Dirty Dozen watch up for auction in Staffordshire

The rare Eterna timepiece goes under the hammer in day one of Richard Winterton Auctioneers’ Two Day Antiques and Home Sale in Lichfield on July 5.

As well as a famous war movie, the Dirty Dozen is the modern nickname of a group of 12 watches commissioned by the British MoD for World War Two soldiers in 1944 and 1945.

Civilian watches were deemed to not be accurate enough and strict specifications were requested. Twelve companies then delivered timepieces which went on to be issued to personnel.

Yet whereas Omega’s Dirty Dozen model is known to have been made 25,000 times, as few as 5,000 are understood to have been produced by watchmaker Eterna.

The example featuring as Lot 129 in the July 5 sale live from The Lichfield Auction Centre, Fradley Park, is in very good condition, running and functioning well despite being close to 80 years old.

It is estimated to sell for £600 to £800.

A wartime Dirty Dozen model by Record, estimated at £400-£600, is Lot 130 in the same auction.

Part of a large single owner collection, both watches bear the British Military broad arrow and ‘W.W.W.’ markings on regulation black dials.

The sale also includes a number of vintage Omega and Rolex watches, including a 1973 stainless steel Rolex Explorer II reference 1655, calibre 1570 (Lot 139 est £10,000-£12,000) and a 1985 Rolex GMT-Master ref 1655 calibre 3075 (Lot 138 est £9,000-£12,000).

Auctioneer Richard Winterton said: “Perhaps July is too soon to start taking about the ‘sale of the year’ but, whatever happens during the rest of 2021, this is definitely up there!

“The custom-built military Dirty Dozen wristwatches are incredibly popular in the world of collectable watches.

“They were built to the exacting chronometer standards and had to be accurate, waterproof and shockproof as well as having a black dial, luminous hands and markers, Arabic numerals, a ‘railroad’ minute track and a shatterproof crystal – all powered by a 15 jewel movement.

“The fact that these two are still ticking today is a testament to those high standards.”

He added: “Following some of the finest collectable watches there is an impressive collection of prestige Royal Doulton figures replete with rare colourways and limited editions.

“Also going under the hammer on the same day is a mysterious set of rare Manx 10p coins which may be the only mint examples left in existence.”

Consigned for the same auction is a large collection of silver and an array of gem set jewellery including diamond rings worth thousands of pounds.

Other ceramics include Lladró, Beswick, Border Fine Arts and Disney and there is also a fine selection of vintage Corgi toy vehicles.

Day two of the sale features antique and modern design furniture.