Who's number one ?
Congratulations to a fine watch I hope it was as good as you hoped

 

Greetings @danomar, just curious, how many "dibs" are there pending on your rare, issued South African Air Force 5012?
About 50? (Not that I should care as I presume it's about 40mm and would overshoot my wrist).

 

I have suitably thick wrists. I'll stand in for your dibs, Syrte. It's a great watch!

 

Fantastic watch indeed (one of my favorites). So nice to see a gentleman ready to fly to the rescue

 

Everyone who sees an SAAF wants one. Nature of the watch, I suppose. It was sold to me without a signed caseback, so I cannot verify whether or not it was actually issued. It is authentic, though; I do not think there are enough spares around to make up one.

Its case is the same as the Heuer Carrera 510.523 as well as a few others, 38mm across and 43mm lug-to-lug. The bezel makes it look bigger. And the dial. And the rehaut ring. And everything else. For some reason, it hearkens the Speedmaster vibe when on the wrist.

Here is a trio of rather plain chronographs:

 

Oh no, damn, then I could totally wear one. (Sorry Noelekal).
Well, a pal on another forum just got one -- so I guess with the proper effort and ressources there's nothing that can't be found!
(I did wonder whether any civilian equivalent existed.)

 

Rats! My dibs is moved to last again!

 

This could be true. I've found only two examples that have the stamped FCVJ case back. There're probably more hidden away from the internet. A few others only have the dial but no stamped case back and different movement.



BTW, did you get this one: http://forum.atgvintagewatches.com/showthread.php?2894-Bid-Alert?

 

I have seen several come up for sale over the years. They should have the FCVJ engraving and a unique number on the back. I believe the movement is a 5100 but it is unmarked, something we often see on Lemanias sold directly by the manufacturer. It might be a 5012, but I seem to remember it coming up as 28800bph on my Kello.

The one at the top of the post? No. That was beautiful but definitely pieced-together. The one that Dave shared might very well have been the one I got. Mine was originally for sale on eBay Germany and I was living in the U.S. at the time, so I missed out. It came up for sale a year or two later, and after it failed to sell at the asking price, I made an offer just a little more than it originally sold. Justice was served.

It took me several long years to get my SAAF, and I got a slightly nicer price because it did not have its original caseback. I do not think there ever was a SAAF version sold to the general public, but Rikus would know. The casebacks alone are now worth almost as much as the watch. In my opinion, the engraving on the caseback no longer means much. Almost anyone can make a replica. The rest of the watch, however, is unique unto itself. Very few parts were used on other watches... Except, of course, the even more rare RAN version.

 

I've only seen one with FCVJ back in the last 2-3 years. Those you've seen, do they all have this case back?

The movement beats at 21600bph.

I've seen another one recently with the same configuration. It could be a "pieced-together" from left over stock, à la Watchco SM300. Doesn't necessarily make it a wrong watch.

No, the one Dave showed belonged to Chuck Maddox which doesn't have a stamped FCVJ case back, different dial and different movement. The listing for your watch from Israel is still available on the web, I think. Nice story of how you got it!

 

My 5012 has the same layout and case, but no inscriptions either. The model was also sold as the Heuer Cortina.
As far as I know the Heuer used a 5100 28.800 movement.

And of course, identical case, different bezel/dial is the Omega FIFA ref ST11003-2.
Co-incidentally (?) my Lemania has the caseback reference 11003 as well... But no Omega logo.


The ST11003 uses a 5100/1045 movement with the omission of the 24h hand.

 

SAAF Lemania RULEZZZZ

 

Update @styggpyggeno1 @marturx @LouS @Northernman

More pictures will come in a week or so... However this is what he wrote.


Before the order of the Viggen watch for the Swedish Air Force there where a lot of testing and this is supposed to be one of the watches used in the testing.

The Lemania passed the test as best in class before Omega and Rolex. The buyer of this watch came in contact with an older man that was doing these tests and this man gave the buyer an opportunity he couldn't resist

The story continues, I'll update you guys as soon there are more info.

 

I sense the P-word in the air!

 

Hi,

Sorry for my late reply.

Please find attached some pics.

Any information on this model is much appreciated

 

Great photos! Thanks!

 

Very nice indeed!
Cal 3600 automatic. In-house Lemania design. Basis is the cal 3000 HW which again is based on the cal S27 basis. Robust and well designed with Breguet spiral and full rotor winding.
For those interested you will see that the movement shares the unique "catch device" for the hairspring.



This is a "Lemania only" design feature you will recognize from the Omega/Lemania cal 320/321.

I have a catalog from 1956, but the ref is not listed. If you provide a serial number I could try to make a qualified guess on age.

The Lemania cal 3000 family, at least, consisted of the following calibers:

• Lemania 3000: sub second, 17 jewels, Breguet spiral.

• Lemania 3010: sub second, 21 jewels, Breguet spiral.

• Lemania 3015: sub second, date, 17 jewels, Breguet spiral.

• Lemania 3040: sub second, 21 jewels, Breguet spiral, glucydur balance.

• Lemania 3050: sweep second, 15/17 jewels, Breguet spiral.

• Lemania 3060: sweep second, bridge over center second drive, 17 jewels, Breguet spiral.

• Lemania 3065: sweep second, bridge over center second drive, date, 17 jewels, Breguet spiral.

• Lemania 3100, 3110: sub second, 17 jewels flat hairspring

• Lemania 3150: sweep second, 15/17 jewels flat hairspring

• Lemania 3160: sweep second, bridge over center second drive, 15/17 jewels flat hairspring

• Lemania 3170: sweep second, bridge over center second drive, 15/17 jewels flat hairspring

• Lemania 3300: sub second, “triple calendar”: day, date, month, 17 jewels flat hairspring. Same as Omega cal 380 (381 without moon-phase indication).

• Lemania 3535: sweep second, 15/17 jewels flat hairspring

• Lemania 3540: sweep second, bridge over center second drive, 15/17 jewels flat hairspring

• Lemania 3600: Automatic version of caliber 3000, sub second. 17/21 jewels, Breguet spiral

• Lemania 3610: Automatic version of caliber 3000, sub seconds. 17/21 jewels, Breguet spiral

• Lemania 3615: Automatic version of caliber 3015, sub seconds. 17/21 jewels, Breguet spiral, Date function.

 

This thread made me exhume some issued Lemanias, once grail watches now not often worn. Wearing the left one today though.

 

@crl848 nice!! Can we get a case back shot of that 817 on the right?

 

Fantastic collection @crl848 . Sad to hear that they doesn't get any wristtime, so lovely watches.
If you ever get tired on the one to the left put me first in line

Thanks for sharing