Rare Vintage Mens Smiths RAF 6B Stainless Steel Military Watch 1967
This Smiths 6B RAF military watch is in great original condition. It appears the owner brought it into dad's old jewellery shop for a service and a new leather strap (possibly the original service man who owned it) and then he never collected it. Dad's jewellery shop was in business 1956-1977.
The watch is working and in very good condition. The watch has now been serviced by a professional watch maker prior to completion of a sale and will come with a 6 month guarantee from the watchmaker. Due to collect it next week and will add some new photos shortly.
Everything on this piece is original apart from the period replacement strap, but a correct NATO nylon one can easily be obtained for around £20 if preferred.
The 60466E movement has the year stamp for 1967, often movements are changed in Smiths W10's/6B's, so it is good to see the original movement still in place.
The 35mm case is in very good condition with only a few very minor marks commensurate with an issued piece of this age. It has fixed lugs at 17mm apart.
This a rare sought after military watch and is not to be confused with Smiths W10s that were issued to the British Army in much higher numbers.
A round stainless steel case watch, with black face, Arabic numerals and cream luminescent hands and luminescent hour markers. Central. sweep seconds hand. Face marked Smith's, the letter T in a circle, a broad arrow above no 6 and made in England at bottom.
Rear screw back case stamped 6B/9614045, an arrow and 551/67.
Movement stamped 67 and 60466E and Made in England, 17 Jewels.
The only other examples of this rare 6B watch that I have seen is nearly £3,000 on one site and another example of this watch is £2400 on eBay. So if you want to add this to your collection at a lower price place a bid or miss out, they are rare and few and far between and prices are only going one way... up.
The much more abundant W10 military watches are asking £1650 so this is cheap for such a rare piece.
History
Smiths produced the last UK manufactured mechanical military watches and the company was founded in 1851 as a clock maker. The Smiths W10 was issued mainly in the 60s and early 70s and was replaced by the CWC and Hamilton W10 in around 1972.
This is a variant of the Smiths W10 and was issued to the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a Navigator's or Pilots watch and these are now very collectable. They are easy to identify because the case back markings begin with 6B/. Whilst a lot of the details regarding Smiths are unclear it seems in 1966 Smiths secured a contract to supply the British forces with a General Service watch and supplied MOD for 3 years up to 1970.
The best of the Smiths models was the GS.4701 and production of this model ceased in 1971, A very rare and hard to find Smiths 6B issued in 1967 to the British Royal Air Force R.A.F.
British watchmaker Smiths had the M.O.D contract to supply watches to the Ministry of Defence between 1967 and 1970. Watches were issued for use of the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force. The Navy and RAF watches are the hardest to find.
This is one of those rarer hard to find examples which rarely comes up for sale.
I have other vintage watches, clocks and Sekondas etc that I will be listing.
Please see my other listings If you wish to reduce cost of postage and shipping especially if International shipping is involved and you are buying multiple items which end within a day or two of each other please ask for an invoice and pay all items together. If unsure message me.
Will be carefully packed and sent with tracked insured courier service by 1st Class Special Next Day Delivery in Mainland Britain only. If you live N.Ireland, Scottish Islands and Highlands, Channel islands etc or are an International bidder please ask for correct postage costs before paying as postage cost are higher and I will invoice you the correct total to pay. If unsure ask before bidding. International bidders welcome using global shipping programme.
Thanks for looking