ANTIQUE WW1 OMEGA MK V RFC MILITARY COCKPIT WATCH B.B.1507 A/F DAMAGED
A fascinating antique FIRST WORLD WAR-ERA OMEGA MILITARY COCKPIT / POCKET WATCH, marked:
MK V
with issue number:
B.B. 1507
and associated with the type of 30-hour non-luminous watch supplied for British military aviation during the FIRST WORLD WAR.
The watch is fitted with a signed:
OMEGA MECHANICAL MOVEMENT
and has excellent appeal to collectors of early aviation, Royal Flying Corps memorabilia and military timepieces.
Please note carefully:
THE WATCH STARTS, THEN STOPS.
It requires a:
FULL SERVICE / REPAIR
and is offered strictly:
A/F – AS FOUND / NON-WORKING
The dial is damaged and the glass is loose.
Details
Maker: Omega
Type: Military Pocket / Cockpit Watch
Pattern: Mark V / Mk V
Issue Number: B.B. 1507
Period: First World War Era / Early 20th Century
Association: British Military Aviation / RFC-Type
Movement: Signed Omega Mechanical Movement
Dial: Black Military-Type Dial
Seconds: Subsidiary Seconds at 6 o'clock
Case: White Metal / Nickel-Type, subject to confirmation
Condition: A/F – Requires Full Service
Function: Starts and then stops
Dial Condition: Damaged
Glass: Loose
Please inspect every photograph carefully for the markings, movement number, dial wording, case stamps and overall condition.
Mark V Military Aviation Watch
The MARK V / MK V watch belongs to an important family of early British military aviation timepieces.
During the First World War, reliable timekeeping was essential for pilots and observers undertaking:
NAVIGATION
RECONNAISSANCE
ARTILLERY OBSERVATION
BOMBING
FORMATION FLYING
Large, easily readable watches could be used in or around aircraft cockpits where a conventional wristwatch was less practical.
Examples of the Mk V pattern are known from several Swiss manufacturers, including:
OMEGA
DOXA
ZENITH
INVICTA
and others.
Royal Flying Corps Interest
The Mark V pattern is strongly associated with the:
ROYAL FLYING CORPS
the British Army's aviation branch during the First World War.
The RFC operated from 1912 until 1918, when it became part of the newly formed:
ROYAL AIR FORCE
alongside the Royal Naval Air Service.
Watches of this general military aviation type were used during the pioneering era of combat flying.
However, unless the surviving case and dial markings definitively identify this individual watch as RFC issue, the safest description is:
WW1 BRITISH MILITARY AVIATION / RFC-TYPE
rather than claiming documented use by a specific squadron or aircraft.
B.B. 1507 Issue Number
The watch carries the military-style issue marking:
B.B. 1507
This is an important identification feature and adds to the historical appeal of the piece.
Early aviation watches can carry a variety of prefixes and issue numbers depending upon procurement, specification and period.
The issue marking should be examined together with:
BROAD ARROW MARKS
CASE STAMPS
DIAL WORDING
MOVEMENT DETAILS
before assigning a precise service history.
Military Black Dial
The black military-style dial is designed for high visibility and features:
LARGE ARABIC NUMERALS
with a:
SUBSIDIARY SECONDS DIAL AT 6 O'CLOCK
Mk V examples are often associated with wording such as:
30 HOUR
NON-LUMINOUS
MK V
depending upon the exact issue.
Please refer to the photographs for the exact wording visible on this particular dial.
Non-Luminous Military Specification
The term:
NON-LUMINOUS
found on many military aviation watches indicates that the dial and hands were supplied without luminous compound.
This is an important collecting detail because military specifications varied according to purpose and period.
The absence of luminous material also helps distinguish these pieces from later military watches using radium-based luminous paint.
Omega Movement
The movement is clearly signed:
OMEGA
making this particularly attractive to collectors of early Omega timepieces.
Omega was already an important Swiss watch manufacturer by the First World War and supplied movements and watches for military and civilian use.
The movement also carries a serial number, which may help further refine its production period.
Any date attribution from the movement serial should be treated as approximate unless checked against reliable factory records.
Early Military Aviation
The First World War was the first conflict in which aircraft became a major military tool.
Pilots flew aircraft constructed largely from:
WOOD
FABRIC
WIRE
EARLY METAL COMPONENTS
and relied on simple instruments for navigation and operational timing.
Timepieces were therefore essential cockpit equipment.
Surviving military aviation watches offer a tangible connection to this formative period in aviation history.
Cockpit Watch / Pocket Watch Form
Many early aviation watches were mechanically similar to large pocket watches.
They could be carried conventionally or mounted into:
COCKPIT PANELS
INSTRUMENT HOLDERS
DASHBOARD FITTINGS
depending upon their configuration and service use.
No claim is made that this particular example retains its original aircraft mounting or was used in any identified aircraft.
Collector Appeal
This watch should appeal to collectors of:
Omega Watches
WW1 Militaria
Royal Flying Corps
RFC Memorabilia
RAF History
Military Pocket Watches
Cockpit Watches
Mk V Watches
Early Aviation
British Military Timepieces
Swiss Military Watches
Great War Collectables
Even in damaged condition, the combination of Omega movement, military pattern and issue number gives it strong restoration and research appeal.
Highlights
OMEGA
WW1 ERA
MARK V / MK V
B.B. 1507
MILITARY AVIATION INTEREST
RFC-TYPE COCKPIT WATCH
Signed Omega movement
Black military dial
Subsidiary seconds
Early aviation history
Strong restoration potential
Genuine age and character
Desirable military watch project
IMPORTANT CONDITION – PLEASE READ
This watch is being sold strictly:
A/F – AS FOUND
and:
REQUIRES A FULL SERVICE / REPAIR
The movement currently:
STARTS AND THEN STOPS
so it is NOT RUNNING RELIABLY and is not suitable for regular use in its present condition.
The dial is:
DAMAGED
and the:
GLASS IS LOOSE
There may also be additional age-related faults not immediately obvious without professional dismantling.
Please assume the watch will require attention from a competent vintage watchmaker.
No guarantee is made regarding:
TIMEKEEPING
POWER RESERVE
ESCAPEMENT CONDITION
MAINSPRING
BALANCE
JEWELS
WINDING SYSTEM
CROWN / STEM
CASE INTEGRITY
The watch has not been professionally serviced or timed.
Condition & Attribution
The watch is in honest antique, heavily used condition and displays wear consistent with considerable age.
Please expect:
DIAL DAMAGE • LOOSE GLASS • SURFACE MARKS • SCRATCHES • PATINATION • CASE WEAR • DENTS • DISCOLOURATION • GENERAL AGE-RELATED WEAR
where visible.
Please inspect the photographs extremely carefully for:
DIAL CONDITION
HANDS
GLASS
CASE
HINGES
CROWN
WINDING STEM
MOVEMENT
SERIAL NUMBER
MILITARY MARKINGS
ISSUE NUMBER
The identification as a Mark V WW1 British military aviation / RFC-type watch is based upon the visible Mk V and issue markings and the established form of comparable watches.
No specific aircraft, pilot, squadron, battlefield service or Royal Flying Corps provenance is claimed without documentary evidence.
The movement is described as Omega where visibly signed.
Please study all photographs carefully before bidding, as the watch is sold strictly as a restoration project / collector's item.
🖼️ Item Condition:
This item is in honest antique condition. I’ve included detailed photographs to show the condition, size, and weight, so please review them carefully before placing your bid.
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