Military watch fans - what can you tell me about this Longines 6B/159 - interesting dial

Love the Breguet numerals!

Any watch issued to military forces in the UK will have a broad arrow either on the dial or on the back of the watch .

Gorgeous piece! Have no clue of course … reminds of my Seiko …

Yep it’s got the arrow on the back!

I wonder if the dial or hands were replaced at some point?

Hands seem to be the right shape (though the lume is later I guess..) - the dial is the mystery but there are some other Breguet number examples out there..

This is beyond me. We need some help, and I can think of three Crunchers who have helped me. Calling @Aurelian, @chronotriggered, and @Davemcc! Need some assistance with vintage information! 😆

6B/159 was a watch used during WWII for RAF pilots and navigators. Main makers were Omega, JLC and Longines. There may have been a few limited runs by others, but the majority I see are those three.

At the risk of sounding like a bellend, the dial is not right for WWII issue so was probably repurposed around 1956 like many of these watches were, as many saw them get the cases upgraded to stainless steel rather than plated/chromed and some got black dials. The backs are stainless steel, and are engraved with the broadsword and a code that you can reference the year of issue.

Confusingly, 6B/159 was also the reference given to “Weems” watches, but they bear little resemblance. On Saturday at the London Meetup @Relvee brought a ”civilianised“ ex-issue Weems by Movado, which is awesome.

This is a nice watch - if you got it, good job, but it’s definitely an “MoD repaint” as you so describe it.

This is way outside my comfort zone. That was the most detailed eBay listing that I have ever seen.

Actually… yes! I only just read it after I posted out of curiosity 😂

Why did OP need more, I agree, that’s the best write-up I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen entire watch articles barely get the basics right, and this one eBay seller posts the best historical summary of the 6B/159 I’ve ever read to simply flog one at cost.

Yes that seller is a good guy. Just thought others might have similar example dials or know more than me.

Thanks for the help though. I’m very pleased for the investment. I’m picking up an early Longines I’ve had in repair a long time tomorrow - so I might become a vintage Longines enthusiast..

Also do check out that sellers other items - great prices and he usually accepts an offer!

I thought the RAF was a very talented bunch of pilots.  I would never have assumed that the British military would have to have watchmakers put an arrow on the watch so their flyers could find the sky.

The central seconds is a significant complication for this time period.

It’s for after the pub. We Brits need a few pointers.

Wonderful Watch 🥰

Not an "MoD redial." Just a redial, the numerals and font are the creative work of some restorer who didn't have a clue what it should have looked like. The British MoD did commission repainting of dials on some of the RAF-issue watches, notably to repurpose them for tritium lume. However, that concerns 6B/542 Omegas, and there were new NATO stock number dials made for the WWW-spec watches. The 6B/159, meanwhile... A number of Longines and Omega 6B/159 were recased in the 1950s, so as to give them a water-resistant case, but that's that. Certainly the MoD did NOT commission repaints with Breguet numerals and the fancy Longines font that was phased out in the 1930s.

Makes sense with the Longines font - and might be a good reason why the watch wasn’t sold for a bit more..

Pics of case on eBay listing makes it seem like it has fixed lugs like this Omega Dirty Dozen, but it’s not on a passthrough strap. What a mystery.  

Can't say much more than what has already been said by our watch experts here on The Crunch, but thought you would appreciate these other officer's watches from around the same time period...

Stunning

I guess we shall see on that one when it arrives!