Bundeswehr Ref. 1550 SG

HEUER, BUNDESWEHR-CHRONOGRAPH, REF. 1550 SG

ICONEEK price: SOLD

Iconeek is proud to introduce here a very attractive and unusual military Heuer wristwatch, The Bundeswehr Ref. 1550 SG.

The model is a large stainless steel military flyback chronograph wristwatch. Heuer’s Bundeswehr flyback chronograph watch was made for the German military Air Force from the 1960s until the 1970s. The brand manufactured the watches to meet the specifications required by each branch of the force, and therefore there are several variations of the model available. The model was made for military and civilian use. The military ones, such as the present watch, are fitted  with military markings on the case back and a red “3 H” on the dial, which highlights the use of tritium lume on the dial and in the hands.

These “Bundeswehr” watches are very functional with an easy-to-read dial, long-stem pushers and crown (so the wearer can set the time and activate the chronograph with gloves easily), and rotating bezel with minute demarcations. The large size and military connection make this watch increasingly prized by collectors, who also refer to these German military watches as the “Bund”.

The model comes with a three body construction: a round-shaped case with round chronograph buttons in the band, secured by 4 screws to the tonneau-shaped second case bearing the snap on bi-directionnal rotating bezel. The case back is engraved with the 13-digit NATO stock number “BW 6645-12-340-9456” and is typical of these military timepieces.  The case back is engraved inside « Heuer-Leonidas Swiss Stainless Steel ». The size between the lugs is 20 mm. The model comes with a matte black dial, painted luminous Arabic numerals, minute and second division with 5-minute radial Arabic numerals, two subsidiary engine turned dials, for the constant seconds at 9 and for the 30-minute register at 3, luminous Baton hands, « 3h » printed in red in a circle above 6 o’clock, signed « Swiss » at the bottom. The red encircled 3H designation on the dial indicates the presence of tritium.  As a radioactive isotope of hydrogen 3H or hydrogen-3 are alternative chemical names for tritium. Inside ticks a mechanical movement, manual winding, caliber Valjoux 230, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, with straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, engraved « MN » under the balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, shock-absorbers, column-wheel chronograph mechanism.

The present watch is a great example of the desirable military version of the Bundeswehr. The luminous material on the dial and in the central hands has taken a natural and beautiful warm cream patina and the dial has the large 3 H symbol most prized by collectors of these watches.

Condition: 8.5/10, in very good overall condition, some signs of wear in places