1950 IWC Mark XI 6B/346 RAF British Military

Brand - IWC

Model - Mark XI 

Case - 36mm

Dial - Tritium luminous, matte black

Movement - 8G

Year - Circa 1950s

Accessories - NATO style strap

 

Extremely nice 1950s RAF Mark XI 6B/346 Pilots Watch in beautiful original Condition with Original British MOD Military Dial and Broad arrow Military Issue Markings on the Case-Back, Military Crown and Fixed Bar Lugs.

Dating to 1950 this IWC mark XI was a revolutionary piece of kit for the Britsih Royal Air Force allowing for a wholly different level of navigation as the aerial conflict increased in intensity during the Second World War.

The watch was essential for coordinating bombing runs and was built with the aid of a military pilots in the Second World War. 

The watch would be used by an RAF Pilot navigator in conjuntion with a bubble sextant to calculate the exact latitude and longitude of the aircraft.

These particular models were not produced in great numbers and many decommisioned for military service later. This particular year dating to 1950 is seldom seen. Not many examples survived and even less in such condition. They are considered by military collectors and watch forums to be one of the most desirable and important military watches out there, and with good reason.

This example features and superb thick, and even case with strong unpolished original bevels, and fixed springbars in excellent conditon.

The perfect matte black dial features puffy tritium luminous which has aged to a lovely attractive light pumpkin colour, as have the original hands.

This watch came from the first owners family and has been sat in a drawer since the mid 70s here in the UK. As well as a Cyma dirty dozen.

The watch has been serviced recently and has an amplitude over 330 and is running at -3 seconds per day with super power reserve. These are chronometer grade watches and of superior quality to nearly everything else at the time.