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Lemania RAF?

Sidnos
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Hi all,

My mothers neighbour has the watch in the pictures attached, it’s pretty grubby but wondered if anyone could tell me anything about it so I can pass on to him or where I may find some info. He bought it in the 70’s from his flying instructor but looks to be 50’s ish to me.

Condition is ok, it’s clearly been well worn judging by the case but the dial and lume looks ok.

Anyway, just wondered if anyone knew much on these as he’s a great great guy and real old school gent and would really appreciate having some more information on it.

Thanks

D6CD7826-F22A-4726-B16C-7DEE6183301D.jpeg F23E11F5-588B-4FA3-A8EB-4826F8224A4F.jpeg CA4005BA-B8FB-4992-A40E-4A693BA930B3.jpeg 7124F50C-6140-423F-B226-47D4866C207A.jpeg F612C2FB-51F5-46CF-A750-CE2FE8551D50.jpeg
 
56DB9F12-7B24-44B7-B9E9-B5B64159B89F.jpeg
w154
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I don’t think there’s a definitive resource that focuses on these Lemania chronos. What you have is a series 2 Model that was issued to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm (that you can tell from the 0552 at the start of the NATO stock number). You should use that top number to search for other examples as the bottom number is unique to your watch.

I had a quick look and found a similar one with a close serial number.

https://finest-hour.co.uk/product/lemania-fleet-air-arm-chronograph/
 
Sidnos
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Brilliant thanks! Gives him something to go on at least...
Reckon it’s a pretty interesting piece personally

Thanks again,

James
 
Northernman
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These are quite common.
Widely used in the RAF from the 1950s and into the 70s at least.
Check in on MWRF for more details.
Lemania caliber 15.
I personally think it looks to be in a very good condition. But in need of a clean up.
They regularly comes up for sale in various UK auctions and on Chrono24/eBay and similar.
 
henrikaa
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Interesting dial layout, and the monopusher config looks appealing too. Would it only be the 12 and the 6 with lume?
 
Sidnos
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Thanks for info all, agreed it’s a bit of beauty.

Pretty sure he’s not interested in selling it as he’s had it for 40 odd years and has a house full of interesting bits and pieces.

He told me he was going to have it serviced soon so hopefully next time I see him and it, it may be slightly better presented.

I’ve passed on the bits I’ve got from you all so thanks again. It’s such an interesting hobby that keeps turning up new avenues of interest!
 
rott3
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I would love to see how it's inside after all what that watch must have gone trough.....
 
Sidnos
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Ha, well he isn’t exactly a tech whizz so odds of getting any pics are slim but I’ll ask my mum to see if his watchmaker can provide some “action shots” during the service
 
Northernman
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henrikaa henrikaa
Interesting dial layout, and the monopusher config looks appealing too. Would it only be the 12 and the 6 with lume?
No.

There are lume dots for all hour markers in addition.
The circle-T mark indicates that this is a tritium lume dial.
The early ones (case often marked H.S.9 - often referred to as series 1 ) are radium lumed.

Radium dials were replaced with tritium ones during regular servicing.
This makes radium dialled H.S.9s rarer.
The updated H.S.9 watches had this mark striked out, and 0552 marking added.
 
Northernman
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Sidnos Sidnos
Ha, well he isn’t exactly a tech whizz so odds of getting any pics are slim but I’ll ask my mum to see if his watchmaker can provide some “action shots” during the service
Make sure that he uses a watchmaker with experience in vintage watches.
And: DO NOT ALLOW THE WATCHMAKER TO REPLACE ANYTHING!
No cosmetic “touch up “. No polishing of the case and so on.
This will ruin the value of it.

Exceptions for worn movement parts and mainspring.
 
Sidnos
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He uses Chris Papworth (UK - Essex based watchmaker of Kelvedon Clocks), unsure if he's known here possibly a member...? Looking at his site and from what the owner tells me he is sympathetic servicer so hopefully all good 😉
 
Syrte
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Really nice patina— and what makes it especially nice is that the case has not been polished.
As @Northernman has said, He really must insist his watchmaker not polish the case, no buffing and no machine used on it.
It would ruin the value of the watch as a collectible item.
 
tapaptpat
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Most of the worth while comments have been made by fellow members. Keep the soul of the watch! Have a sympathetic service.

To add a bit info has been missed.
The end of the 1st line is 3305.
This part of the code describes that the watches that do not have: high altitude and upgraded shock protection.
If these adjustments were made it would be coded to 3306. IMHO.

Great watch! Make sure the owner takes good care of it. Also that they also enjoy wearing it to the max.
😀👍::psy::
Edited:
 
Sidnos
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Thanks for the additional information, I'll be sure to pass it on! He is getting on a little now so not sure he would need the upgraded high altitude protection these days....but you never know!

Thanks again,

James
 
Sidnos
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Hi all,

Just to update I’ve passed on all the information kindly provided to the owner, who, in true gent form, has sent me a beautiful hand written letter thanking me (and by proxy you all) for the information (see below).

So again thanks for that.

He did also question whether he should have it valued and if it should be insured separately from his general house insurance.

Clearly I’m no expert in such things so wondered on a ball park figure of the value so I can pass on to him.

All the best and again, thanks for your time and input!

James
87DFB109-5873-49B7-A707-FCA12C7793E1.jpeg
 
Northernman
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In general setting a value on a watch you do not hold in your hands is not that easy.

The value of this watch, and an insurance value, is often very different.

For insurance purposes I tend to see higher values compared to what would be likely to get in an open sale.
As for a resell price, you could use this as an indication:
https://auctions.watchesofknightsbr...-details/76988778-4549-47f3-8c96-aab9010db8f8

For insurance purposes I would say a valuation at about GBP3000 would be fair.

Cheers!
 
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