Lemania Monopusher Chronograph 6BB, 1956
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1956
This Lemania monopusher chronograph is a military-issued timepiece produced in 1956. Encased in a 40mm steel asymmetrical case, the watch features a black dial with Arabic numerals and tritium hour markers.
It is powered by the Lemania Caliber 2220 manual-wind movement, a monopusher mechanism designed for the start, stop, and reset functions to be engaged via a single pusher. The movement is based on the pocket watch Caliber CHT 15 and incorporates shock protection. The case back is engraved with military identifiers, including the "6BB" designation for Royal Air Force property and the issue number "662/56". The watch is presented on a NATO-style strap.
The dial includes the broad arrow symbol, which denotes military property, and the word "INCABLOC" below the center, referencing the shock protection system used within the movement.
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
- Monopusher chronograph
- Maker
- Lemania
- Model
- Monopusher Chronograph 6BB
- Movement
- Caliber 2220
- Designation
- Royal Air Force
- Issue number
- 662/56
- Case reference
- 6BB-944-3306
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Movement lineage
- Based on Caliber CHT 15
- Maker / attribution
- Lemania
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in an asymmetrical 40mm steel case, a design element intended to protect the monopusher mechanism. The dial is black, featuring a clear layout with large Arabic numerals at the 12, 5, and 6 positions, accompanied by subsidiary chronograph registers at the 3 and 9 o'clock marks. Tritium-based markers and hour plots provide visibility, a requirement for its intended use in cockpit environments. The dial also displays the broad arrow mark and the term "INCABLOC," identifying the shock-absorbing system utilized in the movement. The entire assembly is attached to a military-issued NATO-style strap.
- Visible features
- • Asymmetrical stainless steel case construction • Dial features tritium-lumed hour plots and numerals • Broad arrow military property mark on the dial • Monopusher control located at the 2 o'clock position
- Movement and Functionality
- The timepiece operates on the Lemania Caliber 2220, a manual-wind movement specifically engineered for military applications. This caliber is a development of the earlier pocket watch Caliber CHT 15, modified with shock protection features suitable for field and flight environments. The chronograph mechanism is controlled exclusively by a single pusher, which manages the start, stop, and reset functions in sequence. The construction of the movement includes a balance with a Breguet overcoil and components fashioned from brushed sheet steel, intended for durability and performance in high-utility scenarios.
- Military Attribution and Markings
- This watch bears specific markings identifying it as property of the United Kingdom's armed forces. The "6BB" prefix on the case back indicates that the timepiece was designated for the Royal Air Force, although the source notes these watches were later utilized by other branches, including the Royal Navy. The specific unit is identified by the engraved serial number "662/56," which indicates the watch was the 662nd issued in the year 1956.
Identification
- Reference
- 6BB-944-3306
- Serial number
- 662/56
- 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: Condition of internal movement components is not documented
- Research required: Originality of tritium dial markers is not verified