand | Zero West |
| Model | S5e Spitfire Escape S6e Spitfire Escape |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 12.2mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) 42mm (D) x 13.4mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front |
| Dial | Black (S5e) Blue (S6e) |
| Lug Width | 22mm |
| Bracelet | Padded leather with pin buckle Standard rubber with deployant buckle Integrated rubber with deployant buckle Stainless steel multi-link with tri-fold clasp Racing leather with pin buckle (S5e only) |
| Movement | Sellita SW500BVc, automatic (S6e) Sellita S261-1, automatic (S5e) |
| Power Reserve | 62 hours (S6e) 41 hours (S5e) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph (S6e) Hours, minutes, small seconds (S5e) |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces each |
| Price | S5e: £3,350 (standard rubber), £3,400 (padded leather), £3,420 (rally leather), £3,480 (integrated rubber), £3,600 (metal bracelet) S6e: £3,995 (standard rubber), £4,050 (padded leather), £4,130 (integrated rubber), £4,250 (metal bracelet) |