Helvetia WWII military pilot officers German Airforce Luftwaffe watch 1940's

Helvetia WWII military pilot officers German Airforce Luftwaffe mechanical wristwatch from 1940's. Swiss made wristwatch for German army. Caliber helvetia, 15 jewels, 3 adjustments. It would be great find for any collector.

Very good condition for it's age. This wristwatch has 2 back covers.

My wristwatch has no outer back cover, only one cover! Please see the photos for the assessment of watches. Runs well and keeps time accurately. Really watches look much better than in the photo.

New PU leather strap as a gift! DEFECTS: one back cover missing, traces of use. OVERALL CONDITION (10-point scale): 8. The bezel rotates perfectly, as needed! Inscriptions on the back side of the back cover.

The table of Helvetia serial numbers matching case to years of production watches. In accordance with this wristwatches made in 1940. Radioactive photomass has been removed from the numbers!!! The watch is completely safe to use!

New PU leather strap as a gift! 1.61 inch (41.0 mm). 1.79 inch (45.5 mm).

1.83 inch (46.5 mm). 0.49 inch (12.5 mm). 1.38 inch (35.0 mm). 1.90 oz (54.0 g). Hours, minute, second subdial at 6 o'clock.

During the 1930s and 1940s a variety of watch manufacturers produced pilots watches of a very similar pattern. They are often known as'Flieger' or'1928 Pattern' watches. They are usually larger than standard for watches of the period at around 40mm and have large luminous hands and numerals to allow easy reading of the time even in low light and a large crown so that adjustments can be made with gloved hands. Along with their range of Sports watches Helvetia also made several variations of these pilots watches and they are among the most popular among collectors today. Helvetia started producing pilots watches in about 1932.

They were approximately 41mm in diameter and were powered by an adapted 16 Ligne pocket watch movement the calibre 51S. Helvetia fitted these first watches with, what I believe to be, a variant of the Depollier/Brun shock protection system that they had been using since the late 1920s in their sports watches.

The cases were usually made of chrome plated brass and had a hinged inner and outer back cover. They also had large fixed lugs for passing through a long, wide strap that could be fastened over flying clothing if required. To mark this new range of watches Helvetia adapted their standard logo with the addition of a propeller. Initially this was static below the name but in January 1933 they registered their famous spinning propeller logo. Soon after the introduction of the 41mm version a smaller 36mm version was added.

These used several different movements initially, I have seen Patria (another brand of The General Watch Co) and Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF), movements fitted to these watches. By the end of 1934 the 51S movement had been superseded by the slightly amended 51-10 version and the shock protection replaced with the Helvetias own system patented in 1929. Within another year or so the movements used in the 36mm version had also been standardised as the Helvetia 81-24 again using Helvetias own shock protection. During the 1930s a variety of dials were in use but after the start of World War 2 the majority of watches seem to have been of the standard style with the numerals 1 to 12 fully illuminated and fitted with Cathedral style hands. By the mid 1930s a thick glass crystal also started being used, this was to help minimise condensation due to the change in temperature when flying at altitude.

As well as producing watches under their own name Helvetia also produced pilots watches for sale by retailers. I have seen pilots watches badged to Aero, Helbros, Huber and Savoy that have Helvetia cases with Helvetia serial numbers and are fitted with Helvetia movements. Often the movements are later improved versions of those fitted to Helvetias own watches. Each of the two sizes of watch also came in rotating and non-rotating bezel versions.

The rotating bezel version had a pointer attached to the inside of the bezel under the glass. This could be used to keep track of time elapsed which was used as a navigational aid by pilots. The larger 41mm case without the rotating bezel was numbered 7010 and that with the rotating bezel 7011.

The smaller 36mm cases were numbered 3410 and 3411 again without and with the rotating bezel. The rotating bezels have a knurled surface to make it easier to grip the bezel for turning whereas the not rotating bezel versions are smooth and clip onto the case, though the earliest example I've found pictured at the top of the page has a non-rotating bezel that is knurled and screws on.

1934 Article From Flight Magazine Illustrating an Aero Branded Helvetia Pilots Watch Explaining the Function of the Rotating Bezel. Helvetia continued to make them up until the end of the war in 1945 when, perhaps not surprisingly, it looks as if production stopped.

All Antique watches are mechanical. Many repairs will not be cheap, as most likely they will require replacement of non-standard parts (unlike most late model watches).

Antique watches should not be beaten or dropped - because repairs may be expensive. Antique watches are generally NOT waterproof. This is because waterproofing was not in general production until the middle of the 20th century for most watches. Therefore you should protect your antique watch from exposure to moisture.

If your watch becomes wet it should be dried off quickly. Carefully open all covers and use a hair drier to blow dry the movement, dial, covers, crown. This will reduce the amount of rust.

If your watch becomes wet with any kind of salt water you should immediately immerse or spray your watch with fresh (no-salt) water to remove all the salt from the works before drying the watch completely. Any salt left in the watch will combine with moisture in the air to rust metal components of the movement, case etc. Winding any mechanical watch tight may break the mainspring.

If you can avoid it do not wind the watch hard. When adjusting the hands of your watch, move them in a clockwise direction only. Counter-clockwise adjustments may damage the movement. It is desirable to adjust the hands of your watch at the same time every day. An automatic or self-winding watch should be worn for at least 8 hours a day. It is a mechanical watch in which the mainspring is wound automatically as a result of natural motion of the wearer's arm, to provide energy to run the watch, making manual winding unnecessary. If you must adjust counter-clockwise make it for small adjustments only i. Be careful and gentle when adjusting the movement speed (faster or slower). Don't make sharp movements, and don't touch other components in the movement especially the pendulum mechanism. Every 2-3 years it is necessary to service and oil vintage watches. If the course of your watches is worsening and the accuracy of the reduction in the duration of the clock (autonomy) from one fully wound spring - it need a service. IF the watch is dirty - allow the watch to run down, don't wind it again until you have it serviced by a qualified watch repair expert. Dust will absorb and remove important lubricants and cause the movement pieces to wear down. To clean the case, dial and crystal you should use a cloth that does NOT leave fibers as these may get caught up in the movement. Check with your Watch repair expert to get an appropriate cloth.

Keep your antiques watch away from magnets. Strong magnetic fields may affect the accuracy of your watch since some vintage watches were made with iron based components in the movement.

Most Cases and Covers are fine components and will not handle abuse well. The watch should not be shaken, beaten, or stressed. Antique watches generally experience an error of up to 5-7 minutes a day.

Any accuracy of +- 5 minutes is very good. Mechanical watch is not recommended to use for engage in extreme sports, and expose them to excessive vibration loads. Recoil force, which take on the clock, affect their reliability and precision. No matter how perfect was not anti-shock mechanism, there is always the chance of excessive load that details of the mechanism can not survive. It is not recommended to adjust, the date between 20.00 and 06.00, because at this time involved a mechanism for automatic adjustment date.

Translation pointers calendars manually in this position arrows may damage the mechanism. Date changes should be made, relegating pre-clockwise to lower sector of the dial for example, to position 6 (18.00) hours. In most cases, these watches contain the "start/stop" button and "reset" button. It is strongly recommended not to press the "reset" if the chronograph is running. Before you use the "Reset" button need to stop the chronograph by button "start/stop". Using the "reset" when running chronograph can damage the mechanism of most models of watches. In spite of delays all our previous lots have been successfully delivered! The item will be packed very carefully! United States of America, Canada, Australia, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova (Republic of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Korea (Republic of), Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Viet Nam. It is impossible to address issues if we do not know about them! Thank you for your interest in our products! Please let me know if you have any questions. The item "Helvetia WWII military pilot officers German Airforce Luftwaffe watch 1940's" is in sale since Wednesday, April 14, 2021. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Watches\Wristwatches".

The seller is "dmytro_yaroshenko" and is located in cherkassy, herkaska oblast. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Features: 12-Hour Dial
Case Size: 45.5 mm
Age Group: Adult
Lug Width: 23 mm
Department: Men
Handmade: No
With Service Records: No
Serial Number: 4033635
Display: Analog
Water Resistance Rating: Not Water Resistant
Case Color: Silver
Vintage: Yes
Bezel Color: Silver
Country/Region of Manufacture: Switzerland
Indices: 12-Hour Dial
Case Material: chrome
Water Resistance: Not Water Resistant
Handedness: Left
Year Manufactured: 1940-1949
Customized: No
Case Finish: Gloss
Model: Helvetia Luftwaffe
Band Width: 23 mm
Seller Warranty: No
With Manual/Booklet: No
Band Material: Faux Leather
With Papers: No
Escapement Type: Lever
With Original Box/Packaging: No
Reference Number: Does Not Apply
Dial Color: Black
Band Color: Black
Brand: Helvetia
Style: Vintage
Number of Jewels: 15 Jewels
Band Type: Bund Strap
Closure: Buckle
Caseback: Snap
Watch Shape: Round
Theme: military
Case Thickness: 12.5 mm
Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
Type: Wristwatch