Panerai watch could make a splash in Suffolk sale
A rare World War Two wristwatch worn by German divers looks set to make a splash in a Suffolk auction house’s sale later this month.
A Panerai watch by the celebrated Italian maker could fetch up to £30,000 in the sale at Lockdales auctioneers.
A sought-after engraving on the back of the Panerai watch reads ‘L.K. 700 Kampf Schwimmer HK Marine 1945’. This engraving refers to the LehrKommando 700, or L.K. 700 training camp on the island of Sylt in Northern German, which was a base for training German combat divers. It is believed the engravings could have been created by the original owner, with the initials HK, using a modified razor when the island was under British control following the end of the war.
The watch has a Rolex 17 Rubis movement, a black dial face and luminous Arabic numerals. It also has luminous baton hands and was working at the time of cataloguing.
Daniel Daley, Managing Director of Lockdales said, “These watches are extremely sought after by collectors, with many willing to pay thousands to add them to their collection. We’re already getting lots of interest from around the world so have high hopes that this, and the other watches in our sale, will do well.”
Elsewhere in the sale, various other watches are also set to generate interest among bidders, include:
- a gentlemen’s Rolex Datejust wristwatch with an estimate of £3,750 to £4,250. The watch has a stainless-steel case with smooth bezel, and a black dial with Roman numerals and a date aperture.
- a gentlemen’s Heuer Monaco ‘Steve McQueen’ automatic chronograph from circa 1970 has an estimate of £2,500 to £3,000 in the same sale. The watch has a distinctive square blue dial with two subsidiary square white dials.
Lockdales’ Fine Sale takes place at it Martlesham Heath auction room on February 20.