

The Lemania 1872 is a rare, highly collectible military chronograph originally issued to the South African Air Force (SAAF) in the early‑ to mid-1970s. It features a robust 40.5 mm stainless steel case (EPSA 817 design), a black military dial with luminous Arabic numerals, and a bi-directional rotating 60-minute bezel. Powered by the manual-wind Lemania Calibre 1872, the movement has 17 jewels, runs at 21,600 vph, and offers around 40 hours of power reserve. The hands are white and filled with tritium lume that ages to a creamy patina, adding to its vintage character. The case back carries a stamped “AF” number, marking it as a military issue. With only about 630 units procured by the SAAF, the Lemania 1872 is a historic and rugged aviation timepiece prized by collectors.