The Mark 11, a genuine military watch produced by IWC (International Watch Co.) in the late 1940s at the request of the British Ministry of Defence, has high military specifications.
The two companies that received orders at this time were IWC (International Watch Co.) and Jaeger-LeCoultre, and the two companies that had this technology at the time were chosen for their high visibility thanks to their black dials, Arabic numerals and luminescence, as well as their inner cases that ensured high precision, magnetic resistance and dust resistance as an aviation watch.
It was made with the British Royal Air Force in mind, and is therefore known as the RAF. The military watches delivered by the 12 companies that had been commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence to deliver military watches during the war are known as the Dirty Dozen, and feature the broad arrow emblem on the dial. During the war, IWC, which had supplied the Mark 10 to the Ministry of Defence, produced and delivered the IWC Mark 11, a genuine watch for the Royal Air Force.
The Mark 11 watch introduced here was a military watch for aircraft produced by IWC (International Watch Co.) in 1948 at the request of the Royal Air Force. It had features such as resistance to magnetism and dust, water resistance, an easy-to-read black dial with white Arabic numerals, night-time paint, and high precision as an aviation watch, and it had a double structure (with an inner case) for resistance to magnetism and dust.
My particular watch has a T mark (tritium luminescence), but it is said that the ones made with radium luminescence in the early 1948s were replaced after 1962 at the request of the Royal Air Force. (This is just a guess.) My particular watch was made in 1948, and at that time it was made with radium luminescence, so I can understand that the T mark was added later.
The reason I became interested in the Mark 11, acquired it and started using it was that it was originally made as a pilot's watch, it was made to military specifications and is extremely sturdy, it has a simple black dial with high legibility, it looks great with a NATO strap (which is to be expected as it's the real thing), and I've always liked IWC watches and wanted to have one from the Mark series.
The story of how this technology was passed on to later models such as the INGENIEUR, the history of the Dirty Dozen, and the story of the Broad Arrow, etc. There are many stories to tell about this watch, and I also found it fascinating.
The Mark 11 was manufactured for a long time, from 1948 until 1981 when it was finally adopted by the British Ministry of Defence, and then again until 1984 when production for civilian use was completed. It was delivered not only to the Royal Air Force, but also to the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and South African Air Force, and there are also civilian versions, each with their own merits. Although production was suspended for a time, the Mark 12 was announced in 1994, and production has continued since then, and is now the Mark 20. Of these, the Mark 11, which was actually made for military use, is a very attractive watch.
When I visited the shop where it was on sale, the friendliness of the staff and the various conversations I had with them, as well as the quality of the actual item, were the deciding factors. When buying antiques or vintage items, it is very important to feel that you want to buy from this person or this shop, and this Mark11 also met those conditions, which is why I bought it.
Despite its small 36mm diameter, the watch has a good-sized crown for ease of use, an easy-to-read dial, and a NATO strap that makes it easy to wear, which has increased the frequency with which I use it. I enjoy wearing it with everything from military outerwear to T-shirts, as well as jeans, of course.
The ‘Dirty Dozen’ watches from the Second World War, which were a generation before my Mark 11, are widely enjoyed by collectors, from those who own their favourite one to those who are so strong that they have completed the collection of all 12 watches made by the 12 companies. If you are interested, you can find your favourite one by researching various things and enjoy it.
IWC watches are not as well known as Rolex, so I rarely get asked about them, but it's interesting that when I am asked about them by enthusiasts, the conversation can go on for quite a while.
- Mark 11 (6B346)
- Year of manufacture: 1948 Supplied with tritium luminescent material later
- Case: Stainless steel
- Bracelet: NATO strap (current product, black)
- Glass: Plastic glass (plexiglass)
- Dial: Black, Arabic numerals Hands: Tritium luminescent material (glows faintly but steadily)
- Manual winding Caliper: Cal. 89
- The simple three-hand manual winding is easy to use
- The functional beauty of a genuine military watch
- The ease of reading the dial, which was designed with legibility in mind
- The ease of winding the watch, thanks to the large crown
- The 36mm diameter is a convenient size
- The universality of the design, which was followed by the Mark series
- The ease of use and good balance of the NATO strap
- The waterproof surface cannot be expected to be as waterproof as the current model
- The sense of resistance when winding up is not as good as the current model, but it is very firm
- Even considering the above issues, there is a unique atmosphere that the current model does not have, and it is not a big deal
Not just me, but men in general like military things, and in my case, I like military outerwear, so I wanted a military watch to go with it, and I got the IWC Mark 11. It was actually delivered to the British Ministry of Defence It has the functional beauty and story of a genuine military watch that was supplied to the Royal Air Force, and although it is a fairly old model that was supplied in 1948, its high level of practicality also contributes to my attachment to it, and I enjoy using it frequently.
Antique Watch DAZZLING
I bought my IWC Mark 11 RAF from Dazzling in Omotesando, Tokyo. This shop has previously operated in the UK and Japan, and it sells products that reflect both its British collector's perspective and its approach to antiques. The watches it handles are mainly those that can be used in their original state while maintaining their appearance, and it does not replace parts for the purpose of improving appearance.
This shop is firmly rooted in the European antique culture of carefully preserving old things. The shop has a very sophisticated European atmosphere, but the staff are friendly and the space is comfortable. They also handle quite old and rare watches, and although you might be worried about repairs later on, this shop will even make a watch from scratch if the parts are not available, so you can enjoy the watch you have purchased for a long time with peace of mind. It is a very interesting shop that you don't often see in Japan, with a stance similar to that of a European antique car restoration shop.
Naturally, the watch connoisseurs who work there are also excellent, and they have a consistent quality that ranges from watches that are hard to find and extremely valuable to those that are not so expensive and can be enjoyed on a daily basis. The selection is also excellent, with a European sense of value, and because people in the fashion industry also use the store due to its location, the selection is not only limited to watches, but also includes watches that can be worn as fashion, making it attractive for both men and women.
When I bought the IWC Mark 11 RAF, the female staff member who helped me was also very kind, and we had a great time talking about watches, fashion, hobbies and other things while I was looking at the watch.
If you like antique watches, such as Rolexes that are not sports models, but are a little older, or IWCs, Omegas, LeCoultres, Hamiltons, Smiths, or Remaniacs, you'll never get bored looking at the tastefully displayed watches, so I recommend you visit if you're in Omotesando or Harajuku.
