Movado Field Watch

Among the most compelling military watches of the Second World War are the RAF-issued 6B/159 navigation watches — purpose-built instruments supplied to British pilots and navigators by a select group of elite Swiss manufacturers. Alongside names such as Omega, Longines, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, Movado produced a limited number of these highly specialized timepieces in the early 1940s, adhering to the British Ministry of Defence’s strict aviation specifications. Today, surviving examples remain among the rarest and most desirable RAF-issued watches from the period. Produced circa 1942 at the height of WWII, this Movado 6B/159 captures the pure functionality that defined wartime aviation watches. Housed in a restrained stainless steel case measuring approximately 33mm in diameter, it wears with the elegant proportions typical of the era while retaining a strong presence on the wrist. The matte white dial features crisp black Arabic numerals, a chemin de fer minute track, and a center seconds layout designed for rapid legibility inside the cockpit. Blued steel non-luminous hands provide a subtle touch of visual refinement while remaining faithful to the original military specification. Powering the watch is a hand-wound mechanical movement befitting Movado’s strong mid-century reputation for precision timekeeping. Paired with a simple fabric one-piece strap that complements the watch’s utilitarian roots, the overall presentation remains understated, purposeful, and remarkably modern more than eighty years after its production. What makes the Movado variant especially significant is its rarity. While the RAF sourced 6B/159 watches from several prominent Swiss manufacturers, comparatively few were produced by Movado — with roughly 7,500 examples manufactured in total. As a result, original Movado-issued pieces seldom appear on the market today, particularly examples retaining strong originality and honest military character. More than simply a military-issued timepiece, the 6B/159 represents an extraordinary intersection of horology, aviation history, and functional design. For collectors drawn to authentic wartime provenance and genuinely scarce military watches, it remains one of the most fascinating RAF-issued references of the era.