Very Rare 1948 Jaeger LeCoultre Mark 11 RAF Military Issue 6B/346 Pilot’s Watch

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Mark 11, alongside its relatively more common sibling, the IWC Mark 11, is perhaps the finest military mechanical timepiece ever produced. It is estimated that only 2,950 were issued to the military, with none ever sold to the public. It can certainly lay claim to being the original Pilot’s watch, and one of the most expensive commissions by a military, anywhere. Issued by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), these watches were made to the very strict 6B/346 specifications, and as such, are of incredibly high quality. They were issued to navigators in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

This is one of the rarest and highest quality military watches out there. Much rarer than its IWC cousin with arguably an even better movement.

This is a lovely honest original example bought from an house clearance and has never been in the trade. Original dial in good condition with original MoD Tritium lume.

The JLC singed Calibre 488 movement is super sparkling clean, very well preserved hacking and keeping spot on tone as it should.

Find another one! The are genuinely rare watches.

Specs

• Manufacture/Brand:       Jaeger-LeCoultre
• Model Reference:         Mark 11, 6B/346, (internally JLC E161)
• Movement:                JLC cal. 488/SBr
• Dimensions:              Approximately 35 mm diameter, 46.5 mm lug-to-lug, 13 mm height
• Case material:           Stainless Steel (“Staybrite”)
• Crystal:                 Domed plexiglas
• Lug size:                17 mm
• Dial:                    2nd Generation MoD Tritium “toothpaste” lume”. Attractive and bright.
• Hands:                   RAF Square hour
• Caseback:                RAF 6B/346
• Case number:             2133/48
• Movement number:         594473
• Batch:   2nd batch of 500 on 1948
• Total production number: 2,950