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unknown · 22 February 2014, 03:35 AM

and if you like real vintage with a lot of history, patina and plexi .... you might like it too :-)

This is one which I wanted already a long time but you can’t have everything you wish for I guess. I have a long wishlist with watches I would like to have one day.
Somethimes this list changes. Some watches are replaced by others. I’m sure you all know what I mean.

The watch in this post is one I thought about since 2005 or 2006. Damn time flies. Never on top of my wishlist and that’s why it took so long

Anyway, I remember that somebody I know bought one in 2005 or 2006 and since then I wanted one too
This week it arrived :-)
It has a similar history like Panerai. Made for the same purpose at the same time. Strictly military background and never sold to the public. ….

I’m talking about the original B-Uhren made for the German airforce (Luftwaffe) between +/- 1940 and +/- 1945.

These big (55mm) watches were not given to one specific person but to an entire crew. I was told most pilot watches belonged to one pilot

But with the German B-Uhr it was different. Such a B-Uhr belonged to a squadron and the pilot returned the watch after his flight. The next day
another pilot form the same squadron used the B-Uhr

If my information is correct, the German army wanted to order all these watches from Lange & Söhne. Ofcourse that was impossible.
Lange was unable to make all these watches in such a short period of time and that’s why they contacted other watch makers.
The big 5 were Lange, Laco, Stowa, Wempe and IWC.
Lange, Laco and IWC used inhouse movements , Stowa and Wempe used ébauches.
A. Lange & Söhne : (Lange & Söhne: cal. 48/1)
Laco (Lacher & Co) : (Durowe cal. D 5)
Stowa (Walter Storz) : (Unitas cal. 2812)
Wempe (Chronometerwerke Hamburg) : (Thommen cal. 31)
IWC : (IWC cal. 52 SC "seconde central")

All 5 made exactly the same watches, all of them 55mm and all of them used pocked watch movements which succeeded the COSC tests.

These watches needed to be very accurate.

- A case diameter of 55 mm - Marked on the back with FL 23883 (FL = flight, 23 = navigation)
- Equipped with large crowns in order to be used with gloves
- Hacking movement (the second hand stops when pulling out the crown / essential for a precise time setting)
- Breguet balance spring
- Regulated and tested as chronometers

They had 2 different dials.

A-type – which were the first series – a simple clean dial …. Yes the IWC Big Pilot Grandfather J
B- type – came a bit later and are more common, still simple but not as simple as the A-type

Now some pics …

Always nice to have some documents from the Glashütte museum which confirm the authenticity of the watch :-)

and a wristshot ;-)

MaxCargo · 22 February 2014, 04:23 AM

love it!

Hairdude1 · 22 February 2014, 05:26 AM

Wow, cool

Cuts33 · 22 February 2014, 05:50 AM

Congrats, it is a very cool looking watch.

But I could never wear it knowing who used it and what it was used for.

Laszlo · 22 February 2014, 06:05 AM

Quite magnificent.

unknown · 22 February 2014, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuts33

Congrats, it is a very cool looking watch.

But I could never wear it knowing who used it and what it was used for.

I understand but that's the same with vintage Panerai and military Rolexes.
People can do bad things, the watch didn't do anything wrong :-)

Cuts33 · 22 February 2014, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

I understand but that's the same with vintage Panerai and military Rolexes.
People can do bad things, the watch didn't do anything wrong :-)

Very true, it sure didn't.

For me personally, it would just feel "strange" for the lack of a better word.

But again, congrats on finding something you had been long looking for. And it is a very cool looking watch.

AK797 · 22 February 2014, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown

I understand but that's the same with vintage Panerai and military Rolexes.
People can do bad things, the watch didn't do anything wrong :-)

Yes and this was the Luftwaffe, if this was an Einsatzgruppen watch that would be different.

conkers · 22 February 2014, 10:41 AM

Wow - how on earth did you find this?

HL65 · 22 February 2014, 12:20 PM

Amazing find Bruno and big congrats to you!! Wear it in good health and enjoy...Cheers,

FeelingTheBlues · 22 February 2014, 12:26 PM

Very impressive piece Bruno, sure it has a very big historical value!

Congratulations!

malarky_hk · 22 February 2014, 01:58 PM

Definitely a unique piece! Enjoy.

incontrol · 22 February 2014, 02:30 PM

Amazing find! Congrats and enjoy it!

Cc1966 · 23 February 2014, 05:25 AM

Bruno, what a piece of history mate! Thanks for sharing your find/information...

SearChart · 23 February 2014, 06:35 AM

That is a very unique piece indeed, congratulations

unknown · 23 February 2014, 08:01 PM

a few extra, and better pics …

70 -75 year old patina :-)

CWIN · 24 February 2014, 03:05 AM

That is stunning! Big congrats!

el1125 · 24 February 2014, 04:01 AM

IWC big pilot. Guess IWC copied this. Very nice find

HL65 · 24 February 2014, 04:09 AM

Amazing Bruno and congrats again! Cheers,

Psmith · 24 February 2014, 04:26 AM

Wow, very impressive - congrats

93 Turbo · 25 February 2014, 10:27 PM

^^^^ This. Big thanks for sharing. J

psv · 28 February 2014, 05:58 AM

Truly amazing!

22 February 2014, 03:35 AM	#1
unknown "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 2,872	something special arrived ... and if you like real vintage with a lot of history, patina and plexi .... you might like it too :-) This is one which I wanted already a long time but you can’t have everything you wish for I guess. I have a long wishlist with watches I would like to have one day. Somethimes this list changes. Some watches are replaced by others. I’m sure you all know what I mean. The watch in this post is one I thought about since 2005 or 2006. Damn time flies. Never on top of my wishlist and that’s why it took so long Anyway, I remember that somebody I know bought one in 2005 or 2006 and since then I wanted one too This week it arrived :-) It has a similar history like Panerai. Made for the same purpose at the same time. Strictly military background and never sold to the public. …. I’m talking about the original B-Uhren made for the German airforce (Luftwaffe) between +/- 1940 and +/- 1945. These big (55mm) watches were not given to one specific person but to an entire crew. I was told most pilot watches belonged to one pilot But with the German B-Uhr it was different. Such a B-Uhr belonged to a squadron and the pilot returned the watch after his flight. The next day another pilot form the same squadron used the B-Uhr If my information is correct, the German army wanted to order all these watches from Lange & Söhne. Ofcourse that was impossible. Lange was unable to make all these watches in such a short period of time and that’s why they contacted other watch makers. The big 5 were Lange, Laco, Stowa, Wempe and IWC. Lange, Laco and IWC used inhouse movements , Stowa and Wempe used ébauches. A. Lange & Söhne : (Lange & Söhne: cal. 48/1) Laco (Lacher & Co) : (Durowe cal. D 5) Stowa (Walter Storz) : (Unitas cal. 2812) Wempe (Chronometerwerke Hamburg) : (Thommen cal. 31) IWC : (IWC cal. 52 SC "seconde central") All 5 made exactly the same watches, all of them 55mm and all of them used pocked watch movements which succeeded the COSC tests. These watches needed to be very accurate. - A case diameter of 55 mm - Marked on the back with FL 23883 (FL = flight, 23 = navigation) - Equipped with large crowns in order to be used with gloves - Hacking movement (the second hand stops when pulling out the crown / essential for a precise time setting) - Breguet balance spring - Regulated and tested as chronometers They had 2 different dials. A-type – which were the first series – a simple clean dial …. Yes the IWC Big Pilot Grandfather J B- type – came a bit later and are more common, still simple but not as simple as the A-type Now some pics … Always nice to have some documents from the Glashütte museum which confirm the authenticity of the watch :-) and a wristshot ;-) __________________ Instagram : @collectible_watches

22 February 2014, 04:23 AM	#2
MaxCargo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: EU Watch: DSSD Posts: 537	love it! __________________ Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent" You just have to trust your own madness,sanity is only a cosy lie. DSSD, Tudor Pelagos. SDc 4000

22 February 2014, 06:05 AM	#5
Laszlo 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Watch: Date & No Date Posts: 10,868	Quite magnificent. __________________ "You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die." Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo in Casablanca

22 February 2014, 12:20 PM	#10
HL65 TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Ken Location: SW Florida Watch: One on my wrist. Posts: 64,008	Amazing find Bruno and big congrats to you!! Wear it in good health and enjoy...Cheers, __________________ *SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT*

22 February 2014, 12:26 PM	#11
FeelingTheBlues "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Carl Location: Always moving Watch: If you wish... Posts: 22,039	Very impressive piece Bruno, sure it has a very big historical value! Congratulations! __________________ Mon corps c'est un pays en guerre sur l'point d'finir, Le général de l'armée de terre s'attend au pire, J'ai faim, j'ai frette, je suis trop faible pour me lever debout, On va hisser le drapeau blanc un point c'est tout. - André Fortin

22 February 2014, 05:26 AM	#3
Hairdude1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Alex Location: Chicago Watch: AP,PP, Rolex Posts: 37,156	Wow, cool

22 February 2014, 05:50 AM	#4
Cuts33 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 436	Congrats, it is a very cool looking watch. But I could never wear it knowing who used it and what it was used for.

22 February 2014, 10:41 AM	#9
conkers "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Roger Location: Hong Kong Watch: Too many! Posts: 6,116	Wow - how on earth did you find this?

22 February 2014, 01:58 PM	#12
malarky_hk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: ... Watch: Rolex Posts: 4,466	Definitely a unique piece! Enjoy.

22 February 2014, 02:30 PM	#13
incontrol "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: Kevin Location: Somewhere in PA Watch: All of them... Posts: 10,355	Amazing find! Congrats and enjoy it! __________________ Patek Philippe Rolex

23 February 2014, 05:25 AM	#14
Cc1966 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Christopher Location: Georgia, USA Watch: ing the Sea... Posts: 6,713	Bruno, what a piece of history mate! Thanks for sharing your find/information... __________________ "I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778 "*Curmudgeons* " Favorites: 1665 SD, Sub Date, DSSD, Exp II, Sub LV, GMTIIc

23 February 2014, 08:01 PM	#16
unknown "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 2,872	a few extra, and better pics … 70 -75 year old patina :-) __________________ Instagram : @collectible_watches

24 February 2014, 03:05 AM	#17
CWIN "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Real Name: Chris Location: San Diego Watch: Patek, AP, Rolex Posts: 4,449	That is stunning! Big congrats! __________________ *Instagram* @cwin

24 February 2014, 04:01 AM	#18
el1125 Banned Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: USA Posts: 3,578	Looks like IWC big pilot. Guess IWC copied this. Very nice find

24 February 2014, 04:09 AM	#19
HL65 TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Ken Location: SW Florida Watch: One on my wrist. Posts: 64,008	Amazing Bruno and congrats again! Cheers, __________________ *SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT*

24 February 2014, 04:26 AM	#20
Psmith "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Clive Location: Exoplanet Watch: spring-driven Posts: 38,856	Wow, very impressive - congrats __________________

25 February 2014, 10:27 PM	#21
93 Turbo 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Australia Watch: Rolex.Tudor.PAM Posts: 1,554	^^^^ This. Big thanks for sharing. J

28 February 2014, 05:58 AM	#22
psv 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA & France Posts: 11,078	Truly amazing!

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