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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Zero West DB-2 Lancaster is a large, aviation-inspired automatic chronograph limited to 100 builds. Its defining detail is an aluminium caseback insert that Zero West says was salvaged from Lancaster ED825, the aircraft associated with Operation Chastise. The edition is now marked closed by the maker, so the DB-2 is best understood as a distinctive collector’s watch rather than a new-production purchase.
What is the Zero West DB-2 Lancaster?
The DB-2 is a 44 mm automatic chronograph whose cockpit-altimeter styling and ED825 backstory shape its identity. Zero West describes it as limited to 100 builds and currently labels the edition “EDITION CLOSED” on its product page. Closed means the maker is no longer presenting it as an open edition; it does not establish whether pre-owned examples are available.
Zero West also says each watch came with a 100-page book about the mission and the later search for ED825. The maker’s page says the book accompanied every DB-2; it does not establish that the book was sold separately.
Case, dial, and wrist presence
The case measures 44 mm across, 16.3 mm thick, and 50 mm from lug to lug, in matt silver 316L stainless steel. The 22 mm strap tapers to 20 mm at the buckle. Those dimensions make fit a central consideration: the watch is broad and notably tall, rather than a discreet chronograph.
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- Synchronized to Atomic Time Clock for Superior Accuracy, Atomic Timekeeping Technology with Synchronized Time Adjustment Available in 24 Time Zones, 1 Second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes, Perpetual Calendar, 12/24 Hour Time, Alarm, Power Reserve Indicator, Day / Date
- Silver-Tone Stainless Steel
- Sapphire Crystal
- 200 Meters Water Resistant and 5 Year Limited Warranty
In his 6 April 2023 hands-on article, Fratello’s Lex Stolk reported that he found the watch too large, tall, and heavy for his wrist. That is one wearer’s experience, not a universal sizing verdict; wrist shape and preferences affect how a 50 mm lug span and 16.3 mm case feel. The 22 mm strap is also a substantial visual part of the design.
The black enamel dial sits over brass and uses vintage-style numerals. The hands and numerals have Super-LumiNova X1. A domed sapphire crystal with internal blue anti-reflective coating covers the dial; the rear uses flat sapphire. The altimeter-inspired presentation gives the dial an instrument-panel character, while the polished and machined case details add visual complexity. Stolk singled out the case’s intricate machining in his Fratello hands-on review.
Rank #2
- Silver-tone watch featuring left-handed crown and black dial with 1/20-second chronograph function, slide-rotating inner bezel, and date window
- 45.5 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window
- Quartz movement with analog display
- Stainless steel band featuring fold-over push-button clasp with safety
- Water resistant to 100 m (330 ft): In general, suitable for swimming and snorkeling, but not scuba diving
Movement and specifications
Zero West specifies a Sellita SW500-C “Top Premium Grade” automatic chronograph movement. The maker lists 28,800 vibrations per hour, 25 jewels, and an approximate 62-hour power reserve. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent test results.
| Specification | Zero West’s listed details |
|---|---|
| Case | 44 mm diameter; 16.3 mm thick; 50 mm lug to lug; matt silver 316L stainless steel |
| Movement | Sellita SW500-C “Top Premium Grade” automatic chronograph; 28,800 vibrations per hour; 25 jewels |
| Power reserve | Approximately 62 hours, as stated by Zero West |
| Crystal | Domed front sapphire with internal blue anti-reflective coating; flat rear sapphire |
| Dial and lume | Black enamel over brass; vintage-style numerals; Super-LumiNova X1 on hands and numerals |
| Strap | Custom fluoroelastomer rubber, 22 mm at the lugs tapering to 20 mm; stainless steel buckle |
| Edition and bundle | 100 builds; 100-page mission book included with each watch, according to the maker |
Why ED825 and Operation Chastise matter to the watch
The DB-2’s story is specifically tied to Lancaster ED825 and the RAF raid known as Operation Chastise, conducted on 16–17 May 1943 against German dams. Zero West’s account says ED825 was a Type 464 Lancaster assigned as a reserve aircraft, then used by “Big Joe” McCarthy’s crew against the Sorpe Dam after engine trouble affected another aircraft. The maker says the dam withstood direct hits.
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Zero West further says ED825 flew later missions before crashing near Doullens, France, on 10 December 1943, with no survivors. According to the maker, recovered wreckage confirmed the aircraft’s identity, and the company acquired aluminium from the aviation archaeology team, smelted it, and used it for the caseback insert. The maker describes the insert as aluminium salvaged from ED825, beneath a reverse-printed sapphire caseback graphic.
These are Zero West’s historical and material claims, not independently verified archival findings in the sources available here. Fratello also connects the watch to ED825 and its loss. Its author uses the watch to raise an ethical question: what does it mean to commemorate military machines and wartime events through a luxury object? That is an interpretation to consider, not a definitive judgment on the watch or the raid.
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Price and availability
Fratello reported an original price of £4,300 including tax (£3,583.33 excluding tax) in its 2023 article. Those figures describe the price reported at that time, not a current asking price. Zero West’s product page now marks the edition closed, and the available information does not establish current pre-owned inventory or resale value.
For a used example, assess its condition, service history, completeness, and provenance directly with the seller. In particular, confirm whether the 100-page mission book and original accessories are included rather than assuming every listing is complete. The maker’s closed-edition status does not by itself confirm that the watch is impossible to find second-hand.
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Who is the DB-2 Lancaster for?
Stolk’s assessment was that the DB-2 makes most sense as a purchase driven by its unusual design and backstory, rather than as an obvious first luxury watch. That fits the watch’s particular combination of a large case, aviation-instrument styling, chronograph movement, and claimed ED825 material. A buyer primarily seeking a compact, low-profile chronograph may find its dimensions difficult; someone drawn to this specific Lancaster narrative may see those same features as integral to the appeal.
Before pursuing a pre-owned example, compare the listed dimensions with a watch you already know fits comfortably, and consider whether the historical connection and physical caseback detail matter to you enough to accept the size. The appeal here is unusually specific: it is not simply a Lancaster-themed dial, but a limited edition built around the maker’s account of ED825 and a piece of aircraft aluminium.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
