The IWC Mk 11 is considered by many collectors and enthusiasts to be one of the finest military watches ever produced.
The IWC Mk 11 was specifically manufactured to aid RAF navigators to accurately pinpoint their intended targets.
RAF bombing raids throughout the Second World War had been notoriously inaccurate. An investigation conducted in 1941 revealed that only around a quarter of the number of bombers that claimed to have attacked their targets actually did so. Other investigations concluded that over 95% of bombs missed their intended target by more than five miles. The cause of this was simply due to the lack of precise navigation. Consequently, the old system of “dead reckoning” (determining your present position by projecting your course and speed from a known past position) was abandoned and the focus turned to astronavigation which required an extremely accurate timepiece.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) put out requirements for a navigation timekeeping wristwatch, that would have a highly accurate movement with a hacking device, an inner soft iron cage forming a shield to protect the movement from magnetic interference, a stainless steel waterproof case with a screwed ring to protect the crystal from a sudden decrease of pressure, and a black dial with luminous hands.
Upon delivery, the Mk 11 was subjected to an exhaustive 44-day testing period for ‘Navigator Wrist Watches’. Each batch then had to be sent to the chronometer workshop of the Royal Greenwich Observatory in Herstmonceux. All watches had to be sent there from active units for maintenance as well. These ‘fitness’ tests entailed a 14 day period rating in 5 positions and at least two temperatures, plus further tests for ensuring the antimagnetic and waterproof properties of each piece. After passing these tests, each watch was recalled for further testing after 12 months (later 18 months). The Mk 11 was originally reserved for use by navigators while later it was also issued to pilots.
The Mk 11 was introduced into the RAF and the FAA (Fleet Air Arm) in 1949 and into the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) in 1950. At first IWC and Jaeger Le Coultre (JLC) produced these watches. However, having bought 2,000 Mk 11s from JLC in 1949 the RAF decided to buy only the IWC Mk 11 from 1949 to 1953 when the last RAF orders were placed.
The last IWC Mk 11 was delivered to the RAF in 1953 although it was not officially decommissioned until 1981.
It is believed that only around 8,000 IWC Mk 11s were produced and genuine original examples are highly sought after.
The wonderful example featured above is the former property of the late Thomas George Kent CBE (13th August 1925 – 6th January 2024), who was a WW2 RAF veteran and former Deputy CEO of British Aerospace.
According to his family, Mr Kent was involved in work of a secretive nature for the Ministry of Defence during his time with British Aerospace (Bae). He joined the guided weapons division of English Electric, forerunner to British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) and Bae in 1951. Interestingly, he was the chief engineer responsible for the trials and production of the Thunderbird surface-to-air-missile system, later becoming the chief project engineer for the development of the Rapier surface-to-air missile system.
Mr Kent was awarded the CBE on 30th December 1978 for “services to export” by the then Prince of Wales, King Charles III. As managing director of the Stevenage -Bristol Division of BAe, he had been closely involved in the export of Rapier and Swingfire missile systems to several overseas countries.
Considering Mr Kent’s wartime service with the RAF and fascinating engineering work with British Aerospace, it should be no surprise that he wore such a precision timepiece as the legendary IWC Mk 11.
Mr Kent’s IWC Mk 11 6B/346 c.1951 is available for sale now on our website.
Thank you for your interest.
