C.1948 IWC 36mm Mark XI anti-magnetic RAF Pilot’s military watch 6B/346 tritium dial manual winding Cal.89 in Steel

Description

Pre-owned. No box or paper.

This is the icon of IWC, the original military issued Mark XI pilot watch ordered by the British Military of Defence (MoD) for the Royal Air Force (RAF) under the contract 6B/346.

Out of the need for an aviator’s wristwatch, the Mark XI was born. In 1946, the MoD issued a new set of standards under the reference number 6B/346. These watches were required to have the following: A matte black dial with white accents and the four cardinal graduations luminized, a high grade Swiss movement capable of 36 hours of running autonomy and daily variation within four seconds, a water resistant case, a Faraday cage for magnetic shielding, and an acrylic crystal with a retaining screw. Furthermore, before being issued, each watch was to undergo testing to chronometer spec. Two manufacturers answered this bell: IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Mark XI watches began to be issued in the late 1940s to military aviators across the British Empire. 

The MoD standards required that the dial, movement, and case all be designated with a broad arrow to indicate it was government property. This example has all the appropriate markings. Through the production run and issuance to pilots, these watches went through a bunch of small changes, especially in appearance. The IWC Mark XI we have for sale here is a classic variant of this important piece of military timepiece history. With a luminous triangle at 12 o’clock, a circle “T” tritium lume indicator at six o’clock, a short blunt ended hour hand, and long white central seconds hand, this is the iteration of the Mark XI that IWC draws modern heritage inspiration from.

Since these Mark XI watches were military issued, they were routinely sent in for service to keep them accurate, in good working order, and to keep up with ever changing regulations. As lume standards changed over the years, so did the Mark XI. Almost all original Mark XI dials were relumed as per the MoD. Around 1962, the same time most watch companies switched from radium to tritium luminescent material, the Royal Air Force (RAF) required that there was a “T” in a circle on the dial to show that the lume was made of tritium.

Our watch here belongs to a large private collection and is fresh to the market for the first time in over twenty years which makes it very desirable. The watch was worn over the decades and the steel case shows some old corrosion marks but has been treated with anti-rust chemical. (Pictures shown here are taken before we worked on the watch) Dial remains in near mint condition with aged tritium markers to a pumpkin colour. This watch appears to have been serviced by the factory with a crystal and hands  replacement during that job but we don’t have any service history from the vendor. The watch works very well now and is presented in pristine condition. Check out the interior images and you’ll see that this watch is 8/10. Many have over-polished cases, poor movements, missing soft-iron core and worn out dials that impact the value greatly but our watch here is on the upper scale.

Sold with a one-year Passions Limited Warranty worth min S$650.00.

All it needs is a good home.