Limited to 844 pieces / 49 left in stock

X4009
Anthra Gray Pre-order for 25% off

RRP:2,295.00 USD You save:-600.00 USD Pre-order:1,695.00 USD
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Made from Mk1a Spitfire aircraft X4009, flown by Australian fighter-ace Pat Hughes during the Battle of Britain.



Delivery from October 2024

  • This is a Pre-order item, with expected delivery from October 2024. Read More
  • Free worldwide shipping, 3-year warranty & 30-days return. Read More
  • Secure payments with credit card, Paypal or in monthly installments with Splitit

    Need help with this item? Contact us

RRP:2,295.00 USD You save:-600.00 USD Pre-order:1,695.00 USD
Limited to 844 pieces / 49 left in stock
RRP:2,295.00 USD You save:-600.00 USD Pre-order:1,695.00 USD
USD EUR GBP DKK

Made from Mk1a Spitfire aircraft X4009, flown by Australian fighter-ace Pat Hughes during the Battle of Britain.



Delivery from October 2024

  • This is a Pre-order item, with expected delivery from October 2024. Read More
  • Free worldwide shipping, 3-year warranty & 30-days return. Read More
  • Secure payments with credit card, Paypal or in monthly installments with Splitit

    Need help with this item? Contact us

Description

The X4009 Anthra Gray is a limited edition timepiece made from Mk1a Spitfire aircraft X4009, flown by Australian fighter-ace Paterson Clarence Hughes during the Battle of Britain.

Pat Hughes, DFC, an Australian fighter ace during WWII, is revered as a hero of the Battle of Britain, credited with up to 17 victories in the 1940 aerial campaign. The X4009 aircraft, undergoing restoration by the Hunter Fighter Collection charity, boasts a distinguished combat history.

Aluminum from its fuselage is incorporated into each X4009 timepiece, allowing customers to contribute to the Spitfire’s restoration fund.

Specifications
Dimensions

Diameter Case: 41,0 mm
Diameter Bezel: 41,5 mm
Lug-to-lug: 48,7 mm
Height: 13,6 mm
Opening diameter: 34,0 mm

Movement

Caliber SW461-1 SELLITA movement w. customized rotor, ruthenium anthracite plating & tempered blue screws
Automatic & manual winding
Hours, minutes and small second at 6 o’clock
Date with quick setting at 3 o’clock
Frequency 28’800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve +40 hours
31 Jewels Incabloc
Accuracy ±5 sec per day

Key Features

Anthracite Gray sunburst dial with repurposed Mk1A Spitfire X4009 fueselage aluminium integrated at 6 o’clock
Swiss-Made certified
Self-winding – 3 hands – small second – date
“Office GMT” rotation bezel with lume marker at 12 o’clock
Luminescent hands, indexes and rails
10 ATM / 100 meters water resistance

Case

3-piece case, 316L Stainless steel, Gun-gray PVD Coating
Exhibition caseback
Top glass Sapphire Crystal with 3x layers of anti-reflective (AR) coating
Caseback glass Mineral Crystal
Onion crown with crownguard
Serial number placque
Brushed rotating bezel (counter clockwise) with debossed and painted numerals

Strap

Brown double calf leather strap with white stitches, stamped inner lining
Quick-release strap system
Stainless steel butterfly clasp with pushers – polished and sandblast finishing.
Width (lugs) 20,0 mm
Width (clasp) 18,0 mm
Length 125/75 mm

Materials

Top glass: Sapphire crystal w. 3 layers of AR coating
Caseback glass: Mineral Glass
Case, Caseback & Crown: 316L Stainless steel
Strap: Calf leather strap w. quick release system
Clasp: 316L Stainless steel

 

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few”

– Winston Churchill

Wings of wartime

Pat Hughes & X4009

 

Originally conceived by Reginald Joseph Mitchell in the early 1930s, the Supermarine Spitfire has since become an iconic symbol renowned for its aerodynamic prowess, which played a pivotal role in shaping history.

Designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor, the “Spit” swiftly assumed a vital role in confronting German fighters over the English Channel, notably during the Battle of Britain, the first major air campaign fought entirely by air forces.

Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk1a, bearing RAF serial X4009 and construction number 945, rolled off the assembly line at Supermarine’s Eastleigh factory in the wake of war’s outbreak. Its maiden flight occurred on July 24th, 1940, after which it was assigned to RAF Squadron No. 234 under the command of Paterson ‘Pat’ Clarence Hughes.

Hughes, now regarded as a prominent figure in the Battle of Britain, ranked sixth among the “aces of aces” during the aerial conflict of the summer of 1940, tallying at least fourteen confirmed victories.

As a flight commander, Hughes championed daring close-in tactics, securing the squadron’s initial triumphs in the fierce struggle for air superiority. Transferred to the southeast of England, he weathered the battle’s most intense period.

Flying exclusively the X4009 Spitfire, Hughes completed a total of 21 sorties from August 18th to September 7th, 1940, claiming nine victories over five separate encounters. However, tragedy struck on September 7th, 1940, when his aircraft was lost during a mission over London.

Despite Hughes’ untimely demise, his heroic exploits and the unique history of the X4009 Spitfire cement its status as one of the most celebrated and historically significant restorations of the iconic aircraft.

A piece of history

Fueselage aluminum

 

In 2020, Ross and Ann-Maree Pay of Vintage Fighter Restorations acquired ownership of the wreckage and identity of Supermarine Spitfire Mk1a X4009, excavated from its crash site in the UK, eighty years after its Battle of Britain service.

Donating the aircraft’s remains to Hunter Fighter Collection Incorporated, a registered Australian charity, they initiated its complete restoration to its original 1940 condition. Stage 1, including fuselage frame components manufacturing by Airframe Assemblies, has been completed, with Stage 2 beginning. This stage involves finalizing the fuselage structure, starting wing and tail assemblies, sourcing mechanical and electrical components, and obtaining engine and propeller cores.

While many original parts are utilized, some aluminum salvaged from the fuselage was unsuitable for restoration. These historic pieces, still bearing original marks, have been integrated into the design of the X4009 Collection at the 6 o’clock subdial.

Of the 20,000 Spitfires built from 1938 to 1948, fewer than 100 remain operational. X4009, as the only fourth flying “Mk1a” type, holds significant historical value. Proceeds from each timepiece sale contribute to the restoration, ensuring X4009’s return to the skies.

The design challenge

Spirit of the sky

 

Designing the X4009 Collection proved to be an intriguing endeavor. Leveraging our RJM series from 2018, our goal was to craft a timepiece that not only embodies the mechanical excellence of a Spitfire aircraft but also pays homage to the distinctive history of Mk1a X4009.

At the same time, we aimed to incorporate the original aluminum from its fuselage, capturing the essence of its active era.

Beginning with the case, we sought to integrate elements reminiscent of the Spitfire’s aerodynamic brilliance, particularly its wing shape and structure. The crown guard, resembling the elliptical form of the wing from above, showcases internal spars and ribs for lightweight yet robust construction. Inspired by the aircraft’s nose cone, the large onion crown adds a touch of authenticity.

On the dial side, we drew inspiration from timepieces worn by RAF pilots during WWII, offering a modern interpretation of the ‘Dirty Dozen’ watches. Featuring clear Arabic numerals, luminous hands and hour markers, and a shatterproof crystal, it pays homage to the era’s government-issued watches. Additionally, tributes to Pat Hughes and the X4009 aircraft adorn the dial.

The exhibition case-back unveils a customized Sellita caliber SW-461 movement, featuring ruthenium anthracite plating, tempered blued screws, and a rotor showcasing the X4009 aircraft in flight. Lastly, the battle-scarred aluminum takes center stage just above 6 o’clock, integrated into the small-seconds subdial, ensuring each timepiece is truly unique.

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