294 - IWC / Intern. Watch Co. - British Royal Air Force

IWC / Intern. Watch Co. - British Royal Air Force An aviator's sought-after and legendary vintage wristwatch of the British Royal Air Force Movm. No. 1260188, Ref. MK XI, Cal. 89, Case No. 1498/52, Dimensions 36 mm, circa 1952, Origin Schweiz Case: Steel, screw back with military engraving: "broad arrow" and 6B/346-1498/52, anti-magnetic protection cap. Dial: Black, "broad arrow", Arabic numerals, tritium indexes and hands. Movm.: Manual. The "Mark XI Broad Arrow": In 1948 IWC designed new aviator's watches for English, they were used in different air forces in the United Kingdom of England. Equipped with the today legendary manual hoist movement "Kaliber 89", they promised the highest possible reliability under toughest circumstances and protection against magnetic influences in the cockpit without corrupting the preciseness. The testing circumstances according to which the "Mark XI" had to survive extreme tests during 648 hours before delivery were also unprecedented. The reliable IWC "Mark XI" was also used as expedition watch, as it accompanied for example Sir Edmund Hillary and Mr. J.H. Miller, who was navigator in chief of the "Ross Sea Expedition" on their strenuous expedition to Antarctica. The version for the civilian market was launched very late and came out in the early 1980s; only about 1,000 examples were produced. Case: very good, worn. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended. Please note that leather straps made from endangered or protected species - such as alligator, crocodile, or lizard - are used in our catalogue or on our website for illustration purposes only. For customs-related reasons, such straps cannot be shipped outside the EU.