Vintage WWII German Laco B-Uhr 1941 Luftwaffe Military Pilot's Watch HUGE 55 mm

This is a rare WWII German Luftwaffe Laco - Durowe Beobachtungsuhr or Air Force observer pilots / navigators watch. Rare early variant in original condition. Watch is complete original apart from winding crown which is a replacement.

Even the dirt on the caseback is original WWII era German dirt. As found in an attic in Germany. Movement: gold plated movement with big compensation balance, swinging mass and 4 fine regulation screws, 22 jewels, cove-locking and crown wheel, stoppable (hacking) central second hand with compensational weight. The manual wind movement is working well and keeping time.

Dial: Original black dial with radium numbers. Very rare Arabic outer field dial. Original blue steel pointed hands are present. The 55mm without the crown steel snap back and front case is fully signed in the back and serial number on the back, with its large crown so pilots could wind without taking their gloves off. Matching serial number on movement top plate and base plate & case back. A great looking truly historic watch to own and wear, very rare in this condition. The B-Uhren watches guided German bombers in their terrible campaigns of World War II with dropped bombs whistling through air to end in devastating consequence. Bred to equip the military navigator, the B-Uhr remains a marvel of clean design and simplicity.

In the skies over Europe during World War II, German Luftwaffe reconnaissance flights set out to find strategic targets for bombing runs. Plotting the precise locations was the job of the Beobachter, or observer, who used a map, landmarks and a timepiece to identify and plot the targets.

Over the thick sleeve of his leather flight jacket would be strapped a massive wristwatch, precise and easy to read at a glance. This watch was not surprisingly called a Beobachtungsuhr, or observers watch and there were only a handful of companies in Germany authorized by the Aviation Ministry to manufacture them: IWC, Wempe, Stowa, A. Lange & Söhne and Laco. The B-Uhr was essentially a chronometer-grade pocketwatch movement housed in a wristwatch case and fitted with a radium luminous dial. The B-Uhr is easily identified by its distinctive dial with an outer minute track, five-minute marks enumerated and a large arrow at 12, and an inner hour ring that lines up with the hour hand.

Unlike many other pocketwatch conversions of the era, these had a center seconds hand. An oversized crown allowed for hand-winding while wearing gloves. Read the whole story here. Contact me for further images if required. I offer the watch only. None of the other artifacts shown will be included. The item "Vintage WWII German Laco B-Uhr 1941 Luftwaffe Military Pilot's Watch HUGE 55 mm" is in sale since Monday, December 30, 2019. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Wristwatches". The seller is "euro-curios" and is located in Budapest, default. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Gender: Men's
• Model: B-Uhr
• Modified Item: No
• Watch Shape: Round
• Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
• Year of Manufacture: 1940-1949
• Band Color: Beige
• Age Group: Adult
• Display: Analog
• Lug Width: 27
• Brand: LACO
• Seller's Warranty: Yes
• Case Size: 55mm
• Face Color: Black
• Water Resistance: Not Water Resistant
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
• Style: Pilot/Aviator
• Caseback: Solid
• Dial Style: 12-Hour Dial
• Case Finish: Matte
• Authenticity: Original
• Era: 1940s
• Country: Switzerland
• Water Resistance Rating: Not Water Resistant
• Serial Number: 01798

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