1939 Jaeger Le Coultre RAF Pocket Watch

EXC 1939 Jaeger Le Coultre Pocket Watch with enlarged sub-seconds dial.

Air Ministry design dial preferred by RAF navigators. Original plate and original fine deep blue stylised handset unique to this version. Fully signed fine gilt movement in good working order.

RAF issued 6E/50 with Serial Number A9709.

Apart from a new winding spindle under the crown which was replaced during the last service in 2022, the piece is in unrestored original condition.

From “Military Timepiece Markings” the following is quote concerning this timepiece:

“Royal Air Force issued pocket watches that differ from the Army’s GSTI’s only in being non-luminous.”

“15 jewel pocket watches were often chosen by navigators in preference to wristwatches, especially during night bombing operations.“

“The navigators found it useful to place their pocket watches on the charts from which they were working, and the watch’s size meant that the time could be read more easily.”

“On this fine Jaeger Le Coultre watch, note the size of the subsidiary seconds dail; much larger than the configuration on a normal watch dial, it emphasises the importance of the elapsing seconds in certain operational circumstances.”