IWC Pilot watches

IWC has several pilot-watches in it's collection.

Are there IWC watches that where used by pilots during WO2?

Yes

the mark series, and the b-uhr, which everybody thinks was for pilots while it was mainly woren by the observers.

there's plenty of information in the archive, let's also hope some of the many experts who attend this forum, will add some contributions.

Regards,

Roberto

I do not think so...

The B-uhr was used by the Luftwafe during WWII but, as you well state, it was issued to navigators and not to pilots. The B-uhr was issued to the navigator, prior to the the mission, and returned immediately after its completion. The navigator did not keep it was part of his personal equipment.
I am not aware of any IWC being used by the RAF during WWII. The first Mark 11s date from 1948, 3 years after the end of WWII. The Mk 11 was issued also to navigators, not to pilots, and I believe, as part of their personal equipment. Corrections welcomed.

Special watch for pilots - 1936

Hi Clepsydra,

this is briefly what I know about it*:

The Special watch for pilots, also (wrongly known as mark IX) debuted in 1936, cal 83 - 12 lignes, anti-magnetic escapement.

1940 debutes the B-uhr with introduction of hacking seconds for Luftwaffe.

Mark XI enters in service fot RAF at the end of 1940.

And the story goes on :-)

Regards,

Roberto

• Source: IWC Pilot's waches - Printed by Studio Zeta for IWC tahnks to the efforts of several experts, including forumers Thomas Konig and Alexander Linz.

written mark XI, please read X, obviously

referred to W.W.W. watch wrist waterproof for the British Army (but also rarely adopted by pilots too).

As fas as I know the "Special watch for pilots"...

aka Mark IX, was not part of the inventory of the RAF or the Luftwafe. Its intended market were civilian pilots. Corrections welcomed.

The IWC w.w.w. aka Mark X, was not...

as you well state, a pilots watch. I believe it was issued to the Army only. I was not aware of it being used by pilots during WWII.

As fas as I know the "Special watch for pilots"...

From this point of view Mark IX lacks of any assignation but, as Thomas Koenig says in the chapter, "Milestones of flight" of the book I mentioned: "The prove that Special watch for pilots was used for military purpose also exsist in rare cases".

Since he might read this post it would be great to have some details by a so remarkable author.

Anyway, I guess I expanded the meaning of: "used by pilots", from Anthony, not considering military contracts, assignations or technical specs required in the following periods (not mentioning the B-uhr) but I think it more than possible these watches were used by Air Force personnel from both sides during WWII.

Regards,

Roberto

B-Uhr

How much does an original WO2 B-Uhr cost? (My father is a WO2 collector)

Are there any other watches used next to the B-Uhr?

And does IWC perhaps have a trace of a WO2 military-used watch in it's archive?

B-Uhr from IWC will set you back from...

between 40-50k USD. Very expensive. Others companies made these as well.

Please --don't recommend sellers here...

The forum has to remain non-commercial for several reasons.

I'm posting this because I had to remove a post here that touted a specific seller.

Thanks for everyone's understanding. If there's questions or comments about this, kindly e-mail me rather than post.

Michael

The art of a conman.....

The art of a conman is to offer something that is desparately sought after by collectors, so that emotion and desire will overcome logic and result in a sale. Even the most knowledgeable collectors make mistakes. I am thinking of a certain Polish Pilots watch that I saw in a book. Very dodgy.
Cheers Louis