The story of Cabot Watch Company, better known as CWC, begins in 1972 when Ray Mellor founded the company with a simple but important goal: to supply tough, reliable watches to the British military. Mellor had already spent years in the watch industry working with Swiss brands, and when the Ministry of Defence needed a new supplier after previous contracts ended, he stepped in to fill the gap. From the very beginning, CWC watches weren’t designed as luxury pieces or fashion accessories—they were built as tools. Legibility, reliability, and durability were always the priority, because these watches were going to be worn by soldiers, sailors, and pilots who relied on them in real-world situations.

Over the following decades CWC became one of the key suppliers of watches to the British Armed Forces. The brand produced everything from general service watches for the Army to chronographs for RAF pilots and dive watches for the Royal Navy. In fact, in 1980 CWC replaced the famous **Rolex military diver used by the Royal Navy, which says a lot about the trust the Ministry of Defence placed in the company. These watches were built to strict military specifications and issued in large numbers, and many of them are still running today. That kind of longevity is part of what gives CWC its reputation among collectors and enthusiasts.

One of the most interesting watches in the CWC lineup is the SBS dive watch. The Special Boat Service, the UK’s elite maritime special forces unit, needed a watch that could handle serious underwater work and harsh operational environments. The result was the CWC SBS Diver, first introduced in the late 1980s. It’s a no-nonsense tool watch with a black PVD-coated case, clear luminous markers, a unidirectional dive bezel, and strong water resistance. Everything about the design focuses on practicality—nothing is there just for show.

One detail that really sets the SBS apart is its fixed spring bars. Unlike most watches where the spring bars can be removed, the bars on the SBS are permanently fixed between the lugs. It might seem like a small thing, but it’s actually a key feature for a true tool watch. If a standard spring bar fails, the watch can fall straight off your wrist. With fixed bars and a pass-through strap like a NATO, even if one side of the strap breaks the watch stays attached. When you’re diving, working, or operating in difficult environments, that kind of security matters.

That philosophy is what makes the SBS such a cool watch today. It isn’t pretending to be a military watch—it actually was one. The simple dial, tough case, and functional design all come from real requirements rather than marketing ideas. In a world where many dive watches are luxury pieces with polished cases and glossy advertisements, the SBS still feels like a proper piece of equipment.

Of course, a watch like this deserves the right strap. Because of those fixed bars, the SBS pairs perfectly with pass-through straps, and one of my favourite straps for the SBS is our Obsidian strap. A true single pass, made from a secure tubular nylon weave with blackened hardware. I haven't found a colour way that doesn't suit the watch!