| Author | Message | |||
     Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Hi all - I'd be very grateful if you could give me any information about this watch - date, model name if it has one, any other points of interest? There is a guy selling a chrome cased one (mine is stainless steel)on ebay, which has a "broad arrow" on the back and claims to be military issue, which otherwise looks identical to me. could some of these have been military issue, or has someone possibly been "enhancing" their watch? Any thanks, Ralph.
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| Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
 Hi - I don't think my last post worked, so I'm trying again. Thanks again for looking, and I appreciate any feedback. Ralph. | |||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2635 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
What is on the back of your watch? Some of these are mil issue, under the 6B/159 British military spec. They exist as civie watches too. | |||
| Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Hi. Thanks! Just a small serial number, 92574. I guess this is a civilian one? 1940s - or later? Ralph. | |||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2638 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Yes 1940s civilian is correct... | |||
| Claudio New member Username: Claudio Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Hi All, I was following the auction of Ralph' Le Coultre : it's a 'miss matched' LC dial / JLC movement, the case back inner side is unsigned, the bars, by the way the strap is fitted, seems to be fixed type (eventually Ralph can confirm). When I've seen the civil ones of theese they were triple signed LC with spring bars. So ... may it be that Ralph LC was a issued one and the Air Ministry just didn't engraved it , or THAT watch existed as well as civil ?? Ralph if you're still tuned and interested have a look here http://6b159draft.blogspot.com/2006/03/jlc-6b-159.html All the Best Claudio | |||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2639 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
The watch exists as a civilian watch. For the military verision, a LeCoultre dial along with a JLC movement is correct. They also come as a JLC/JLC but the dials are redone in that case. | |||
| Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 4 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thanks guys, A bit of an emotional rollercoaster that, Claudio. I thought I'd bought a pup for a second. The bars seem fixed, but each has a loose sleeve which turns freely. I really like the watch, and I'm looking forward to wearing it for many years. Ralph. | |||
| Claudio New member Username: Claudio Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
I'm sorry Ralph ! Of course talkin' of 'miss match' I meant the watch is fully original right like that (correct as military, as Zaf confirmed). For me even the crown is the original one (even if the seller said probably not !) Best Ciao Happy Weekend claudio | |||
| Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 5 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thanks again. I have to confess to a bit of confusion now - is the concensus that it is a military or a civilian one? I wonder if the fact it is all stainless steel rather than the ususal military chrome is significant? Also, I'm feeling a bit hard done by that it doesn't seem to have a name, given JLC's habit of naming their watches. Calling it a 6B/159 isn't very appealing - would this model have another name? I'm kind of hpoing its a "mark 7" but not sure if this is correct. Also, not that I'm going to sell it, would a military heritage make it more or less desireable on the market? Cheers, Ralph | |||
| Claudio New member Username: Claudio Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
My fault, I have created the confusion and now I must get it. First : why bothering if it is military ? I've seen that the military provenance make a watch a bit more collectable. There ain't no reason but it happens. Second : the stainless case of your. there are two watches commonly accepted as the Le Coultre 6B/159 and the JLC 6B/159, both used by the RAF during the war. The LC is stainless (like your), the Jaeger brass chromed body. Both watches started their life with the same dial and hands, so very similar. Her's a pic, the still LC is on the left, Jaeger on the right (sorry for the link, please click on it) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/claudiom/r500.jpg Third : was your a military ? There is no concensus about it, Zaf didn't told it. It's my own speculation : when I've seen a watch like your (attention, I mean with that LC dial, that JLC movm., the case inner side without the LC name, that crown, even more if bars are fixed type) well it was always a RAF watch. When I've seen that watch triple signed LC with spring bras it was always a civilian one. So I have assumed that your could be a military one and the British didnt' engraved the military markings . But being sure it's all another thing . Fourth : to my knowledge JLC didn't gave any name to these. The British coded them as 6B/159. I am not sure if the name Mark VII is correct. For sure the Mark VIIA were the Weems Le Coultre but it's another watch . Hope this help, All the Best ! Claudio | |||
| Claudio New member Username: Claudio Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Obvious > the military provenance make a watch a bit more collectable between two in the same level of imprtance | |||
| Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for your knowledge and good humour. Ralph. | |||
| Thropr New member Username: Thropr Post Number: 7 Registered: 06-2007 Rating: N/A |
Hi Guys - Can you tell me how authentic a metal Bonklip strap would be with this watch? I've currently got it on a plain black one piece canvas job. Thanks again. Ralph. | |||
| Claudio New member Username: Claudio Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2006 Rating: N/A |
Hi Ralph, the strap you like the most will be the more authentic  As for the mil 6B/159 I think they were issued mainly in a common two pieces leather pigskin strap. Claudio |
