Omega “Weems” RAF Mk VIIA 6B/159 Wristwatch c.1940

Omega “Weems” RAF Mk VIIA 6B/159 Wristwatch c.1940

SOLD

Stock Number: W0391 Category:

Omega “Weems” RAF Mk VIIA 6B/159 Wristwatch c.1940.

On 5th January 1940, the Air Ministry placed a special order with Omega for 2,000 watches ref. CK 2129. The order was marked urgent and delivery was to be made from 10th March 1940 to Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd, London.

The “Weems” Mk VIIA wristwatch was issued to pilots and navigators of the RAF during WW2 and features a moveable outer bezel which is set to the second hand to calculate longitude to aid navigation. The watch takes its name from Lt.Cdr P.V. Weems who was a well-known aviator, navigator and instructor at the Naval Officer School at Annapolis, Maryland, in the U.S.A.

The “Weems” 6B/159 with specification Mk. VIIA needed to meet the following requirements of Building Specification G.535 :

The movement needed to be wound by the crown instead of using a separate key. The movement should run for a minimum of 36 hours (fully wound).  The hands should be made of blued steel and the case should have a rotating lunette. The case could be made from steel, chrome or hardened brass. The dial needed to be light silver or white (like enamel). The deviation needed to meet the following requirements: after three hours +/- 3 seconds, after six hours +/- 5 seconds, after twelve hours +/- 8 seconds and after 24 hours +/- 15 seconds.

There were five manufacturers of these very special timepieces; Longines, Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Zenith and Movado. It is believed only around 7,000 were issued to the RAF in 1940 at the outbreak of hostilities and many will have no doubt seen action during the early dark days of the Battle of Britain and beyond.

The watch for sale came to us in “drawer-find” condition and has recently been sympathetically serviced by the expert horologist and renowned Omega specialist, Simon Freese.

Our journal regarding the remarkable history of the watch and video on its recent service can be viewed via the following link below:

Omega “Weems” of Dreams

Omega examples of these watches are extremely scarce and are very seldom offered for sale. As such, the watch for sale represents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a superb piece of British WW2 aviation history.

The Omega “Weems” for sale is in wonderful overall condition having been recently serviced by our highly skilled and experienced horologist.
The original dial has aged beautifully with a lovely even patina and some wear and staining in places.
As expected, there are several scratches and marks on the outer casing of the watch, which are commensurate with age. The original glass is heavily scratched.
The beautiful blued steel hands and crown are correct to the original specification of the watch. The original winding crown is bent but still winds and sets the hands.
The Omega 23.4SC movement is in wonderful overall condition and is running well and keeping excellent time.

The watch comes complete with a free six-month warranty and a newly fitted NATO strap.

Diameter: 33mm (exc crown)