{"product_id":"iwc-mark-xi-g6b-346-australian-air-force-issue-c-1957","title":"IWC Mark XI G6B\/346 RAAF Royal Australian Air Force Issue c.1957","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 \u003cstrong\u003eRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF)\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003eRAAF\u003c\/strong\u003e initially bought its Mk 11s from JLC; 420 in 1950 and 600 in 1953.\u003cstrong\u003e It then changed to IWC in 1957, buying another 600.\u003c\/strong\u003e\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\u003e The first version, introduced in 1949, (which we have \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.waecce.com\/products\/iwc-mark-xi-raf-6b-346-white-12-c-1951\"\u003ehere)\u003c\/a\u003e had all numbers from 1 to 12 printed on the dial, it also had 4 rectangular luminous markers at 3, 6, 9 and 12. The 12 was additionally marked by 2 dots next to the rectangle. The hands were long and narrow. But the original dial proved to be difficult to read under unfavourable light conditions, so in 1952 the design was changed \"to improve clarity of presentation\" to the dial known today: the luminous triangle at 12 o'clock replaced the figure '12' and a shorter, thicker, hour hand was introduced.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eLater the Ministry of Defence (MoD) became aware of the potential health danger of the Radium-based luminous compound and this lead 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 \u003cstrong\u003eRAAF \u003c\/strong\u003eand 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 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMost of the above information taken from \"Man is not Lost\" by Matthias Christian, Thomas Koenig and Greg Steer. You can view and read this excellent article: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.gregsteer.net\/IWC\/Mark_11\/mark11a-en.pdf\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eAs mentioned above only 600 IWC Mark 11's were delivered to the RAAF in 1957. It is unknown how many of these have survived. I believe a lot of Radium Dialled Military Watches were destroyed, so this represents a great opportunity for the serious collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"gmail-sc-dJjYzT gmail-hpWFyH\"\u003eThe Specs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eAge: c.1957\u003cbr\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: Fully Serviced 2026.\u003cbr\u003eDial: Original IWC Second Version Radium 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. Possibly Original.\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 RAAF pilot, can you get any cooler?\u003cbr\u003e- Original Second Version Radium Dial. The Dial has developed a lovely patina throughout. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e- 1 of only 600 IWC MK11's delivered to the RAAF.\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- Case has been polished.\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 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 good condition, it has developed a lovely patina throughout. \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 been polished. It retains fairly strong lugs. The Bezel is rounded. \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 good 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 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":57446391579011,"sku":null,"price":0.01,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0553\/1638\/1901\/files\/IMG-2308_1.jpg?v=1772031075","url":"https:\/\/www.waecce.com\/products\/iwc-mark-xi-g6b-346-australian-air-force-issue-c-1957","provider":"Waecce ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}