Mk XI Gun Camera Watch

Hi

Last year while clearing out my (ex-RAF) Grandad's flat, I re-found an unusual
watch that I always knew he had and that had always fascinated me. For reasons
I won't bore you with, had I have not found it, it would most definitely have
been scrapped.

After much research online I discovered it was likely to be one of the RAFs
converted Mk XI gun camera watches.

The watch body itself is in pretty good shape, with some fine scratches on the
base associated with its life in the bottom of a drawer. No dents, no internal
rust, just a touch of very light topical rust as seen in an image.
Both electrical brass pins are in place. The watch face and hands are in what
appear to be perfect
shape, the glass is perfect and there are no further inscriptions other than
the RAF codes. Internally everthing visually is perfect, bright and has always
been water free. It doesn't, however, operate but the crown will turn. (I can
and will upload relevent photos of the watch and paperwork).

So, I took the opportunity to take it into the London New Bond Street boutique
store around a year ago, to verify it's authenticity and status.

Sure enough, it was confirmed as the real deal and I was furnished with a
great deal of useful information from the very interested technician as it
just so happened that IWC had only a month or so earlier fitted out the entire
store window with an homage to the MkXI, including an actual camera from their
museum. I am dissapointed I hadn't seen it.

So it was shipped to Switzerland to be assessed and it confirmed again that
it was authentic and was repairable. A service and new balance wheel to
restore function at not inconsiderable cost was necessary.

But this is where the progress ends. C-19 and the subsequent upturned life it
has caused meant no service-repair took place and the watch remains in a safe
in the store and they await my instruciton. I know this to be an important
piece of history, and it may or may not be rare. I do happen enjoy luxury
Swiss watches of a different brand but to wear and use, not to languish in my
safe. Although I understand that I'm a custodian for this time-piece and will
absolutlely keep it safe (not repairing it will not degrade it further), I am
not willing to spend money on a watch that will rarely see the light of day or
be enjoyed, and may in fact not be worth it once it is fully functional again.

So in short, I am uncertain what to do with it and would welcome comments,
points or interest from members here who clearly have an enthusiasm for IWC
time pieces to help ensure it's future.

Appreciate your thoughts

Dan

Dear Dan

to have a Cal. 89 movement repaired is a job not too expensive. But in case
the balance is damaged, it is hard to get a Mk. 11 balance rather than a
normal one.

However, at least the inner soft iron cover of the movement as shown ony our
pic is not original/not IWC at all. That should be changed to reinstate the
watch to its original status.

In case you want to collect only watches you can wear, you should simply
consider to pass it over to a collector (except you want to keep with it as a
reminiscene to your granddad).

Best regards

Th. Koenig

This watch is a significant piece of both aviation and IWC history.

May I suggest you repair it and keep it on your desk as a lovely desk clock.

One of the very interesting details on this watch was told to me by Thomas
Koenig who by the way wrote about this in his booklet on the Mark 11
navigational watch..

It appears that the dial never dried up. In other words, do not touch the dial
because you can cause irrepairable damage. I forgot to ask what is the secret
behind the 'wet' dial. Maybe that Thomas can clarify it for us?.

Regards,

Adrian,

(alwaysiwc).

It is simple old school chemistry without solvents and softeners, that the
coating doesn't dry.

But for us collectors the best feature is, that the luminous coating contains
no radioactive material.

Regards

Th. Koenig