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Coincidentally, I am publishing this a little after St. Patrick’s Day, which is the “holiday” in America with green beer, sassy red heads, and dudes in leprechaun suits. Nobody would dare to pinch me while I am wearing this flashy green Limited Edition Ground Force Automatic watch probably from 2005.

MEET THE  WATCH: Victorinox Swiss Army Metallic Green & Titanium Limited Edition Ground Force Automatic 24794

Every day is St. Patrick’s Day with a watch this green!

So, how green is this dial? It reminds me of metallic green foil wrapping paper that people used to use during Christmas holidays. It is as green as a grasshopper sitting on a frogย sitting on lime jello in a field of clover. That is VERY green. The watch looks great with its OEM titanium deployment band or on a Crown & Buckle Sheffield strap.

The dial of this limited edition Ground Force is even greener than real leaves

The dial of this limited edition Ground Force is even greener than real leaves

A rare Green Swiss Army Limited Edition Ground Force Automatic on a Crown & Buckle Sheffield strap

A rare Green Swiss Army Limited Edition Ground Force Automatic on a Crown & Buckle Sheffield strap

The splashes of red and white make the dial a nice place to spend some time looking. Instead of tick mark indices, this model uses numbers staggered from 1 to 60. There is no guessing what minute of the hour it is. A military scale is also displayed within the large numerals’ inner sanctum.

The case design is reminiscent of Swiss Army’s Dive Master 500 watches that incorporate a crown guard right into the case. This bulk gives the watch a stocky bull dog look. A screw down crown is included for extra protection from the elements, though the Ground Force watches are only rated for 100 meters water resistance. This is no Navy Seal watch.

The red used int the logo shield and the tip of the sweeping seconds hands really pop due to contrasting colors

The red used in the logo shield and the tip of the sweeping second’s hands really pop due to contrasting colors

This is probably the only Swiss Army model that has this exact metallic “fly green” sunburst dial. I have searched the Internet to find other Swiss Army models that uses this eye-popping color and did not find a single example. ย I did find a few runner-ups though.

Other green watches from Victorinox Swiss Army are more muted than this limited edition Ground Force

Other green watches from Victorinox Swiss Army are more muted than this limited edition Ground Force

At first, I did not realize that it was a limited edition automatic (self-winding) model with a low production number. ย I was familiar with quartz versions of Swiss Army’s Ground Force watches, but not this one. The reason is that you might never see one in the real world or for sale that was not much information or photographic evidence to be gleaned from the Internet either.

The sunburst dial can clearly be seen. The sun makes this dial intense with color.

The sunburst dial can clearly be seen. The sun makes this dial intense with color.

I also own the rugged and hefty Ground Force Quartz Chronograph that looks as tough as a tank. It even has “tread” on the pushers. These Ground Force watches have titanium cases and bands making them light and strong. The bezels can take some abuse and both of mine show battle scars. Notice the split seconds chronograph. The chronograph version has 6 hands!

A quartz Swiss Army Ground Force Chronograph with a central chronograph

A quartz Swiss Army Ground Force Chronograph with a central chronograph

By the numbers, this watch is the third rarest Swiss Army watch that I own with only 200 ever made.

The titanium bracelet has lighter colored outer links with a darker center links

The titanium bracelet has lighter colored outer links with darker center links

The quartz chronograph version of the Ground Force is even more rugged looking

The quartz chronograph version of the Ground Force is even more rugged looking

To increase the rarity, even more, I have #2 of 200. While some people say that #2 is actually the first loser, this is not a race. Instead, it is generally accepted that lower numbers are better than higher numbers. I personally don’t see much validity in this if all the watches are the same, but watch collectors have to brag where we can.

The decorated ETA 2824-2 movement. The limited edition number is hard to read, but it is #2

The decorated ETA 2824-2 movement. The limited edition number is hard to read, but it is #2

I am so glad that I gave this one a second look, and had the luck of the Irish obtaining it.

My rare Victorinox Swiss Army Limited Edition Titanium Ground Force Automatic

My rare Victorinox Swiss Army Limited Edition Titanium Ground Force Automatic

Andrew Hughes

Author Andrew Hughes

A graphic designer and photographer in Atlanta, Georgia who came down with a serious obsession for things that wind up, tick and tell time.

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