An extremely rare watch made for the German Air Force in World War Two is set for a new battle at auction in Oxfordshire.
Such is its historical importance, bidders are expected to come out in force to secure the circa 1940 German Luftwaffe B-Uhr (Beobachtungsuhr) Observers watch manufactured by A Lange and Sohne.
The discovery of the important timepiece, which does not have a strap, was made by antiques experts at Hanson Holloway’s saleroom in Banbury.
Paul Fox, valuer at the firm, said: “Our client brought the watch in for valuation and we were amazed. It’s such an important military find. It’s due to go under the hammer on February 3 guided at £2,000-£3,000. However, due to its scarcity, it could fly higher.
The Banbury seller said: “I took the watch to be valued having seen a similar piece on TV’s Antiques Roadshow. It was in my father’s possession for as long as I can remember. My first memories of seeing it was as a child in the 1950s. My father was a decorated officer in the Belgian army during WW2. I assume the watch came into his possession during this time.
“He spent time in a German prisoner of war camp in Germany before escaping to England where he took part in preparations for, and participated in, the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, in 1944.
“It has been in my possession since my father’s death in the early 1980s. It has moved around with me in my father’s old briefcase since then. Ironically at one stage it was with me in Soest, Germany, which was the location of one of the POW camps my father was held in.”
The B-Uhr Luftwaffe Observers Watch was created to aid Germany’s air force as WW2 loomed. The German Air Ministry – Reichs-Luftfahrtministerium – was tasked with designing a special timepiece for bomber navigators. Pilots required highly accurate watches for navigational purposes. They had to be robust, precise and easy to read. This led to the iconic B-Uhr.
Paul said: “To meet all these requirements the watch face was big and bold with black dials and large luminous numerals and minute and second indicators. The hands were coated with radium so it would glow in the dark and the movement featured a mechanism to aid precise time setting.
“Every watch underwent stringent testing for accuracy before being certified by the German Naval Observatory. They were not personally issued to aircrew but supplied to bomber crew navigators before every mission. Afterwards they were returned to the stores.
“They are highly prized collectors’ items because, due to heavy losses sustained by the Luftwaffe in WW2, few survived the war. Consequently, to find one in Banbury 79 years after WW2 ended is extraordinary. However, the vendor’s back story provides the provenance.
“As our client’s father was an officer in the Belgium army and a prisoner of war, he experienced this conflict on every level. Belgium was invaded by Germany on May 10, 1940. After 18 days of fighting, the Belgian military surrendered to the Germans, beginning an occupation that lasted until 1944. It was during this time our client’s father ended up in a German POW camp. Whether given to him or found by chance, the watch would have been a valuable asset in wartime.”
Auction: The German Luftwaffe B-Uhr (Beobachtungsuhr) Observers watch, Lot 183, will be offered in Hanson Holloway’s February 3 Silver, Jewellery, Watches, Fine Art & Antiques Auction.
