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Longines 6B/159 - RAF Pilots Issued - Air Ministry Watch - Re-issued 1956 ***SOLD***

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£0.00GBP
vws1146cs

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Rare 1956 Modified/Re-Issued  Black Dial - Longines Air Ministry / RAF Pilot’s Navigator’s World War II Military Issue Men’s Wrist Watch. 6B/159.

The 6B/159 wrist watches were issued to RAF navigators and pilots during World War II and were manufactured by a number of prestigious Swiss watchmakers, including Omega, Jaeger LeCoultre and Longines. 

In 1956, many surplus 6B/159 pilot’s watches from the recently ended war were modified and reissued to the RAF by the Ministry of Defence, with the cheaper wartime alloy casing replaced with a larger, stainless steel, screwback, waterproof case, supplied by famous British case maker, ‘Dennison’. The Dials were also changed/refinished from white to black as the originals were only produced in white!

These distinctive and imposing timepieces had a chunky case with a plain, unmarked crown (standard issue for military watches.) The matte black dial featured luminous pips and luminous hands for ease of reading in all conditions - an important feature in the darkened cockpit of a World War II fighter plane! 

The case back is crisply engraved with ‘6B / 159’ along with the issue number of the watch - ‘2528/56’ - dating it to 1956. 

A rare and highly sought after piece, this watch is sure to be of interest to any military watch collector or enthusiast especially if you want the full set of 6b/159 watches both original and re-issues.


What’s on offer:

Dating to 1956, this modified Longines RAF navigators watch, originally manufactured in the 1940s, is in excellent condition, given its age. 

The watch comes on an open ended black leather strap and steel pin buckle as featured in our images but we will also include a new NATO look strap.

The watch came to us from the family of a prolific military watch collector and was well looked after and cared for and is in full working order. 

Additional information:

Box and Papers: No

Made from:

Case: Stainless steel.
Dial: Black.
Crystal: Plexiglas
Bracelet: Black leather strap and NATO. 

Technical specifications

Winding: Manual.
Movement type: Manual winding.
Calibre: 12.68N
Waterproof: When new!
Jewels: 16j

Purchase details

Condition: Excellent condition, given its age.
Model reference number: 6B/159 Air Ministry.
Date / Year of Re-issue: 1956.

Guarantee

Sold with a 12-month guarantee. 

Dimensions

Width (without crown) 36mm.
Height (lug to lug) 47mm.
Lug width: 17mm.

Wrist size: Adjustable.