Lemania 6B/140

c1940 Lemania Air Ministry Split Second Chronograph, with box

c1940 Lemania Air Ministry Split Second Chronograph, with box Year-1940 £ 299.00 1 in stock 1 in stock c1940 Lemania Air Ministry Split Second Chronograph, with box quantity Add to basket Watch Video Add to wishlist SKU: 4873 Category: Uncategorized Still in the Camerer & Cuss case, this high end Lemania Mk 5B pocket chronograph was issued by the Air Ministry. Model reference 6B/140. HOW DO WE DATE THIS WATCH? The movement in this watch was launched in 1910, but the Air Ministry didn’t start until 1918 and ran until 1964. We know it is not a really early one, as Camerer & Cuss changed their name in 1914 from Camerer & Kuss to make it sound less Germanic. We do have a similar example in the excellent book British Military Timepieces, along with a navigation document that shows these watches being used in 1944 for navigation. It is likely this watch was first issued circa 1940. CONDITION A split chronograph is a complex thing to make. They require many more parts than a standard chronograph, and we show in the video how it works. Lemania had a great record of building such things, but still these would only have been issued to those who really needed the extra functionality as they would not have been cheap. Given this was the Air Ministry purchasing them, it would likely be navigators or bomb aimers – so a vital tool. The case is gunmetal, and is unpolished. The crystal is heavily yellowed with age, so likely original. The dial has some damage at the ten marker and the hands have rust on them, but given how many of these watches would not return we are happy to have been able to find one. The fitted case is a real bonus, but the clasp has a part missing. This watch will be supplied with the original presentation box, and our Certificate of Authenticity. SIZE Width with crown 76.8 mm (excluding bow) Width without crown 59.8 mm Case Thickness 17.2 mm All sizes are approximate.