The early pilot watches of the Reichsluftwaffe with arrow index and rotating bezel around 1930 Natalis, Zenith Sepecial, IWC, Omega
The subject of this article is a truly, truly rare piece of military watch history:
The early pilot's watch with rotating bezel and arrow index, as produced by all major manufacturers from Omega to IWC to Rolex, as a precursor to the later wrist chronograph (and offered to the new German Air Force...)
As a typical example of this relatively unknown watch type, we describe the original Natalis early pilot's watch of the Reichsluftwaffe with a rotating bezel and arrow index from around 1930, the forerunner of the military chronograph as described in detail by Konrad Knirim in the "Bible of Military Watches"
The Natalis is the first, rarest and most valuable of this piece of military watch history known only to the expert and with a mighty 41mm diameter without crown also one of the largest of this genre
In almost 25 years of collecting passion, I have held about 10 of these in my hand or seen collections. In 3 of them, the bezel was fixed and no longer movable, in 2 the arrow index was missing, most no longer had the original hands, all had identical flat curved bars, which are so typical for this type of watch and all were 41mm in diameter, so this wonderfully rare piece of (military) watch history corresponds exactly to the one in the "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog" by Muser Horlbeck.
The Natalis is considered the most famous and "queen of early pilot's watches" because it is the first model to feature the typical features of this chronograph predecessor: curved, fixed lugs, knurled bezel with arrow index and indirect second on the black dial
In addition, it is the model that was produced the least frequently - because the large Swiss and German manufacturers immediately followed suit and, not least, pushed their way into the market with price.
With a case diameter of 41 mm – the later size of the legendary Wehrmacht chronographs and B-Uhren – significantly larger than "normal" service watches, these early pilot's watches of the Reichsluftwaffe, in the absence of chronograph functions for the precise measurement and display of flight duration, were generally equipped with a rotating bezel, screwed with knurled screws, and index markings.
Wide, curved lugs and bars extending far back, which became the distinguishing feature of these early pilot's watches, allowed them to be worn on a long strap over the pilot's suit.
All models of this period already possessed the typical features that later became standard for all Wehrmacht service watches: indirect second at the "6", black dial, radium-filled hands and Arabic numerals.
Early pilot's watches, all issued unmarked because, according to the Treaty of Versailles, there was no Reichswehr, let alone an air force in Germany, were produced by practically all renowned brands such as Omega, Longines, Zenith, IWC (caliber 83), Breitling, Titus, Helvetia, Tissot, Roamer, Lanco, Rellum as well as the small manufacturers Natalis and Wagner and delivered to the Reichsluftwaffe.
As can be seen from the photos of this offer, these pieces were/are traded between Euro 2500,- and Euro 5000,- according to the "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog" by Muser Horlbeck or achieved corresponding prices at the auction house Muser/Horlbeck
The super rare example of this offer has with exactly 41mm case diameter without crown exactly the authentic and known size
Deep black, flawless dial with indirect second, Arabic numerals and a circumferential early tachymeter scale, hands absolutely original (see photos)
Runs and functions perfectly – accuracy not tested – it features an unsigned movement with 15 jewels and an early fine adjustment. The radium filling in the original hands is partially preserved, and the glass, with its flaws, is presumably still original.
There are slight traces of oxidation on the case, but this only confirms its combat authenticity - it was obviously worn on the wrist of a fighter pilot for many years
