Zenith early solid 0.800 silver pilot's watch of the Reichsluftwaffe / Imperial Air Force circa 1914 / in original facsimile leather strap
Material: 0.800 solid silver, movement Zenith signed with rarest for the era, high-quality swan neck fine adjustment
Case diameter: 5cm, pressed back on hinge with inner movement protection cover (also solid silver), typical for early pilot's watches and the Jasta combat squadrons from 1914 to 1918, well-preserved dial with inner, red 24-hour circle and indirect second above the "6"
Before and during the First World War, the first few hundred genuine pilot's wristwatches in military history were issued to the pilots of the fighter squadrons of the Imperial Air Force.
This was a standard bracelet with a pin buckle which is recognizable by its wide middle section for holding a pocket watch
During the First World War, these leather straps were reduced to approximately the size of later service watches, meaning that existing pocket watches were no longer used, but rather specially produced smaller ones, similar to the ladies' pocket watches of the 19th century.
This so-called "first pilot's wristwatch" was not only worn on the wrist but was also sometimes clearly visible in the cockpit of biplane fighter aircraft
As can be seen in the picture by Konrad Knirim, page 85, normal men's pocket watches, some even with indirect seconds, were also used and issued
Considering the fact that the German Air Force only had about 550 pilots at the beginning of the First World War, a large number of whom were shot down and burned along with their wristwatches, and how organically sensitive genuine leather is (over a period of almost 100 years...), it is understandable and certain that there are only a few individual examples of this unique first pilot's watch in military history left worldwide.
Even at the time of its production it was a particularly exclusive status symbol, even Kaiser Wilhelm II personally wore it with his uniform as can be seen in the picture of this offer
The rare piece of (military) watch history runs and runs (accuracy not tested), the strap is a historical genuine leather original
EZ: 2 good used collector's condition, normal, visible signs of age/wear, dial unrestored in good condition, lid closes flush, presumably original mineral glass, movement starts and runs (accuracy not tested), leather strap presumably original
