1940 Movado Weems Movado Weems 6B/159
WW2 Era SAAF Navigators Halfwing
During the Second World War South African Air Force personnel served in many theaters around the world including East & North Africa, The Atlantic, Warsaw and France. As a Commonwealth air force most SAAF equipment came from RAF origins and this explains why many early SAAF issued timepieces bares both SAAF and RAF markings.
The Weems Movado to the best of my knowledge was the first wrist timepiece to be issued to SAAF aircrews and the SAAF example pictured here dates to 1940 (as per RAF markings)
Markings
The Movado bares full British markings including the imperial crown plus the SAAF AF-number. Like the other Weems examples by Omega, Jaeger etc. the Movado is also signed by the case manufacturer Goldsmiths & Silversmiths and the model number 11796 can be found on the inner case back.
Movement:
Cal – 157MN (Base 150)
Type – Manual Wind
Jewels – 15
BPH – 18000
Size – 22.9mm
Power Reserve = 39 Hours
* The dial side and movement images shown here were kindly made available by James Dowling as my example is still under restoration
1940 Longines 
Longines 6B/159
WW2 Era SAAF
Pilot Wings
Markings:
The Longines bares both the British markings and SAAF AF-number plus the letter U with an inverted broad arrow inside it. The inverted arrow inside the U indicated that this was the property of the Union Defense Force of South Africa and can be found on many military issued items pre-dating 1961 when South Africa became a Republic.
Movement:
Cal – 12.68N
Type – Manual Wind
Jewels – 16
BPH – 18000
Size – 27mm
Power Reserve = 40 Hours
WW2 Era SAAF
Ventura
* The Longines images shown above were kindly
made available by Lindsay Watkiss
1942 Waltham Waltham 6B/234 MK VIII
WW2 Era SAAF Flight
Engineer halfwing
During the early 40’s the US standard A-11 was carried over to the RAF and became known as specification 6b/234. These watches did not meet the navigational standards and were issued as general aircrew watches.
This Rare SAAF version was donated to my collection by my very generous fellow South African collector Panirai
(www.vintagewatchmarket.com)
Markings:
The Waltham bares the usual AF-number plus the British markings 6b/234 A590 and the broad arrow
Movement:
Cal – - 884
Type -– Manual Wind
Jewels -– 15
Hacking –- Yes
IWC MK XI 
IWC 6b/346
A watch that needs no introduction is the IWC Mark XI and these served in the SAAF as navigator's watches from 1961 to 1986. The quantity procured by the SAAF remains unknown to date but is speculated to be in the region of 200.
From the examples that I've seen it appears that 3 batches were issued to the SAAF, the first two in 1961 and another at a later stage.
Markings
Case Back:
Early examples bare both SAAF and British markings and two distinct marking patterns can be seen below. Later examples were only engraved with an AF-number and unlike early examples also had an IWC serial number inside the case back.
Dial & Movement :
Whilst some SAAF examples had the broad arrow on the dial and/or movement most did not carry the broad arrow at all and none ever had the circled T on the dial. The third batch did however have T's on either side of the word SWISS at 6 suggesting that the last batch was issued during or after 1963 when tritium was introduced.
Movement
Cal 89
Type – Manual Wind
Size – 27.1mm
BPH-18000
Jewels – 17
Hacking - Yes
Single Pusher Lemanias Lemania cal. 2220
SAAF Mirage III RZ
Towards the late 50’s the SAAF started receiving their first chronographs in the form of the single pusher Lemania and the first model to arrive was the round silver dial version. Somewhere towards the mid sixties the SAAF also procured some asymmetrical examples in both white and black dials but these are very rarely seen and I can only assume that they were issued in very low numbers.
Some early examples housed the cal. 2210 movement without shock protection but most examples has the standard cal. 2220 Incabloc movement.
Markings
Early examples of the round model bared both British and SAAF markings in various styles while later ones only had the usual AF markings. All asymmetrical examples only show the AF-marking.
Movement:
Cal – 2220
Type - Manual Wind
BPH - 18000
Size - 15 Ligne
Power - Reserve 36 Hours (+ -)
Jewels - 17
Hacking - No
Lemania Cal 1872 Lemania cal.1872
SAAF Mirage
F1 CZ
In total 630 cal.1872 Lemania’s were procured by the SAAF in 5 batches between 1970 and 1976. This model came in two different dial patterns, the first with fine font and broad arrow and a later version with bold font and without the arrow
Markings
Earlier examples have what appears to be a punched AF-number whilst later examples have a very fine engraving on the case back. The model number 817 can be found inside the case back.
Issue Data:
Year AF-Numbers Total
1971 10126 to 10445 320
1975 10739 to 10839 100 (Excluding 10740)
1975 10943 to 10842 100
1975 10969 to 10978 10
1976 11016 to 11115 100
Movement
Cal 1872
Type - Manual Wind
BPH - 21600
Size - 27.5mm
Power Reserve - 50 Hours
Jewels - 17
Hacking - No
Lemania Cal 5012 Lemania cal. 5012
SAAF Cheetah D
During 1980 the SAAF procured 2 batches of 400 each and I found the example pictured here in practically NOS condition from a SAAF employee who kept it in his safe for the last 20-odd years.
The caliber 5012 is practically a stripped down version of the famous Lemania cal. 5100 and the simplicity of its dial layout makes it highly legible.
Markings
The first batch shows a fine engraving in large font whilst the second batch has a very crude engraving in slightly smaller font.
Issue Data
Year AF-Numbers Total
1980 11422 to 11821 400
1980 11825 to 12224 400
Movement
Cal - 5012 (Base 5100)
Type - Automatic
BPH - 21600
Size - 31mm
Power Reserve - 45 Hours
Jewels - 17
Hacking - Yes
Seiko 7a28 and 7a38 Seiko 7A28/38 & 7T42
Classic Poster Showing Seiko the 7A28 & Saaf Pilot - SAAF Museum
Seiko cal. 7A28
In 1980 Seiko came up with the world’s first analog quartz chronograph movement namely the caliber 7A28 and between 1985 and 1986 850 of these were procured by the SAAF. Apart from having a rotating diver's bezel and hooded lugs the SAAF version was very similar to the early RAF issued Seiko’s.
Seiko cal. 7A38
The 7A38 was the Day-Date successor of the 7A28 and 500 of these were procured by the SAAF in 1986.
Seiko cal. 7T42
Due to budget cuts these were the last watches to be procured by the SAAF and they took delivery of 200 in 1992.
Markings
All Seiko's have only the AF -number in fine engraving
Movement
Cal - 7a28/38
Type - Quartz
BPH - 36000
Power Reserve - N/A
Jewels - 15
Hacking - Yes
Cal - 7T42
Type - Quartz
BPH - 36000
Power Reserve - N/A
Jewels - None
Hacking - Yes
General 
Sad Ending to the Mechanical Era
During the early 90's some of the remaining Lemania’s & IWC's were sold off to the SAAF personnel at a mere 35 South African Rand each (about 5 US$). Many of these were returned to the stores and exchanged for the then “new” Seiko’s and when the SAAF realized this they sadly destroyed all remaining examples still in storage or returned by Pilot’s thereafter.
Pictured are some remains I picked up inside a military base some years ago
Group Shot
Here is a group shot of my SAAF collection - The clocks pictured are by Carailli, Breguet, Dodane, Heuer and Le Coultre and I'll add some images and info on these when time permits.
SAAF F86 Sabre
Info Needed
If anyone is aware of any SAAF issued wristwatches or additional info not mentioned on this site please keep me posted - I'm specifically looking for info on watches issued during the Korean War.
Some General Remarks:
Information on SAAF issued wristwatches is practically nonexistent and the issue logs are cryptic at best. I therefore stand to be corrected on any of the information provided in this post.
The issue data above comes from the original SAAF issue log that covers the late 60’s to the mid 90’s.
SAAF P51 Mustang
Contact Please contact me on:
rbasson_interpharm.co.za
