IWC Mark 11 RAF-Issued 6B/346 Wristwatch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1948
This is an RAF-issued IWC Mark 11 military navigational wristwatch, with case markings indicating an issue date of 1948. Encased in a 36 mm stainless steel case with fixed lug bars, the screw-down back is engraved with the British military Broad Arrow, the stores code 6B/346, and issue number 575/48.
The seller reports it is powered by a manual-wind 17-jewel Calibre 89 movement and fitted with a matte black replacement service dial bearing an encircled 'T' denoting tritium luminescence.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Military navigational wristwatch
- Calibre
- Calibre 89
- Case Diameter
- 36mm
- Issue Markings
- 6B/346 - 575/48
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- IWC (International Watch Co.)
- Dial Service Replacement
- RAF service replacement with circled T
Design
- Visible features
- • Screw-down case back with six perimeter key notches. • Case back engraved with a British military broad arrow, '6B/346', and issue number '575/48'. • Fixed bars between the lugs for strap attachment. • Fluted winding crown at the 3 o'clock position. • Visible surface scratching and wear across the stainless steel case back.
- Case Construction
- The watch is housed in a 36 mm stainless steel case. Features include fixed bars between the lugs for strap attachment and a screw-down case back secured with six perimeter notches. Visible surface scratching and wear are noted across the stainless steel case back. The case measures approximately 46 mm from top to bottom with an 18 mm lug width.
- Dial and Movement
- The watch is powered by a manually wound 17-jewel IWC Calibre 89 movement. The movement itself is not visible in the provided imagery. The dial is described as a later RAF service replacement featuring an encircled 'T' mark, which signifies tritium luminescence. The source notes that this replaces the original 1948 radium-lumed dial.
- Military Identity and Provenance
- This timepiece is identified as an IWC Mark 11, specifically issued as navigational equipment for the British Royal Air Force. The case back serves as the primary record of its military markings, featuring the broad arrow engraving alongside the stores designation '6B/346'. The individual issue marking '575/48' is present on the case back. The source states that the '/48' suffix denotes the 1948 issue year, placing the watch at the beginning of Mark 11 production.
Identification
- Reference
- 6B/346
- Serial number
- 575/48
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source reports the dial is a later RAF tritium replacement rather than the 1948 radium original.
- Research required: The movement and dial are not visible in the provided image.