Movado Field Watch

Among the most compelling military watches of the Second World War are the RAF-issued 6B/159 navigation watches — purpose-built instruments supplied to British pilots and navigators by a select group of elite Swiss manufacturers. Alongside names such as Omega, Longines, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, Movado produced a limited number of these highly specialized timepieces in the early 1940s, adhering to the British Ministry of Defence’s strict aviation specifications. Today, surviving examples remain among the rarest and most desirable RAF-issued watches from the period.

Produced circa 1942 at the height of WWII, this Movado 6B/159 captures the pure functionality that defined wartime aviation watches. Housed in a restrained stainless steel case measuring approximately 33mm in diameter, it wears with the elegant proportions typical of the era while retaining a strong presence on the wrist. The matte white dial features crisp black Arabic numerals, a chemin de fer minute track, and a center seconds layout designed for rapid legibility inside the cockpit. Blued steel non-luminous hands provide a subtle touch of visual refinement while remaining faithful to the original military specification.

Powering the watch is a hand-wound mechanical movement befitting Movado’s strong mid-century reputation for precision timekeeping. Paired with a simple fabric one-piece strap that complements the watch’s utilitarian roots, the overall presentation remains understated, purposeful, and remarkably modern more than eighty years after its production.

What makes the Movado variant especially significant is its rarity. While the RAF sourced 6B/159 watches from several prominent Swiss manufacturers, comparatively few were produced by Movado — with roughly 7,500 examples manufactured in total. As a result, original Movado-issued pieces seldom appear on the market today, particularly examples retaining strong originality and honest military character.

More than simply a military-issued timepiece, the 6B/159 represents an extraordinary intersection of horology, aviation history, and functional design. For collectors drawn to authentic wartime provenance and genuinely scarce military watches, it remains one of the most fascinating RAF-issued references of the era.

While Movado is now best known as a producer of fashion watches like the Museum Watch, Movado's roots go much deeper than that. The company’s history reaches all the way back to 1881, when watchmaker Achilles Ditesheim opened a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds. His brothers Léopold and Isidore joined him in 1886.

Production from that point on proved how true the name brand was—it means "always in motion" in Esperanto. Throughout the 20th century Movado produced incredible mechanical timepieces. They gained notoriety for the sophistication of the equipment and technology they employed, including electric tools.

Unlike many of their counterparts, Movado's movements were designed and manufactured in-house.

In the late 1960s, they were acquired by Zenith, and enjoyed perhaps their greatest period of success as the subsidiary of that brand. Their chronographs (which used the famous Zenith El Primero movement), particularly, were successful sellers. But the extent of their offerings didn’t end there. They also made killer dress watches like the one we have here.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.