IWC Grosse Fliegeruhr 431 German Military "B-Uhr" 55MM

More about Grosse Fliegeruhr 431 German Military "B-Uhr" 55MM

This is a very rare war-time vintage 1940 bead-blasted stainless steel IWC Oversized Pilot's Watch "B-Uhr" 431. It has an extra-long military calfskin leather strap with copper rivets, a stainless steel tang buckle, and an acrylic crystal. It includes an extra large onion-shaped winding crown for use with leather flight gloves, and there is a solid domed snap down case back engraved with the serial number in the center; on the inside of the engine-turned case back is engraved "B-UHR – BAUART: IWC – WERK NR. 101 – ANFORDERZ: FL23883 – ROSTFREIER STAHL," and a hallmark. It also has an anti-magnetic protective inner cap also engraved "ROSTFREIER STAHL," or rust free steel, which also aids in protecting the mechanism from large sudden drops in air pressure. The very large 55mm diameter solid four-body case, gently curved lugs, and thin flat, cupped bezel, are aged matte stainless steel. The IWC number "FL23883" is engraved on the left side case band. The dial is black with luminous radium "spitfire" IWC hands, a luminous center sweep second hand, and luminous Arabic numerals with baton indices around a perimeter minute/second scale. There are still traces of radium in the dial and hands, which are in excellent condition and have been restored at IWC during service. It is not water resistant, and the 17.5mm thick case and movement are signed. This IWC Oversized Pilot's Watch "B-Uhr" 431 has a mechanical manual winding IWC caliber 52T 19 H6 S.C movement. The "T" stands for "tirette," meaning hand setting by pulling on the crown. The "19" is the movement diameter at 19 lignes (or 42.25mm), and H6 represents the height of the movement, which is 6mm. Lastly, the "S.C." signified that this movement had "Seconde Centrale," or indirect propulsion of the central second hand by the elongated 3rd wheel pivot, which was added to the base caliber 52 ebauche. It's constructed with 16 jewels, and a gilt-finished lever movement. It has a hacking seconds device for precision time setting, It includes a cut bimetallic compensation balance, a blued Breguet balance spring, and a swan neck micrometer regulator. The IWC Oversized Pilot's Watch "B-Uhr" 431 was produced in 1940 in a limited run of 1000 examples, issued to the German Air Force for use as their official navigation watch. It is also the largest wristwatch ever made by IWC. Included is the IWC service receipt and IWC Archive Certificate confirming the date of issue in September, 1940.

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