Introducing: Mk II And Project Recover Team Up For The Hellion-BAKU Tribute Watch

What We Know

Project Recover is a non-profit whose mission is to locate, recover, and repatriate American service members still missing in action from past conflicts. In collaboration with Mk II watches, they are releasing a special edition called the Hellion-BAKU. The watch honors the missing members of Underwater Demolition Team-10—Black, MacMahon, and Roeder—and supports Project Recover through a donation model built into the price.

The Hellion-BAKU draws from two historic military designs: the A-11 field watches of WWII and the U.S. military’s first underwater wristwatch, aka. the “canteen.” The 39mm case is brushed 316L stainless steel with drilled lugs, 100 meters of water resistance, and an oversized crown modeled after the canteen to allow operation with cold or wet hands. The watch features a double-domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on the interior surface, is 13.55mm thick, and has a lug-to-lug of 48.5mm.

The hands are modeled after those found on WWII UDT-issued watches, using a gray, black, and white color scheme inspired by the USS Burrfish‘s wartime camouflage. The hour and minute hands are widened for improved legibility, and all three hands use applied Super-LumiNova to maximize low-light visibility. The sweep seconds hand features a lumed tip and an asymmetrical triangle counterweight referencing Project Recover’s logo.

The caseback design is based on a WWII-issued canteen watch from UDT-5, carrying over the original “USN BUSHIPS” stamping along with etched markings for “UDT-10” and the production number. The combination of stamping and acid etching creates intentional misalignment to echo the period reference and emphasize the human story behind the mission. The names of Black, MacMahon, and Roeder appear at the center of the caseback, with the Mk II and Project Recover logos positioned around them in deference to the men and their status as missing in action. The watch is powered by the Seiko-produced TMI NH38.

Each Hellion-BAKU ships on a Haveston canvas strap and is available in two donation-based packages. The Standard Package is $649 and includes the watch in an Mk II travel case along with a BAKU mission patch and zine, while the Premium Package, $765, adds a customized Toyo box, a Project Recover x Mk II challenge coin, a Project Recover dad hat, a Balao submarine poster, and the zine. The standard run is limited to 180 units, which includes an $80-per-watch donation; the premium is limited to 20 sets with a $135-per-watch donation. The Hellion-BAKU will be available starting November 24 at 10 am ET.

What We Think

It’s hard not to get behind a watch like this—strong design, solid specs, and an important mission. You might think, upon first glance, that the price sits above the typical time-only field-watch bracket. Well, let me remind you that a portion of the proceeds goes towards a fantastic cause, which Mk II is quite transparent about. Factor in the specs, including a domed sapphire crystal, 100 meters of water resistance, drilled lugs, and thoughtful design, and it’s hard to argue that the value isn’t there.

With the release landing right as the holidays are right around the corner, it feels like a natural gift option for the field-watch fan or someone who simply wants to support a meaningful cause. I love the 39mm sizing, the black-on-black logo treatment on the dial, and I’m always a fan of well-executed typography, which are all on display here and are well executed. It’s a smart tribute executed with restraint. I’m a big fan.

The Basics

Brand: Mk II
Model: Hellion-BAKU
Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 13.55mm
Case Material: Brushed 316L stainless steel
Dial Color: Black
Indexes: Printed Arabic numerals
Lume: Super-LumiNova (green emission)
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Haveston canvas strap

The Movement

Caliber: TMI NH38
Functions: Time only

Pricing & Availability

Price: $649 (Standard Package) / $765 (Premium Package)
Availability: November 24 at 10am ET
Limited Edition: 200 total units (180 Standard, 20 Premium)

For more, click here.