Monday, 21 July 2025

2018 wishlists revisited : Lemania Series III Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Non-Lume Chronograph

Below is the list of Wishlist from 2018.  I have managed to find a Rolex Jump Hour Doctor watch and a Bamboo bezel Rolex 1603 and I am making progress on the search for a Lemania Nuclear submarine chronograph.


Lemania Series III Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Non-Lume Chronograph c.1964











These very rare and special watches were issued to crew of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines from the early 1960s until around 1990.


For safety reasons, the radiation levels onboard nuclear submarines needed to be constantly monitored. Consequently, no luminous material was applied to the dial and hands of these chronographs so as not to affect the readings of the onboard radiation monitoring equipment.


Other than the absence of any luminous material, the Lemania Series III chronographs issued to crew of the Royal Navy’s nuclear fleet were essentially the same as those issued to pilots of the Fleet Air Arm.

The Lemania Series III differs from its earlier predecessors in that it features an asymmetrical case with an integrated crown and pusher and is powered by a rhodium-plated shock-resistant version of the 15CHT known as the calibre 2220.

The vast majority of the Lemania Series III watches issued to the Royal Navy were assigned the NATO stock number 0552/924-3306. However, and as can be seen with the example for sale, the watches issued to nuclear submarine crew had the last four digits replaced with the number “3312”, which refers to the dial and hands being non-luminous.


The single button on the side of the watch operates the chronograph (stopwatch) function. When the button is pushed it starts the centre second hand. Pressing the button again stops the hand and pressing it a third time resets the hand back to the twelve o’clock position. There is an elapsed minute counter, which allows for timing intervals of up to 30 minutes.


Sadly, the Lemania watch company is no longer in existence but it has become something of a cult brand in recent years and its watches are very much cherished by collectors. Lemania supplied a number of different armed forces from all over the world. Their movements are extremely well made and are renowned for keeping excellent time, making them a good fit for a rugged life in the services.

Lemania specialised in the production of chronographs (watches with a built-in stopwatch function). Chronographs are inherently complicated things to manufacture and for this reason, many watch companies brought in movements from specialists like Lemania. They supplied, amongst others, Omega (the movement that powered the first watch on the moon was made by Lemania), and luxury brands Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe. Because Lemania often supplied movements to other brands (for which they were uncredited), watches which are signed by Lemania are especially prized.

It is believed only a few hundred Lemania Series III Non-Lume Chronographs were ever issued and good original examples are very rare and seldom offered for sale. The watch for sale, therefore, represents an excellent opportunity to acquire a highly prized and special collector’s piece. 










This is an extremely rare Royal Navy issued single-button Lemania chronograph. What makes this watch particularly rare and distinctive is that it was issued for use on board a nuclear submarine. For this reason the dial and handset features no luminous compound, which would have been radium based and so could have interfered with the radiation sensors on-board.These Nuclear Submariner’s chronographs were produced in very small numbers and are one of the most highly sought after of all military watches. 

The watch has its original dial, handset and movement and they’re in superb condition. The case is all stainless steel and is in very good order - a few scratches and marks from wear, to be expected from a tool-watch. As with all our vintage watches the case has been ultrasonically cleaned, but not polished.

The case back has the original military markings: 0552/924 is the stores code for a chronograph wristwatch, 3306 denotes a black, luminous dial. This is stuck out and re-engraved with 3312 which is the code for the Nuclear Submariner’s chronograph with no luminous compound and a white dial. The number below, 80022 is the unique identifier for this particular watch.

There are no records that I’ve seen for the total number of Nuclear Submariner’s chronographs issued, but the nuclear submarine fleet was small and so obviously the overall issue was small too. These watches would only have been issued to those whose job on-board involved making timing observations. 

The single button operates the chronograph (stop-watch function) - the button in turn starts, stops and resets the chronograph. There is an elapsed minute counter, which allows for timing intervals up to 30 minutes.

Lemania supplied chronographs for the Royal Navy for use by pilots and navigators in the late 1940s and Lemania continued supplying them until the early 1960s. The watches evolved over the years. This watch is part of the third series style as it features the distinctive asymmetric case style, designed to protect the pusher and crown from accidental damage.

Lemania supplied many different armed forces around the world - their movements are very solidly constructed and keep excellent time, making them a good fit for a rugged life in the services. Lemania are something of a cult brand - no longer in existence today, but much cherished by aficionados. The company specialised in the production of chronographs (that is watches with a stop-watch function built in). Chronographs are inherently complicated things to manufacture and for this reason many watch companies brought-in movements from specialists like Lemania. They supplied amongst others Omega (the movement that powered the first watch on the moon was made by Lemania), and luxury brands Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe. Because Lemania often supplied movements to other brands (for which they were uncredited), watches which are signed by Lemania are especially prized.

The watch has been fully serviced and regulated, the chronograph functions perfectly and the time keeping is of the highest order. It is supplied with a NATO fabric strap. This is an expensive watch for sure, but an investment that can be worn and enjoyed. Prices of these have been increasing year on year as they are simply not available to buy very often.


Thursday, 17 July 2025

B-Uhr (Beobachtungsuhr) : for Beobachtungs-uhren, or Observation watches) WW2 Wristwatch c.1940s

This is a vintage German Luftwaffe Obeservers WW2 watch. “B-Uhren” is short for Beobachtungsuhr which translates to “observation watches” in German.The B-Uhr was supplied to German Luftwaffe during World War II. They were the equivalent of the 6B/159 and the Weems, used by German pilots to calculate flight time and their position in relation to their targets. 

Type B dial


Unlike the pilot watches used by the RAF, B-Uhren were significantly bigger with diameters of 55mm. This was due to the fact they were made to be ultra legible and to be worn outside a pilot’s flight jacket.  The material for making the cases was nickel-plated brass.


The dial of the individual watches had to be black in color and devoid of any kind of markings so that it could be clearly and easily read. To facilitate this, only the indication of hours, minutes and seconds were to be present.

The spheres, indexes, and seconds scale also had to be luminescent in order to make them easier to read even at night through the use of radium, which is a highly radioactive material that acted as a luminescent paste for the dial elements at the time.

The watch dial,in terms of configuration, was made in two types named Type A, which was produced from about 1940 until 1941, and Type B, which was produced from 1941 until the end of World War II.

Available in two primary configurations (A and B), the B-dial features a shorter hour hand aligned with the inner circle of the dial and a unique triangular marker at 12. The B-Uhr was an essential tool for Luftwaffe navigators.

In terms of layout, the Type A dial had a traditional peripheral minute track interspersed with Arabic numerals indicating the hours; the Type B, on the other hand, had the hour scale in the center and the minute scale on the outside.

In terms of movement, the hand-wound movements of pocket watches were taken.  
To protect the movements there had to be a case back, also made of nickel-plated brass, bearing the following inscriptions on the inside: Beobachtungsuhr (observation watch); Baurat (movement manufacturer); Gerät-Nr (instrument number); Werk-Nr (movement number); Anforderz (contract) followed by the initials that identified the entire type of these watches, namely FL 23883, also present on the outside right side of the case (FL stands for “aviator”).
Also on the case, at 3 o’clock, however, was to be the large crown so that it could be handled with the gloves that bomber engineers and navigators used to wear.

These watches were produced by Five manufacturers – four German and one Swiss – supplied the B-Uhren. In Germany, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe, Lacher & Company/Durowe (Laco), and Walter Storz (Stowa) produced the watch. Wempe and Stowa used Swiss movements; Wempe settled on the Thommen cal. 31, and Stowa used the Unitas cal. 2812. Lange used its big cal. 48 and then its cal. 48.1, and Laco used its (Durowe) cal. 5 – the only two companies to use in-house German movements. When Wempe purchased the Chronometerwerk in Hamburg in 1938, it gained a significant increase in production capacity, and to assist the limited production faced by Lange and Laco, Wempe assembled watches for them. To meet demand, Lange also sent ébauches and cases to a variety of other manufacturers for assembly and regulation. In smaller numbers, the Swiss International Watch Company IWC who supplied watches to both Axis and Allied forces, manufactured the B-Uhr (cal. 52T S.C.) for the Luftwaffe. These five companies were the only ones to make the B-Uhr. (source : https://monochrome-watches.com/the-history-of-the-pilot-watch-part-five-b-uhr/ )

The watch may not be the IWC or Lange but the condition of the watch is the best that I have came across with nearly no corrosion on the case. I used to own one 14 years ago in 2011, and for some reasosn, I have sold it away. Finally able to find one back in nice condition and perhaps, i can start a new range for collection? Or I shall extend my German Pilot watch collections?


















When Wempe purchased the Chronometerwerk in Hamburg in 1938, it gained a significant increase in production capacity, and to assist the limited production faced by Lange and Laco, Wempe assembled watches for them, which is why the above state Movement is Laco Durowe, (Durowe Cal.5, 17 jewels, 18000 vph )with Wempe at the bottom.


https://italianwatchspotter.com/the-history-of-b-uhren-watches/?lang=en

https://www.60clicks.com/ww2-military-watch-guide/


https://www.everestbands.com/blogs/bezel-barrel/the-most-important-world-war-ii-pilot-watches



Saturday, April 09, 2011

LACO WORLD WAR II BEOBACHTUNGS-UHREN

Being a history student, I have a deep interest in military subject. I have tried to start a military watch collection in the past but has never really got deep into it for various reason.

Lately, besides my vintage Longines pilot watch made for the Czechoslovakian air force, the Breguet Type xx made for the French pilot, I have added a JLC military watch. My recent find from Ukraine is the huge 55mm Laco military pilot watch made for the German pilot during world war 2. It comes with the original leather band! It seems like I can start the military series now..

There were five manufacturers: A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Laco, Stowa, and Wempe. One down, four to go...

Military watches that have gone through world war reminding us not to have wars.










- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad



Friday, 11 July 2025

Rolex vintage sports/tools watches : Vintage Daytona, Submariner, GMT & Explorers & Milgauss

I am trying to reduce the quantities of my vintage watches and I have decided to do a stock take of my watches in phases. The following are my small Rolex vintage sports/tools  collections with photos taken from the various years.


Rolex Daytona                                                              Year:
  1. Rolex 6239 Steel                                        1965
  2. Rolex 6263 18k                                       1972
  3. Rolex Daytona ref 16520                                1996

Rolex 6239, 16520, 6265


Rolex submariner/ Sea Dweller  :

  1. Rolex 6202  Turn O Graph                                 1953
  2. Rolex Submariner 5508 gilt Dial             1958
  3. Rolex Submariner 5508 matt dial             1960
  4. Rolex Submariner with gilt dial 5513             1965
  5. Rolex Submariner Red ref 1680             1970
  6. Rolex Double Red Sea dweller ref 1665  mk4   1975
  7. Rolex Submariner 16800 Tiffany & co
  8. Rolex submariner 16613 Blue dial Y               2002
  9. Rolex Green sub 16610LV Kermit               2007/8
  10. Tudor small rose 7928/0                                       1967
Rolex 6202 Turn O graph

Rolex 5508 in gilt and matt dial

Rolex 5513 Meter First Matt & Gilt dial

Rolex 1680 Red Subamriner from 1970

Rolex 1665 Double red sea Dweller from 1975

Rolex 16800 Tiffany & Co with Rolex service paper


Rolex 16613 from 2002

Rolex 16610LV Green bezel submariner from 2007/8

Tudor 7828 in gild dial


Rolex GMT

  1. Rolex 6542 gilt                                                     1954-59
  2. Rolex 1675  gilt                                                    1966
  3. Rolex 1675 matte mk2 dial                                  1972
  4. Rolex Green Arrow GMT 116610LN       2011

Vintage Rolex 6542 with a spare dial

Rolex 1675 gilt

Rolex 1675 , 16710 & 116110LN


Rolex Explorer 

  1. Rolex 6298 Pre Explorer                                   1953
  2. Rolex Explorer 1 ref 6610                      1956
  3. Rolex Explorer 1 ref 6610                     1957
  4. Rolex Explorer 1 Ref 1016 Gilt Dial Perfect. 1966
  5. Rolex Explorer 1 Ref 1016 Gilt Dial Tropical  1966
  6. Rolex Explorer 2 Ref 1655                     1975
  7. Rolex Explorer 2 Ref 16550 cream dial 1985
  8. Rolex Explorer ref 5500                          1958 II
  9. Rolex Explorer Dress watch ref 5501 black  1958 II
  10. Rolex Explorer Dress watch ref 5501 white 
  11. Rolex Explorer Dress watch ref 5701 black 
Rolex ref 6298 Pre Explorer from 1953

Rolex 1650 & 16550

Rolex 5500 gilt dial, Rolex 6610 gilt, Rolex 1016 Tropical dial and 1016 gilt


Rolex 16550 & 1016

Rolex 5500 Explorer in gilt dial

Rolex Dress watch Canadian Explorer ref 5501 black dial , 5501 & 5701



Rolex Milgauss :
1. Rolex 1019 &
2. Rolex 116400LV

Rolex Milgauss New & Old 1019

Rolex 116400LV

Rolex 1019


google.com, pub-9153422137839320, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

2018 wishlists revisited : Lemania Series III Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Non-Lume Chronograph

Below is the list of Wishlist from 2018.  I have managed to find a Rolex Jump Hour Doctor watch and a Bamboo bezel Rolex 1603 and I am makin...

google.com, pub-9153422137839320, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0