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Lemania Royal Air Force Mono-Pusher Chronograph 6BB/924-3306 "Series III" Black Dial, 1970 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Lemania Royal Air Force Mono-Pusher Chronograph 6BB/924-3306 "Series III" Black Dial, 1970

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Lemania (maker)
Date
1970
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 39.5 mm
Stock no.
LM6BB3306RAF
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (LM6BB3306RAF)
Catalogue title (original)
1970 Lemania Royal Air Force Mono-Pusher Chronograph 6BB/924-3306 "Series III" Black Dial (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number LM6BB3306RAF), this is a wristwatch by Lemania, made in Switzerland, dated 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 39.5 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Military-issued chronographs represent one of the most compelling corners of vintage watch collecting, combining purpose-built design with tangible historical provenance. Among the most significant are Lemania’s mono-pusher chronographs, produced from the 1940s through the early 1970s for Britain’s Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, and Royal Navy, as well as military forces in Australia, Sweden, and South Africa. Better known as one of Switzerland’s great chronograph movement manufacturers, supplying calibers to Omega, Heuer, Patek Philippe, and others, Lemania produced comparatively few watches under its own name. Its British military chronographs are generally divided into three generations by case construction: the externally notched Series I, internally notched Series II, and later Series III, distinguished by its asymmetrical case. 39.5mm stainless steel case features the characteristic Series III asymmetrical profile, with an extended right side partially shielding the crown. Additional military specifications include fixed-bar lugs, a single chronograph pusher at 2 o’clock, and a screw-down caseback bearing its Royal Air Force issue "6BB" markings. SPECS Stock # LM6BB3306RAF Brand Lemania Style Mono-Pusher Chronograph RAF-Issued Model 6BB/924-3306 "Series III" Serial 56X/70 Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Matte Black Millimeters 39.5 Bracelet New Green Phoenix NATO Strap CASE & BRACELET The impressively preserved Series III asymmetrical case retains strong factory proportions and well-defined finishing, showing honest wear and only minor evidence of prior polishing. The unsigned crown and single pump pusher are believed to be original to the watch. The screw-down caseback retains crisp, fully legible military issue markings, while its interior bears a roughly executed engraving reading “Stavs Watch,” likely a personalization added by a previous owner. The watch comes supplied on a new green Phoenix NATO strap. DIAL & HANDS The original matte black “Circle T” dial remains in well-preserved vintage condition, showing only minor age-related spotting and no notable damage. The tritium lume plots have developed an attractive golden patina and show no degradation under UV inspection. The original syringe-style hands retain the majority of their tritium lume, which has aged to a deeper tan tone, with some lume loss visible under UV light. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is running and functioning correctly. Past service history is unknown. A movement service can be purchased upon request.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

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