The Watch
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Shortly after WW2 (1946), the British Air Ministry put out a call for new Wrist Watches for their Pilots. These watches were required to have the following: A matte black dial with white fixtures and the four quarterly hour markers luminized, a high grade Swiss movement capable of 36 hours power reserve and chronometer spec timekeeping, a water resistant case, a Faraday cage for anti-magnetic purposes and an acrylic crystal with a retaining screw. Two manufacturers answered this bell: IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Mark XI watches began to be issued in 1948 to Pilots across the British Empire.
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IWC produced around 8000 examples of the Mark XI for the Air Ministry over a 4 year period 1948-1952. 7400 of these were delivered to the RAF, 600 to the RAAF (Australia) over the 4 years.
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Originally, these Mark XI Wristwatches were issued with Radium Dials, due to safety concerns in the early 60s they were recalled from their Pilots Wrists and fitted with Tritium Dials.
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Age: c.1952
Movement: Manual wind with Hacking Centre Seconds.
Calibre: 89.
Timekeeping: Very good.
Service History: Fully Serviced by John Senior, April 2024.
Dial: Original IWC Tritium Military Specification Replacement Dial.
Dial: Original IWC Tritium Military Specification Replacement Dial.
Case: Stainless Steel.
Measurements: without/with Crown: 36mm/39mm End to End: 46.5mm
Bezel: Solid.
Water Resistant?: No.
Hands: Original.
Crystal: Correct Acrylic crystal. Possibly Original.
Crystal: Correct Acrylic crystal. Possibly Original.
Crown: Correct Original unsigned Crown.
Strap/Bracelet: Bespoke Jurgens Leather Strap made especially for this Watch, with Steel IWC Buckle.
Lug Width: 18mm. Fixed Bars.
Getting Acquainted
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Bits that stand out:
- Issued to a Royal Air Force pilot, can you get any cooler?
- Bespoke Jurgens Strap.
- 36mm Case.
-Tritium Dial.
-Hacking Seconds.
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Nitty Gritty:
-Some very faint Discolouration in places around the edge of the Dial.
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Overall this IWC Pilot is in nice Vintage condition.
The Dial is in very good condition, with some very faint discolouration around the edge of the dial in places.
Case is in excellent order.
Caseback markings are in lovely order.
Original Crown.
Crystal in good shape. Possibly original.
Hands are in lovely shape.
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Photographed on a 7in Wrist.