As regular readers might know, we sometimes invite customers into our workshop if they would like to see what we do, and if the watch is something special. Chances are even better if the watch has an interesting story, and Tim ticked all the boxes, so we invited him down from Scotland to our workshop.
In this photo, you can see the Lemania (and Tim) on boad HMS Valiant at the periscope around 1984. The watch was issued to him in 1983 (it was made in 1964), and he has had it ever since.
The interesting bit about the watch is that it’s a special issue for nuclear submarines, having no luminous compound (as radioactivity is tightly monitored on board nuclear subs, for obvious reasons), and a white dial with black hands.
The dial and hands are in exceptionally good condition, especially when you think about the age of the watch.
The crossed-out “3306”, and the stamped in “3312” confirms the special nuclear submarine edition.
A first look of the movement doesn’t show any problems. The chronograph doesn’t reset properly, but that is probably only a dirt issue. I note that the start/stop lever spring is blued, which I haven’t seen before.
Performance isn’t bad at all, but the movement is dry and needs a service.
The movement taken out of the case.
The dial is in very good condition.
The bottom plate.
The hammer has left some scratches on the wheel bridge, and I will polish it later to avoid further scratching.
The wheel bridge.
The left case screw is a bit rusty, and I will clean that up later.
The mainspring in the barrel. I measure 1.37mm x 0.15mm x 370mm, which isn’t available, but I find a 1.40 x 0.16 x 380, which fits very nicely.
The winding/setting assembly.
All parts in the cleaning baskets.
The new mainspring and the barrel.
Looks like the new mainspring is a nice fit. Proof is in the pudding, though, and we will have for the base movement to tick so that we can put it on the timegrapher.
The gear train goes in, and I put the base movement back together.
The mainspring is spot on.
Now I can put the chronograph back together.
Now I just have to adjust the depthing, and I can case.
The bottom plate is back together, and the dial and hands can go on.
Ready for the case.
The movement is cased.
Case reference 35-64, which confirms the manufacturing date of 1964. 
When testing, I notice that the chronograph second hand doesn’t reset properly. I take the movement out again, and notice that the tube of the hand is split. I solder the tube, and put the watch back together. As the old pusher didn’t look very nice any more, and wasn’t original anyway, I fitted a new pusher.
And Tim is happily wearing his watch again. Safe journey back to Scotland!
I know this is a long shot as so much time has passed since this article was made. But, are you still in the business of repairing Lemania watches? I see more recent articles from you that suggests that you do.
I have the exact same watch as the one in this article. It was issued to me while serving the Royal Navy nuclear submarine HMSm Churchill.
I had wore it 24/7 until the winder got damaged and lost while I was working under the subs casing (1980). It was got put away and forgot about until around 2006 when my partner had it repaired by a local watch maker as a surprise for me. A winder from another watch make was used (not a Lemania) to get it working. It stopped working a few weeks after that repair and was fixed again by the same watchmaker, it stopped working again months after that and has been put away since.
Chris,
Check with the folks at the “military watch resource” at broadarrow.net
They will have recommendations for who can fix it for you whever you are in the world.
Cheers.
Beautiful watch and interesting article.
I also have a similar Lemania watch (which is need of repair please !), which has slightly different markings.
The ‘3312’ marking is crossed out, with ‘3306’ engraved above. I would be interested to know why this should be?
The watch is also engraved with a year date from 1976.
Could you give some details about soldering hand tubes?
Seems like you’d melt the hand before you’d have time to apply the solder, unless you were using an electric soldering iron. but then what type of solder?
Thanks
Haven’t heard of steel melting before solder 😉
I use a soldering station as you use for electronics, and apply the tiniest amount of solder that I can manage to cut off – electronic solder.
What a beauty…. Simply marvellous Lemania
“the start/stop lever spring is blued”
–> In a previous service, this part wans’t available, it’s been handmade then.
BTW, I noticed you’ve put the balance alone in the cleaning basket, with the screws. Why don’t you clean it still screwed on the mainplate ?
The part doesn’t look hand made, but it’s possible.
Tell Tim to send it to Norway when he tires of it! 🙂
The dials on these were replaced when the Royal Navy re-issued them for Nuclear Sub use. Same goes for the hands.
Others, like pilots, had better use of the tritium versions!
Really nice to see a well documented and cared for example. Not too many around!
You are NOT getting away with grabbing another Lemania! 🙂
Never wrong with another Lemania.
Might be more than a few in the box, but no cal 2220 chronographs so far.
😉
Nice personal touch with that last pic! I always enjoy reading your blog posts, but nothings better than the smile of a happy owner :))