Military Chronographs: Hamilton, Lemania, Omega, Breitling

amanico · 2018-06-14T01:12:27Z

Explore military chronographs from Hamilton, Lemania, Omega, Breitling, and CWC. Discover shared dial configurations and historical context for these iconic timepieces.

amanico

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

24 replies5563 views16 photos

Amanico's post offers a fascinating look into the world of military chronographs, highlighting how various brands adopted a similar dial configuration for different armed forces. His personal collection and curated images provide a rich visual guide, making this thread an invaluable resource for collectors interested in the shared aesthetic and functional requirements of these historical timepieces. This exploration underscores the enduring appeal of these robust and purposeful watches.

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All along these years, I developed and fed a strong attraction for these military chronographs which share the same dial configuration, in white or black.

The brands? Hamilton, Lemania, Rodania, Omega, Breitling, CWC...

Here are some I could grab, or just take in pictures, or find in pictures.

Here we go:

-> Hamilton for the Royal Navy:

Mines:

Gilt:

Sterile:

Tropical ( Not mine ).

-> Lemania, for the Royal Navy:

A special one without lume for the nuclear Submarines:

These 2 others are not mines, sadly:

-> CWC offered a very close version:

Newmark and Precista had the same dial configuration and movement than the Hamilton.

-> Breitling, Sterile, for the Royal Canadian Air Force:

-> The Rodania Sibling, for the RCAF, too. Credit picture: Analog and Shift.

-> The Omega version, once again for the RCAF. Credit picture: Jacek.

If you ever have some to share with this same dials, please feel free to share.

Best,

Nicolas

Key Points from the Discussion

The CWC Fleet Air Arm Pilots Chronograph was issued to a Sea Harrier Pilot during the Falklands War, adding a significant historical context to the military chronograph discussion.
A reissue of a military chronograph, featuring a 38mm champagne dial and a Sea-Gull movement based on the Venus 175 design, offers a modern interpretation of the classic aesthetic.
Comparison photos between an original military chronograph and its reissue reveal that while the reissue is a faithful effort, the polished case is a notable difference from the original.
The challenge of finding watchmakers capable of repairing vintage military chronographs, such as an RCAF Monopusher Breitling, highlights the specialized expertise required for these historical pieces.

The Discussion

jomni1

Jun 14, 2018

Chinese Air Force

Not vintage but reissue. 38mm champagne dial. Movement is a Sea-Gull based on Venus 175 design.

TheMadDruid

Jun 14, 2018

That's pretty cool.

The champagne dial is beautiful.

amanico

Jun 14, 2018

Not the same dial, with the luminous dots each 5 minutes, which are so characteristic. But a good looking chrono you have, here. [nt]

jomni1

Jun 16, 2018

Ah. I missed the dots. [nt]

KMII

Jun 14, 2018

These are some truly spectacular chronographs, Nico!

I still need to get my act together and get my RCAF Monopusher Breitling finally fixed. Several watchmakers declined to take on the project, so still on the lookout.

amanico

Jun 14, 2018

It can take time... But it is so rewarding! [nt]

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Military Chronographs: Hamilton, Lemania, Omega, Breitling

Key Points from the Discussion

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