RAAF Issue (1957)
Mark XI 6B/346 — RAAF Issue (1957)
IWC’s only Royal Australian Air Force order: 600 watches whose caseback reads just “G6B/346” and an issue number ending “/57”, with no broad arrow or “RAAF”. The RAAF did not ask for the broad arrow or the T on the dial, and the 7 has no hook.
600 pieces; highest known issue number 600/57.
Identifying details
- Military caseback engraving
Issue markings on the caseback, e.g. stock number, broad arrow, issue number and year.
- Military issue
Issued to armed forces.
- Triangle at 12
Luminous triangle in place of the numeral 12.
- Soft-iron inner case
Soft-iron inner case and dial forming a cage that shields the movement from magnetic fields.
Variants of 6B/346
Reference overview →| Variant | Production |
|---|---|
| RAF, White 12 Dial | 1949–1952 |
| RAF, Triangle Dial Without T | 1952–1963 |
| RAF, Encircled T Dial | 1963–? |
| RAF, Encircled T Dial · Encircled T, Hooked 7 | Undated |
Case & movement
- Reference
- 6B/346
- Production
- 1957
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case diameter
- 36 mm
- Crystal
- Acrylic, held by a screwed retaining ring
- Movement
- Manual winding
- Date
- No
- Caliber
- IWC 89
Dial, bezel & hands
Movement
IWC 89
Albert Pellaton’s hand-wound centre-seconds calibre with indirect seconds drive and a Breguet hairspring. The Mark XI version stops the seconds for synchronisation. Early batches had no shock protection; later ones were fitted with Incabloc.
Manual winding · Introduced 1946 · 18,000 vph · 17 jewels
Read more
- Wrist Watch Mk 11, G6B/346 in the Royal Australian Air ForceRead more at gregsteer.net (opens in a new tab)
- ‘Man is Not Lost’ – an Account of the Mk 11 Navigational WristwatchRead more at Horological Journal (British Horological Institute) (opens in a new tab)
- The Story Behind A Special Royal Australian Air Force IWC TimepieceRead more at Fratello (opens in a new tab)