224 Longines Wonderfully Aged and Rare Military Pilot’s Single Button Flyback Chronograph Wristwatch in Steel, Nav. 83, Produced for the R.a.f.

Estimate: € 15.000 –⁠ 30.000

NO RESERVE

Model: Flyback aviator's chronograph Reference: 5824 Case Material: Stainless Steel Bracelet Material: Leather strap Year: 1947 Movement: Manual Caliber: 1268Z Case N°: 23473 Movement N°: 7255455 Dimensions: 47 mm Signed: Case, dial, movement Accessories: Extract from the Archives The present piece is a remarkable and extremely well-preserved example of an aviator’s wristwatch from the mid-twentieth century produced for the R.A.F. It is clear that this watch for pilots for its very big size and highly legible dial. Considered the harsh condition such watches were subject to during their normal use, to find such an appealing and well-preserved example is nothing short of an exceptional. The stainless steel massive and huge case of 47 mm has been preserved amazingly by its last owners. The graduated revolving bezel is almost untouched, the curved lugs are thick even today and the large ball-shaped winding crown to allow the pilot to wind the watch with his gloves on is still the original one. The black finish dial maximizing the contrast with the white outer minute track, outermost 1/5 second scale and 60 minute-register graduation and the radium-coated Arabic numerals. The incredible conditions of this watch are further demonstrated by the case back bearing the initials: NAV 83. With the Longines Extract from the Archives confirming case, movement, production and subsequent sale on 8 July 1947 to the company Nederlandsche Horlogehendel, which was at that time our agent for the Netherlands.