WWII German ZentRa Dienstuhr Luftwaffe Wristwatch (German-Made)
This original WWII German dienstuhr (service watch) was manufactured for the Wehrmacht by ZentRa, a German watchmaker founded in Berlin on September 4, 1927. It exhibits the iconic black dial, sub-seconds, and luminescent radium painted indicators as well as hour and minute hands. Additionally, these are usually marked on their caseback with serial numbers, and depending on the format of the serial number, the branch to whom the watch was issued can be determined. This particular watch is marked on its caseback with the serial number "D 600279", denoting use by the Luftwaffe. Stamped on the caseback's interior are the markings "ROSTFREIER", "STAHLBODEN", "EDELSTAHL", which translates to "STAINLESS", "STEEL BACK", and "STAINLESS STEEL", respectively. Its original mechanical movement is the ZentRa caliber 344. This watch is in good, running condition, however it could likely benefit from a complete servicing. Its case diameter (excluding crown) measures approximately 34 mm, while its stationary "spring bars" are 18 mm wide. The last image shows the timepiece under ultra violet blacklight.
Radium Disclosure
Timepieces from the 1930s and 40s often exhibited dials painted with a luminescent substance known as radium. Radium is radioactive, and is known to cause cancer. Prior to purchasing, buyers should familiarize themselves with the potential health risks associated with collecting vintage timepieces. This particular watch has been tested with a GMC-300S Geiger Counter, showing a result of 1.11 µSv/h.
