| Author | Message | ||
     Amanda Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I have an LeCoultre marked watch which was recovered during the war from a crashed RAF bomber. I know nothing about these watches and need some help to identify the model please. The markings on rear are arrow(air ministry I believe) 63/159 A11232 158340. Face only has LeCoultre (not Jaeger) Any help much appreciated  | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2025 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
It's a WWII RAF Pilots watch, issed under the specification "6B/159". There is no "model name". If you have further questions please post them here. | ||
| Claudio Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Hi Amanda, I posted here right few weeks ago my amateurish blog dedicated to that JLC http://6b159draft.blogspot.com/2006/03/jlc-6b-159.html (the one with dial like your is not the firsts pics but further) Claudio | ||
| AMANDA Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Thanks Guys for your help, is there anyway of dating this watch? From the excellent link I see that just LeCoultre on Military watch is unusual , do you know anymore about why this happened or the numbers involved. Is it worth me getting this watch insured and if so what sort of value? Many Thanks Amanda | ||
| Claudio Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Amanda, let me try an answer. Forget for a moment the name printed on the dials of these watches. Lets out the relationship between the brands "Jaeger", "Le Coultre" and "Jaeger Le Coultre" (anyway too trckie for me ...) I think that every military JLC watch is quiete rare and higly desirable (even if probably undervalued) . I think that your watch is a JLC produced for the RAF and delivered (as said in the link and learned from Zaf) during 1943. Why the dial say just Le Coultre ? Because it's a mistery , at the JLC factory they decided to fit that dial. (Seems like during the same time several JLC watches went to the Luftwaffe as well - black dial, small seconds at six - and that watches got a JLC printed dial). Later the Britsh Min. of Defence changed (reprinted) the dials of some of these 6B/159, and the JLC name appeared. But the watch didn't changed, and anyway it was a JLC from the beginning. Hoping is not wrong talking about prices, I've noticed that the price of your watch move nearly from 500 to 1.000 USD (depennding on condition). You mentioned two case back numbers : 158340 is the nr. engraved by the factory to list that single watch. A11232 is the number engraved by the military to identify that single 6B/159 watch (others brands indeed delivered these 6B/159). Hope this help, hope it's correct enough, eventually every correction would be appreciated and interesting. Best/Ciao Claudio | ||
| AMANDA Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
That's very helpful thanks. I guess it's too much to hope that you could trace the pilot from the A11232 number issued by the military, guess there must be a record of it somewhere. Anyway really appreciate your help on all of this it's so interesting. | ||
| Claudio Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
I'm afraid it's impossible  Once a guy sold one of these watches and he actually knew the name (and the rookie's number) of the RAF pilot who first used the watch. But I think he had others sources, he didn't get the pilot's name by the RAF's number engraved on the c.back. This I think it's almost impossible. These were primarly "British Government" property. Best/Ciao Claudio |