Lemania Tg 195 & TL 15 Monopusher Chronographs
Vintage

Lemania Tg 195 & TL 15 Monopusher Chronographs

By hs111 · Jan 12, 2016 · 22 replies
hs111
WPS member · Horological Meandering forum
22 replies3489 views5 photos
f 𝕏 in 💬 🔗

Hs111 presents a captivating comparison of two vintage Lemania monopusher chronographs, highlighting their distinct military origins and functional differences. This post offers a valuable look into the nuanced world of vintage military timepieces, demonstrating how subtle variations in design and mechanism create unique character in watches that appear similar at first glance.

22 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →
Friends,
When browsing a bit through one of my watchboxes, to check & select
for this week, I realized, that my two Lemania pieces, hadn't got
enough airtime lately.

As both are so nice, balanced and unobtrusive timepieces,
I always enjoy wearing them.

At first sight they look quite similiar, monopusher both ; only
at closer sight they exhibit their differences & specifics :

One is a Lemania Tg 195 with 3 Swedish big crowns on the caseback,
showing its dedication to the Swedish Military, namely the air force,
AFAIK & as a well known good Swedish friend confirmed.

When the single pusher @ 2 resets the second hand to 12, it
halts the movement.
With that & crown pushed out, you can then set the time.
You may then also sync it to any external reference timer.

There are no subcounters, so this second is the only counter. When
subsequently the crown is pressed in, the watch is running again.

Here that deeply black dial with the lovely patinated numbers & hands;
BTW: the watch has been registered from 1958.



Tg 195; Credits: pic- blomman, watch - hs

The other piece, a Chrono with a Tl 15 Cal has similiar appearance,
but all Chrono functions (Run, Stop, Reset ) simply are done
by sequentially operating of the single pusher, thus very conventional.



Lemania 2 counter Chrono

What I like a lot on this one, which has an Arrow marking on the dial,
putting it into the British Military terrain, is the calm, almost sober dial.

The nicely patinated, slightly contrasting numbers @ 6, 12 and index dots
& hands, vs the white dial, all contribute to a certain charm.

On the wrist, the 195 Tg is a big pleasure: black dial, & a stepped bezel
let the watch wear a bit larger, which I like; the crowns & the single pusher
are cut half into the case



Nice black Yin - piece on the wrist; with its stepped bezel,
just the right size, around 36-37.




Here the 15 Tl, as a White Yang




Now the charismatic Duo: Ying & Yang in Black & White

Hope, I didn't bother you with too much rambling,
and hopefully you liked this Duet a bit.

Wishing you all a great remainder of the week !

Cheers & Best,
hs smile smile

This message has been edited by hs111 on 2016-01-12 09:09:11

About the Jaeger-LeCoultre Ref. Tg195

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Mark XI is a historically significant pilot's watch produced for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) under the 'Mark XI' specification. It was one of several brands, including IWC, to supply watches meeting these stringent requirements for air navigation. These watches were designed for extreme legibility, robustness, and accuracy, serving as essential tools for RAF navigators.

Equipped with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 488/SBr, a manually wound movement, the Mark XI features a hacking seconds function for precise synchronization. The movement is housed within a soft iron inner case for anti-magnetic protection, a critical feature for aviation instruments. The stainless steel case typically measures around 36mm in diameter, with a fixed bezel and a screw-down case back, ensuring durability and water resistance suitable for military use.

For collectors, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Mark XI represents a pinnacle of military watch design and functional horology. Its clean, utilitarian aesthetic, combined with its robust construction and historical provenance, makes it highly sought after. The watch's enduring appeal lies in its direct connection to post-war aviation and its embodiment of purpose-built design.

Specifications

Caliber
Caliber 488/SBr
Case
Stainless steel
Diameter
36mm
Dial
Black
Water Resist.
Not specified, but designed for military use
Crystal
Plexiglass

Key Points from the Discussion

Advertisement
The Discussion
AM
amanico
Jan 12, 2016
HS, my friend, I am admirative...

These military Lemanias are watches to find and get. These two are winners, especially in this condition. You should dig more into this theme. It is really wort it, before to many people understand the interest of these watches. Bravo. Nicolas

HS
hs111
Jan 12, 2016
Thx a lot dear friend, for these so kind words & encouragement !.. Indeed, I already thought to pursue these tracks.. :))

Really happy to have found this Duo ! Thx again & Cheers, Best, hs

AM
amanico
Jan 12, 2016
There are still some to hunt... Lemania Military ones. ;) [nt]

HS
hs111
Jan 12, 2016
Ok, thx.. Thus, good to keep the eyes open . Nice also to have a new theme . :)) [nt]

AM
amanico
Jan 13, 2016
Without forgetting the marvellous 33.3 Chronographs! [nt]

HS
hs111
Jan 13, 2016
Absolutely yes !.. Thx for reminding me !.. Have heard that the 15TL & 33.3 even are "relatives" .. ;) [nt]

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the Horological Meandering forum with 22 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →