Jaeger LeCoultre Mark 11, Rare So Called “White Twelve” Dial, RAAF, 1955

This is a very rare stainless steel Mark 11 made by Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) for the Royal Australian Air Force  (RAAF) circa 1955.  Mark 11s were manufactured by IWC and JLC based on specifications provided by the British Military Defense (MoD) in 1948. Before being issued for service, all watches had to endure rigorous performance testing at the chronometer workshop of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, where they were regulated to five positions and various temperatures over a two-week period. To maintain optimal operation, watches had to be retested annually, regardless of whether or not they were issued. Mark 11 is branded with a broad arrow on the case, and movement to denote government property. Of the 2000 Mark 11s produced by JLC, approximately 50 are known to have the number 12 on top of the dial rather than the luminescent triangle, making our example in this pristine condition the Holy Grail of the Mark 11s.  This watch is documented on the databases gathered and published onli