Hands-On: The New Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Watches With Black Sand Dials

Praesidus has quickly become the go-to brand for military-inspired watches. The company specializes in creating timepieces that recall historical military stories from different eras. On top of that, Praesidus offers incredible value for money. As a result, its watches have become popular storytellers and are hugely appreciated among fans. Last year’s D-Day 80th Commemoration series told one of history’s most remarkable military stories. The watches led to many requests for a similar tribute to the Pacific Campaign during World War II. With the Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 featuring black sand dials, the brand has created a fitting homage to the famous battle for the volcanic island of Iwo Jima. Let’s find out more!

The Praesidus D-Day 80th Commemoration series is not an easily forgettable one. Its first model, C-47 A-11 D-Day, featured a special dial made from the “Hamburger” doors from two D-Day veteran C-47 Skytrains. The second and third models were a trio of Utah Beach A-11 watches with unique dials. Their three-part construction stood out immediately, with the lower part being sand from Utah Beach and the two other parts on top representing the Normandy coast. Available in three colorways, the resulting watches immediately stood out as an appropriate tribute to the historical events of June 6th, 1944.

The story of the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 series

Those watches inspired the brand’s new Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 trio. The two Victory Sands models feature dial configurations similar to those of last year’s Utah Beach A-11 series.

With the combination of a map showing the battle’s progress and black volcanic sand from Iwo Jima, these dials are extraordinary storytellers. The Victory Sands models come in a high-contrast black and orange execution — the version we had for review — as well as a more vintage-inspired stainless steel, black, beige version.

The third option is the Pacific Memorial model, which features a special dial depicting the famous image of the flag being raised atop Mount Suribachi after 36 days of battle. It has become one of history’s most iconic images that we’ve all seen before, and it tells a story of sacrifice and bravery. The image of the soldiers raising the flag is set against a backdrop of black volcanic sand that a US Marine offered to Praesidus to create the dials.

The Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII

Just as a quick reminder, in February 1945, American forces landed on the volcanic island of Iwo Jima. The small island would become the central location of some of the heaviest combat in World War II. It held a strategic position for the US forces due to its airfield, which US bombers used on their way to the main Japanese islands. It marked the first invasion of the Japanese home islands and a turning point in the war.

Over 36 days, US Marines fought a tough battle to conquer the island’s black sands inch by inch. The Japanese fortifications made the battle incredibly hard, but in the end, the American troops managed to conquer the island. They then raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi, the island’s tallest mountain, to mark their victory. This moment has become a symbol of sacrifice and bravery known the world over.

The details of the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Victory Sands models

These three new Praesidus offerings are based on traditional military field watches. Both versions that we had for review had a stainless steel case with a black DLC coating. However, the third model features a regular stainless steel case. All three cases measure 38mm in diameter, 13.2mm thick, and 45mm from lug to lug.

The two Victory Sands versions feature a backdrop made of black sand from Iwo Jima. For the black DLC-coated variant, a bright orange strategic map of the events on Iwo Jima sits on top. The regular stainless steel model, however, has the same map in a nice cream/beige tone.

On top of that, the dials each have a rehaut that matches the color of the map. Furthermore, orange is present on the black hands and the text on the dial. As soon as darkness falls, the lumed orange elements light up, providing a nice colorful display of the time and the map. I like that Praesidus created two distinct versions of the same watch. Whereas the version we had has a reasonably stealthy feel, the other model feels more like a more traditional field watch.

Inside the cases of the two models is an Ameriquartz 6130 movement that Praesidus has used before to power its A-11 watches. Lastly, the black and orange model will come standard on a black Tropic-style rubber strap (not shown here). The stainless steel model will ship on a brown leather strap to enhance its classic feel.

The details of the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 Pacific Memorial

The third version is the Pacific Memorial model with its uniquely designed dial. Similarly to the two other watches in this series, the dial’s lower portion consists of black sand from Iwo Jima. The upper part, however, depicts the famous image of soldiers raising the flag, all executed in black. This creates a very stealthy overall look. The applied indexes and hands are also black but feature a high-polished finish to reflect light. Then, the matte black rehaut bears a 60-second scale in white lume, and the hands also feature white lume for a little hint of brightness.

Inside the Pacific Memorial model, Praesidus uses the Landeron L21 automatic movement. This Swiss-made caliber operates at 28,800vph, has 17 jewels, and offers 36 hours of power reserve. Lastly, to finish the subdued look, the watch comes fitted with a black suede strap with black stitching and a black-coated buckle. This all results in a watch that doesn’t stand out as a memorial piece at first glance. Therefore, it becomes a much more personal statement of remembrance.

Wearing the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 watches

On the wrist, the Pacific Memorial version looks and feels like an under-the-radar field watch. It is a very stylish timepiece that wouldn’t seem out of place for daily wear, with its special dial only revealing itself upon close inspection. I love Praesidus’s clever execution of this model’s design.

The personal approach that Praesidus took with the watch shows grace and class without sacrificing any of its commemorative value. On top of that, it is intriguing to see all the intricate details set against the backdrop of black Iwo Jima sand. I loved the black suede strap because it makes the watch very comfortable. All in all, I think Praesidus has created a timepiece that will surely find its way to fans quickly at US$695.

The two Victory Sands models aren’t quite as subtle and tell the story differently. However, I did enjoy wearing the black and orange model as it is a nicely executed storyteller. The contrast between the black and bright orange details is super nice. As you can see, we received the watch on a black suede strap with orange stitching, but that won’t be the final strap. The watch will come on a black Tropic-style rubber strap, which should be very comfortable. The stainless steel and beige model will come with a brown leather strap, and both versions are available for US$320.

Final thoughts on the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 models

All in all, I must say that I truly appreciate the Praesidus Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 watches for what they represent. They reminded me how important it is to regularly brush up on our history lessons. While I was familiar with the story of Iwo Jima, these watches triggered my curiosity to learn more about everything that happened in the early days of 1945 on the island. If you are interested in that story, one of these watches could be for you.

On top of that, there are the veterans and subsequent generations with ties to the battles in the Pacific. To such people, these watches can be respectful reminders of the events that happened 80 years ago. Once more, I give full credit to Praesidus for creating these watches and, in general, becoming the go-to brand for military-inspired timepieces. The brand offers some amazing and reasonably priced watches that tell incredible stories. These new Iwo Jima 80th Anniversary A-11 models are further proof of that unique position.

If you are interested in these watches, visit the dedicated page on the Praesidus website to find out more.

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