Lemania stainless steel single button chronograph wristwatch for British Hydrographic Survey, c. 1950
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1950
This collectible military wristwatch is a stainless steel single button chronograph manufactured by the Lemania Watch Co. and issued to the British Naval Fleet Hydrographic Survey (HS).
Dating to approximately 1950, the watch features a 17-jewel manual wind movement housed in a 38mm stainless steel case with fixed bar lugs. The case back is screw-on and features engraved markings denoting 'HS9' and a NATO stock number. The silvered dial is marked with black printed Arabic numerals, hour dots, and outer five-minute divisions. It is distinguished by its original faded Tritrium luminous finish on the hands and markers.
The single chronograph button is located on the case band at the two o'clock position, controlling the steel chronograph hand. This specific example is a first-series case variation characterized by inner notches on the case back for removal. As a military-issued instrument, the watch bears a broad arrow mark on the dial, signifying its official procurement for naval service, specifically for hydrographic surveyors tasked with mapping sea beds.
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.
Physical characteristics
- Diameter
- 38mm
- Material
- stainless steel
Technical characteristics
- Features
- single button chronograph
- Movement
- 17-jewel manual wind
Design
- Dial
- silvered with black Arabic numerals and luminous Tritrium markings
- Markings
- broad arrow mark on dial, signed Lemania Watch Co. on dial and movement
- Case back
- engraved with HS9 and Nato stock number 6725
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Lemania Watch Co.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.