AN OVERSIZE GERMAN MILITARY ISSUE STAINLESS STEEL MANUAL WIND WRISTWATCH, BY A. LANGE & SOHNE, CIRCA 1942

Matte gilt jewelled manual wind movement, bi-metallic compensation balance with gold...

AN OVERSIZE GERMAN MILITARY ISSUE STAINLESS STEEL MANUAL WIND WRISTWATCH, BY A. LANGE & SOHNE, CIRCA 1942

Matte gilt jewelled manual wind movement, bi-metallic compensation balance with gold compensation and balance screws, second pattern matte black dial with outer 60 second divisions and Arabic five second markers, inner 12 hour chapter, blued steel sword hands with luminous inserts, centre running white seconds with counterweight, polished round case with snap on back engraved 214586, case band engraved FL23883, fitted oversized black leather strap designed for outer jacket wear, movement signed, case diameter (including crown): 6cm

 

Luftwaffe watches

In 1940, the B-Uhr watch was commissioned by the German Air Force, or Luftwaffe for their pilots from the leading German and Swiss watchmakers IWC, Laco, Stowa, Wempe, and A. Lange & Sohne. The name B-Uhr is abbreviated from Beobachtungs-uhrn translating to Observation watch.

 

These watches were produced to the specification designated by the Luftwaffe. The required features included that all watches were to have mechanical movement with centre seconds, cases measuring up 55mm to accommodate large hand-wound movements, typically only used in pocket watches. The watches were to have an oversized crown, allowing it to be operated with gloves on and extra-long strap, as they were to be worn over the flight jackets. To correct time discrepancies, the movements were capable of stopping the central seconds hand by pulling the crown. The watch was to be anti-magnetic achieved by surrounded the movement with an iron core. Two variations in dials included a Type A model which had a standard outer track and the later Type B included an outer minute track and a small inner hour track.

 

Each watch case was engraved on the left side with FL23883, identifying it as an aviators navigational watch. The back of the snap off case listed additional information: type (Bauart), production number (Gerät-Nr.), movement (Werk-Bez.), order number (Anforderz), and manufacturer (Hersteller)

 

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