{"product_id":"iwc-mark-xi-6b-346-raf-issue-c-1950","title":"IWC Mark XI 6B\/346 RAF Issue c.1950","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Watch\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Mk 11 was introduced into the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the British Fleet Air Arm in November 1949, and into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in August 1950.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe RAF bought watches from both the \u003cstrong\u003eInternational Watch Company (IWC)\u003c\/strong\u003e and Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC). But after having initially purchased about 2,000 from JLC in 1949, the RAF decided to buy only \u003cstrong\u003eIWC\u003c\/strong\u003e from 1949 to 1953, when the last RAF orders were placed, totalling at least 7,400 IWC watches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe RAAF initially bought its Mk 11s from JLC; 420 in 1950 and 600 in 1953. It then changed to IWC in 1957, buying another 600.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLittle is known about the number of watches shipped to Air Forces of other Commonwealth countries like the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and South African Air Force (SAAF). Likewise the number of watches bought by civilian airlines is unknown.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis example has the later Ministry of Defence (MoD) requested Dial, after they became aware of the potential health danger of the Radium-based luminous compound, which the first few versions had ,this led to the introduction of Tritium-based luminous material. From 1963 the use of Tritium is indicated by T on the dial, almost invariably the T is surrounded by a circle. The encircled T appeared only on RAF dial versions as the RAAF and RNZAF did not request it.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"gmail-sc-dJjYzT gmail-hpWFyH\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Specs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eAge: c.1950.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMovement: Manual wind with Hacking Centre Seconds.\u003cbr\u003eCalibre: 89.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eTimekeeping: Very good.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eService History: Unknown, fully inspected Nov 2026.\u003cbr\u003eDial: Original \"Upgraded\" Tritium Dial.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCase: Stainless Steel.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMeasurements: without\/with Crown: 36mm\/39mm End to End: 46.5mm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eBezel: Solid.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWater Resistant?: No.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHands: Original.\u003cbr\u003eCrystal: Correct Style Acrylic Crystal.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCrown: Correct Original unsigned Crown.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eStrap\/Bracelet: On a new Khaki Military Style Strap with Steel Fixtures.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eLug Width: 18mm. Fixed Bars.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eGetting \u003c\/u\u003e\u003cu\u003eAcquainted\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBits that stand out:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Issued to a Royal Air Force pilot, can you get any cooler?\u003cbr\u003e- The Dial has developed a lovely colour throughout. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e- 36mm Case.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e-Hacking Seconds.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNitty Gritty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e- The Unpolished case has dings and marks throughout. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eOverall this IWC Pilot is in very nice condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eThe Dial is in very good condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eCase has some marks and dings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eCaseback markings are in lovely order.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eOriginal Crown.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eCrystal is in good nick.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003eOriginal Hands are in lovely shape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan face=\"courier new, courier, lucida sans typewriter, lucida typewriter, monospace\"\u003ePhotographed on a 7in Wrist.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Waecce ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63282594709891,"sku":null,"price":5250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0553\/1638\/1901\/files\/IMG_3748_1.jpg?v=1794495129","url":"https:\/\/www.waecce.com\/products\/iwc-mark-xi-6b-346-raf-issue-c-1950","provider":"Waecce ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}