This week marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden. The historic event holds significance with Fellows as two of our most popular items to have ever sold at auction date back to that very period during the Second World War. Fellows sold two WWII Military Panerai watches, in January 2018 and April 2019, for a total of £105,908 (including fees).

During Operation Market Garden the German frogmen, or Kampfschwimmers, attempted to thwart the Allies from securing a route to Arnhem. Their mission was to blow up river bridges and roads in Nijmegen. The frogmen were unsuccessful in blowing up a bridge at Nijmegen, and were eventually captured by the Allies, where it is believed the watches were acquired.

Second World War military Diver watch Panerai - a very rare and special stainless steel Second World War military Diver watch

Captain Alfred Packer of 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment and George H. Rowson who was also part of the 43rd Reconnaissance Corps acquired Panerai watches during the Battle of Nijmegen in September 1944. These watches were both incredibly sought-after at auction, and were two of our highlight watches to have sold in recent years.

Captain Alfred Packer (left) and George H. Rowson (right) Captain Alfred Packer (left) and George H. Rowson (right)

The watches were sold with amazing provenance, including accounts of the events, diaries, and personal photographs. After tense bidding for the watches, they both sold, just over one-year apart, for above their estimates. These watches are examples of military pieces which are becoming increasingly popular at auction.

Laura Bishop, Watch Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: "It is astonishing to think that the two WWII Panerai watches we have sold in the past year were seized as part of the same altercation by men who would have surely known each other. Although there is no evidence of their families, who later consigned the watches to us, ever having known of each other, both watches have turned up at our auction house in Birmingham. We know that 10 divers were captured during this time and a couple more watches have come to auction recently. By my count there are still 6-8 watches unaccounted for.”

You can get your military watch valued by our team of specialists. This can simply be achieved by filling out a few details via our website. We offer a quick turn around for your goods and who knows? Your military watch may sell for a similar amount to these Panerai watches.