Subexplorer
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Air force pilots were (are) like a kind of elite among...
... armed forces personel and they demanded the best of every piece of equipment. A good reliable and tough chronograph was a vital tool in those days without the sophisticated electronic equipment they have today so it is logical they directed their interest to highly regarded watch brands and the more strong cases.
This explain why Peru and Argentina imitating US and European Countries went to Rolex and Omega to supply their pilots. Heuer Autavia was another more economical but reputable answer later.
Cheers! Abel
What's your favourite military chronograph?
Given that we have amongst our ranks experts in all matters horological, I thought of combining a query with a learning experience - namely asking about the members' favourite military chronograph and in turn finding out about some more interesting, if ob...
Certainly a Longines 13 ZN from the Romanian School for pilots.
Or a Lemania 15 TL from the Seventies. The Heuer Bund is a very nice one, too. 43 mm case, certainly one of the biggest. Best, Nicolas
Very cool!
Just read about it in the meantime. Quite a rare beast with 161 produced (in two versions) and another 40 ordered from Omega On your list?
RAF?
Interesting model. Searching 15 TL gets many models but have not seen this one. Very interesting!
You guys are way beyond my knowledge, but . . .
. . . I can tell you that Heuer Bund model (first pic) hits my buttons big time! Love it. M4
It is a very appealing watch
At least in my humble opinion. Very legible, an important characteristic for a military watch, I guess
My favotite military chronograph so far is Speedmaster CK2915-2 FAP
The Heuer is certainly very nice, and so are quite a few others such as Sinn,Tutima, Hanhart, Lemania, B reguet Type XX, etc. ..and more Omega's like HA-60/HA-62 for RCAF....
Just posted :)
Hi KMII, intrigued by yours, I just posted a picture at Omega forum, and saw your kind comments there too. Regards, -Song
Have seen it - thanks!
Great collection! Focuses on Omega military or is that just one of the interests?
Thanks. I love military watches in general.
chronograph or time only...such as Rolex MilSub, IWC Mark 11, JLC Mark 11, etc.
This one from 1918
Thanks for starting a great thread! This V&C single-button one minute pocket chronograph, here with its half-chronometer brother, represents an irresistible combination to me; tool watch under a prestigious label. These pieces have the patina of hard ...
Enjoyed?
The more detours from you like that, the better Lovely piece you have there!
No problem!
Have seen you were trying to get the pic into another post, too Looking forward to the update tomorrow!
German as well . . .
. . . but deep vintage. Early '40s GUB chronograph, Luftwaffe issue. Art ...
Sorry, K, my text didn't appear . . .
. . . due to technical difficulties. Bill is working on the issue right now (at 10:48 pm on a Saturday night!), and hopes to have it cleared up soon. Art
Sternzeit is a good start ...
.... I just got myself one recently to add to my "normal" Heuer Bund and to my 3H Heuer Bund. But what I think is a true military killer again, even though admittingly no chrono, is the IWC Bund AMAG. The story around this one and rhe fact that only 50 of...
Very cool piece!
Got a family shot of your 1550/1551s? That would be amazing! As for the IWC - not a chrono but very intriguing. What does AMAG stand for in this context? Thanks again!
Heuer Bund family shot still needs to be taken; AMAG on the IWC stands for.........
......a-magnetic and if you "google" something like "IWC Bund AMAG" you will find lots of literature about this. In short: the entire watch including movement only contains a-magnetic materials i.e. materials that are totally non receptive to magentism. I...
A lot of effort for 50 pieces...
Hope IWC managed to reuse the technology elsewhere Quite interesting, though - with the beauty definitely not being only skin deep on this one. You seem to have quite the Bund collection
Having all three Heuer Bunds is already impressive...
Speaking of which, there has been an Israeli Air Force and Yugoslav Air Force version of the 1550, too. Not sure if they were in any way marked, though.
No, no, wrong entry, but I can add another Bund as a bonus, but I admit...
....again, no chrono, shame on me ...
A pair out of the 50?
OK, now I\'m really transiting from thoroughly impressed to mildly jealous
Don't worry, but ....
...at the time they were still around and you could grab them: why not? There is an IWC Ingenieur 866 with - what some sources tell - a pilot's watch prototype dial that - as the story goes - IWC used to pitch with the German Airforce. It is said that the...
Of course :)
Right place, right time, I guess As I said elsewhere, I started about two decades too late... Now to the watch, very cool, nicely legible - the back story at least sounds perfectly plausible and the Schaffhausen people are not prone to exaggeration
My favorite military chronos in my collection...
... are my Argentine Fuerza Aerea issued Omegas from the 1940's and 1950's... Cheers! Abel ...
Yes, I am sure. I would love to have a ....
Omega 2915-1 F.A.P. Omega 2913 F.A.P. ....and some more..
A bit battered and with signs of an adventurous life...
... But a nice piece anyway! Thanks my friend!! Abrazos Abel
These are really cool!
Looks like supplying Air Forces was the thing to do, just like doing brand ambassador specials is today And who could blame the brands - air forces were definitely the epitome of cool back in the day
Air force pilots were (are) like a kind of elite among...
... armed forces personel and they demanded the best of every piece of equipment. A good reliable and tough chronograph was a vital tool in those days without the sophisticated electronic equipment they have today so it is logical they directed their inte...
Speaking of which...
Did Rolex and Omega supply the USAF during the time, or was is someone else, too? In the end the watches were relatively cheap, compared to other equipment in the air forces, so it was easier to decide to go for the best
I´m not familiar with the USAF pilot´s watches to answer your question KM! But I´m sure...
... some of our friends here will be able to tell. Let´s see... Kind regards, Abel.
Anyone?
All I managed to find was Benrus, Casio G-Shock & Bremont (not sure if official issue). Anything more exciting, too?
This is what I managed to find...
From: www.monochrome-watches.com m Otherwise the Marathon ones but those are not chronos... ...
Very interesting! I´m surprosed about this Bremont chrono...
... Is this official issue of the US Air Force? Cheers! Abel.
US Navy Flight Test Center or something such...
Not sure if officially issued, though. Seems that few are, these days and that the pilots decide on their own
Uncle Brownie says NOT SUPPLIED BY USAF
My wife's Uncle Brownie flew F104s in Alaska, the European area, and in Vietnam through the 1960's and 1970's. Then he flew commercial jets for 30 years with American Airlines. He told me no one supplied them with watches - the pilots bought their own, an...
Thanks a lot!
To Uncle Brownie! Respect on the F-104 - just recently read a book on their use in Vietnam and another on their general combat use. The story confirms fully the other USAF accounts I managed to find - little in terms of officially issued chronos.
Now those are truly impressive!
Did not know you had the beauties Which one is your favourite of the pair?