A fine and rare example of the legendary IWC MK XI, RAF issue waterproof, Antimagnetic Pilots "Air Chronometer", C.1951.

The IWC MK XI was a MOD contract order wristwatch, supplied to the British Government for issue to the RAF. As with other such military contract orders, it was never available to the general public.

The magnificent Chronometer grade calibre 89. movement in pristine IWC factory serviced condition, with centre "Hacking" seconds hand,( the seconds hand stops when the button is pulled out to the hand set position to enable time synchronization), and waterproof screw-back case with inner case of "soft iron" affording Antimagnetic protection to the chronometer grade movement.

The Case/Dial & Movement all signed IWC.

Being of the very highest grade, many collectors quite rightly consider this handsome model to be the most iconic and desirable of all the British Military issue wristwatches.

The dial on this magnificent timepiece is made of an Iron alloy a full 1mm thick, forming one element of an antimagnetic cell. An internal case band and protective rear cap of Iron alloy completing the cell.

This finely engineered internal cell protected the high grade chronometer movement from the effects of magnetic fields of up to 900 Oersted, compared to the mere 60 Oersted for that of civilian wristwatches.

The watch is currently on a "G-10" type NATO gray military watch band. However, it may also be fitted to a conventional plain leather clip-on watchstrap.

The British Military contract specification called for the following:-

• Chronometer accuracy ( navigational use)
• Waterproof case
• Antimagnetic (protection from equipment interference)
• Fixed lug bars (fail safe attachment to the wrist)
• Anti burst unbreakable crystal ( during rapid decompression)
• Hacking centre seconds hand ( time single synchronization)
• High visibility Dial with Luminous dial & Hands

The screw-on waterproof case back with MOD Arrow

& RAF watch ordinance # 6B/346 ****/51, for the year 1951.

The lug bars are of solid steel as opposed to the hollow sprung bar type used on civilian wristwatches. A British military issue feature to ensure that the watch would not come adrift, even under the most rigorous of combat conditions.

The watch case built to British military specifications is of a highly robust waterproof construction, with a screwed-down case back and glands sealing the winding stem.

Every aspect of the military specification was to ensure the integrity, accuracy and effectiveness of the timepiece under the most arduous of flight combat conditions.

This very rare and beautiful vintage IWC MKXI RAF timepiece has been back to the IWC factory in Switzerland for a complete overhaul and service, as a result the watch is now in near mint condition and comes with an IWC storage case, factory Guarantee card and hard bound extract from the archives.

IWC are one of the few Swiss Watch Manufacturers offering the facility of extracts from a massive archive production database.

The major benefits are that the watch once examined at the IWC factory, and the entry for the watch found, may be authenticated without question, as the movement number and case number must tally with the information held in the IWC archives. This removes any question of a marriage between case and movement.

In addition, a complete IWC factory service and overhaul to the entire watch will ensure that all parts are correct, all is working perfectly, with the case finish correctly carried out to its original specification and surface finish.

This fabulous Timepiece has the advantage of having undergone such a factory overhaul and comes with the service card and an extract from the IWC archives confirming its important military provenance and date of issue as 1951.