1943 Jaeger-LeCoultre 6B/159 Pilot Navigator RAF 32mm
Ref: 6B/159
Specification
Lugs : 16mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Chrome
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and, therefore, comes with no original Jaeger-LeCoultre box or paperwork. It is paired with a perfectly matched 16mm NATO strap. The watch is from Circa 1943 and is in worn, vintage condition, as you can see. It features signs of wear and age, as you would expect from the chrome case. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ifyswfZsVfHbN8eChnxZf49CaTuC3Kz9?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 13:39 - https://youtu.be/vCc-vgFjB7Y
The Watch
Here, we have a classic 1943 Jaeger-LeCoultre 6B/159 Pilot Navigator RAF 32mm. During this period, the Royal Air Force (RAF) relied on high-quality timepieces supplied by several esteemed watch manufacturers, notably Omega, Jaeger Le-Coultre, and Longines. Each of these brands produced watches that adhered to a standardised specification, ensuring uniformity across the fleet. The design typically featured a striking white dial adorned with bold black Arabic numerals, which ensured readability even in low-light conditions. The watches were equipped with a central seconds hand for precise timekeeping, and the hands themselves were crafted from blued steel, known for its durability and aesthetic appeal. Notably, the hands were non-luminous, reflecting a preference for minimal distractions during operation. These timepieces are commonly known by their RAF stores reference number, 6B/159. This specific designation not only identifies the watches but also signifies their use in relation to aircraft navigation equipment. The reference number highlights the critical role that accurate timekeeping played in aviation operations, underlining the significance of these watches within the RAF’s history and their contribution to military precision. The 32mm Chrome round case sits comfortably on your wrist thanks to finely tapered lugs and fixed spring bars, and its curved flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 42.5mm and a case thickness of 10.5mm. On the right side is a coin-edged crown. A smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above a striking white dial, an outer minute track surrounds black Arabic numerals, marking the hours, elegant thermally blued sword hands are complemented by a tapered second hand, and at 12 o’clock, we have the Jaeger-LeCoultre motif completing this vintage pilot navigator watch. On the reverse, a solid case back engraved with the military ref 6B/159 A23684 and a Broad Arrow (pheon) was also put on the watch to indicate British Government Issue property. Inside a manually wound JLC Cal. 470. It comes paired with a well-suited 16mm NATO strap.
Personal Note
There is something undeniably impressive about military watches, knowing they were designed and produced with an important task in mind, displaying the time, something we take for granted today. This is the awesome Jaeger-LeCoultre 6B/159 Pilot Navigator, produced for the RAF, in a 32mm chrome case. The best part of this watch, beyond the dial of course, is the beautiful manually wound JLC calibre 470 inside which is a drastic contrast to the utilitarian design and utility of the watch, but JLC can't help being JLC. Don't hesitate to add this wonderful piece of history to your collection today!
The Brand
Antoine LeCoultre founded LeCoultre in 1833 in the small village of Le Sentier, Switzerland. By 1866, LeCoultre’s workshop had grown from home-run manufacturers spread across Switzerland to installing modern steam-driven machines to power the tools of all watchmakers, moving them from their homes and bringing them together in one central unit. Now named LeCoultre & Cie, the company became the first manufacturer in the Vallée de Joux Switzerland. Antoine and his son Elie LeCoultre employed more than 500 watchmakers in-house. In 1903, Edmond Jaeger, a watchmaker in Paris who made watches for the French Navy, challenged Swiss manufacturers to produce an ultrathin movement. Jacques-David LeCoultre, Elie’s son, rose to the challenge and created the world’s thinnest pocket watch, which was equipped with the LeCoultre 146 calibre, measuring 1.38mm thick. Over the following years, Jaeger and LeCoultre kept in touch, building a solid friendship, and in 1937, Jaeger-LeCoultre was founded. In 2013, they celebrated their 180th Anniversary. They created iconic timepieces like the Reverso wristwatch and the brilliantly engineered Atmos clock. During the war years, the Mark VII pilot watches of the 1940s were so accurate the Royal Air Force used them as aerial navigation instruments; later, they created the first automatic watch to house a power-reserve indicator in 1948 that the US Army Air Corps used. Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed and revolutionised the watch industry like no other manufacturer. Since 2000, it has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Swiss luxury group Richemont. This group includes Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, IWC Schaffhausen, Panerai, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Montblanc, Dunhill, and Chloé.