Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

British military: An unsigned aviator’s Mark V, B.H. 6322 pocket watch, 1916-1918, the black dial with white Arabic numerals and subsidiary seconds dial, signed ‘30 hour, non luminous, Mark V, B.H. 3622’, unsigned jewelled movement, within a nickel case with internal dust cover, the snap on back bearing military issue ‘A’ over broad arrow pheon, dial diameter 44mm. £100-£150

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

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Collection

The Mark V aviator’s watch was made by a number of different makers, including Doxa, Omega and Zenith and other anonymous makers. Every watch was fitted with a 15 jewel movement chosen for its ability to maintain accuracy despite the constant vibration endured whilst mounted in the instrument panel of an aeroplane. The Mark V was available in three types - the standard 30 day, non luminous model; a luminous version used by night fighters (although the luminous paint had a habit of disintegrating and penetrating the delicate movement); and a later 8-day variant.

See: Wesolowski, Z. M., A concise guide to Military Timpeices, 1880-1990, Crowood Press, 1996.