Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

British military: An RAF pilot’s/navigator’s wristwatch, by Longines, 1940s, the signed cream dial with black Arabic numerals, outer seconds track and blue steel hands, including centre sweep seconds hand, the 16 jewel movement signed and numbered ‘6549688’, in a chrome alloy case, the steel snap on case back signed and numbered, and bearing worn and indistinct British military issue numbers to the reverse, on a blue-grey Nato strap, dial diameter 28mm. £150-£200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Culling Collection of Military Watches.

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Longines were the second most prolific supplier of wristwatches to the RAF. They produced watches to the 6B/159 specification, employing the 16 jewel 12.86N movement, from 1939. The Air Ministry considered that demanding waterproof wristwatches for use in the confines of an aircraft cockpit was unnecessary and expensive, so snap on case backs were deemed acceptable.