Fellows’ first flagship watch auction of 2020 features four military Dirty Dozen watches. The watches were designed by the British Ministry of Supply for the armed forces at the end of the Second World War. They developed their name following the release of The Dirty Dozen film directed by Robert Aldrich in 1967. The watches were representative of each member from the Dirty Dozen film, featuring twelve soldiers during the War. All twelve watches were all designed by different brands, and the four watches that are up for auction with Fellows include a Vertex, Cyma and two Record timepieces. Featuring back engravings and black dials, these military watches are sought-after amongst watch collectors. The watches will be sold in The Watch Sale at Fellows Auctioneers, taking place in Birmingham on Monday 10th February.

The rarity of these watches is why the full collection is so desirable. Of the four Dirty Dozen watches up for auction, there were only 15,000 Vertex watches created, 25,000 Record watches created and 20,000 Cyma watches designed. The stainless steel watches are all stamped with the British Broad Arrow, alongside Arabic numeral hour markers and subsidiary seconds dials to six. The watches each feature “three W’s” engraved on the back – meaning Watch, Wrist and Waterproof. Estimates of these watches range from the £600 - £1,600 mark.
Laura Bishop, Watch Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “The Dirty Dozen may be known as the infamous American war film from 1967 but in watch collecting circles it is a phrase better used to describe the highly sought after twelve watches used by British soldiers in World War II. Collectively or individually, these watches are extremely sought after and collectable.”

Bishop added: “The Ministry of Defence commissioned the production of watches for the British soldiers and twelve watch companies fulfilled the brief: Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor and Vertex. In our February Watch Sale we have examples by Cyma, Record and Vertex. The watches were produced in varying amounts, a fact reflected in the different estimates placed on these examples.”
A full list of the Dirty Dozen watches in the upcoming sale can be seen below:
- Lot 430 - VERTEX - a stainless steel military issue 'The Dirty Dozen' wrist watch
- Lot 431 - RECORD - a stainless steel military issue 'The Dirty Dozen' wrist watch.
- Lot 432 – CYMA - a stainless steel military issue 'The Dirty Dozen' wrist watch.
- Lot 433 - RECORD - a stainless steel military issue 'The Dirty Dozen' wrist watch.
The Watch Sale is now available to view online and in person at the following times:
4 February 2020 12 midday - 7pm (London)
5 February 2020 9.30am - 11am (London)
8 February 2020 11am - 4pm (Birmingham)
10 February 2020 8.30am - 11am (Birmingham)
Photo ID is required