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Laco WWII German Luftwaffe Beobachtungsuhr B-Uhr Military Observer’s Watch HUGE
Estimated price for orientation: 5 000 $
Category: 1
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Description Condition: Pre-owned: An item that has been used or worn previously. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: Laco Lug Width: 26mm Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding) Style: Pilot/Aviator Water Resistance Rating: Not Water Resistant Age Group: Adult Display: Analog Model: Beobachtungsuhr Watch Shape: Round Serial Number: 17113 Band Material: Genuine Leather Year of Manufacture: 1940-1949 Case Size: 55 Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Nowadays watches are big. A lot of people think: The bigger the better. But vintage watches simply aren’t big, wait... WHAT? How about a watch from 1940 with a diameter of 55 millimeters! That’s right. This Beobachtungsuhr is made for the German Luftwaffe, and it is absolutely stunning. The big size and the simple dial is because it has to be very clear to a Beobachter during air combat. This watch originally issued on an extra long is leather strap so it could be worn over the observer's heavy leather suit. Original extra long strap is not available. Watch comes on regular length leather strap. About the dial; an aviation watch has to be with Arabic index and the index has to be in big contrast with the colour of the dial (preferably White on black). Also the case has to be unpolished so the light can’t reflect in your eyes during the flight. In the skies over Europe during World War II, German Luftwaffe reconnaissance flights set out to find strategic targets for bombing runs. Plotting the precise locations was the job of the Beobachter, or observer, who used a map, landmarks and a timepiece to identify and plot the targets. Over the thick sleeve of his leather flight jacket would be strapped a massive wristwatch, precise and easy to read at a glance. This watch was not surprisingly called a Beobachtungsuhr, or observer’s watch and there were only a handful of companies in Germany authorized by the Aviation Ministry to manufacture them: IWC, Wempe, Stowa, A. Lange & Söhne and Laco. Of these authorized marques, Laco (LAcher & CO.) is not the most well known to many watch aficionados. Founded in Pforzheim in the 1920s, Laco was commissioned to build two types of watches for the Luftwaffe – the more commonly seen Fliegeruhr (pilot’s watch) and the “B-Uhr.” The B-Uhr was essentially a chronometer-grade pocketwatch movement housed in a wristwatch case and fitted with a radium luminous dial. The B-Uhr is easily identified by its distinctive dial with an outer minute track, five-minute marks enumerated and a large arrow at 12, and an inner hour ring that lines up with the hour hand. Unlike many other pocketwatch conversions of the era, these had a center seconds hand. An oversized crown allowed for hand-winding while wearing gloves. While Laco has resurfaced in recent years and is re-issuing its pilot’s and observer’s watches (with Swiss ETA movements) the original ones are very hard to come by. Now you gave a chance to get a genuine number matching example. Watch runs and is fully functional. All original and unrestored. There appears to be some kind of a stain of flack on the face at 35 minutes. I’m unsure what that may be. Watch will be sent insured and expedited hence high cost of shipping. 100% guarantee on originality.
Description
| Condition: | Pre-owned: An item that has been used or worn previously. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | Laco |
| Lug Width: | 26mm | Movement: | Mechanical (Hand-winding) |
| Style: | Pilot/Aviator | Water Resistance Rating: | Not Water Resistant |
| Age Group: | Adult | Display: | Analog |
| Model: | Beobachtungsuhr | Watch Shape: | Round |
| Serial Number: | 17113 | Band Material: | Genuine Leather |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1940-1949 | Case Size: | 55 |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: | Germany |
Nowadays watches are big. A lot of people think: The bigger the better. But vintage watches simply aren’t big, wait... WHAT? How about a watch from 1940 with a diameter of 55 millimeters! That’s right. This Beobachtungsuhr is made for the German Luftwaffe, and it is absolutely stunning. The big size and the simple dial is because it has to be very clear to a Beobachter during air combat. This watch originally issued on an extra long is leather strap so it could be worn over the observer's heavy leather suit. Original extra long strap is not available. Watch comes on regular length leather strap. About the dial; an aviation watch has to be with Arabic index and the index has to be in big contrast with the colour of the dial (preferably White on black). Also the case has to be unpolished so the light can’t reflect in your eyes during the flight. In the skies over Europe during World War II, German Luftwaffe reconnaissance flights set out to find strategic targets for bombing runs. Plotting the precise locations was the job of the Beobachter, or observer, who used a map, landmarks and a timepiece to identify and plot the targets. Over the thick sleeve of his leather flight jacket would be strapped a massive wristwatch, precise and easy to read at a glance. This watch was not surprisingly called a Beobachtungsuhr, or observer’s watch and there were only a handful of companies in Germany authorized by the Aviation Ministry to manufacture them: IWC, Wempe, Stowa, A. Lange & Söhne and Laco. Of these authorized marques, Laco (LAcher & CO.) is not the most well known to many watch aficionados. Founded in Pforzheim in the 1920s, Laco was commissioned to build two types of watches for the Luftwaffe – the more commonly seen Fliegeruhr (pilot’s watch) and the “B-Uhr.” The B-Uhr was essentially a chronometer-grade pocketwatch movement housed in a wristwatch case and fitted with a radium luminous dial. The B-Uhr is easily identified by its distinctive dial with an outer minute track, five-minute marks enumerated and a large arrow at 12, and an inner hour ring that lines up with the hour hand. Unlike many other pocketwatch conversions of the era, these had a center seconds hand. An oversized crown allowed for hand-winding while wearing gloves. While Laco has resurfaced in recent years and is re-issuing its pilot’s and observer’s watches (with Swiss ETA movements) the original ones are very hard to come by. Now you gave a chance to get a genuine number matching example. Watch runs and is fully functional. All original and unrestored. There appears to be some kind of a stain of flack on the face at 35 minutes. I’m unsure what that may be. Watch will be sent insured and expedited hence high cost of shipping. 100% guarantee on originality.