Rolex UK ‘Special Reconnaissance Regiment’ Submariner auctioned off by Sotheby's for a whopping 36k Brit Pounds, over $46k in real money.
A few thoughts:
- By any measurement, the watch is cool: “a Spartan helmet intersected by a dagger, encircled by smaller Spartan helmets.” Love it. ROLEX ceased unit-specific customizations shortly after this and passed the baton to its little brother Tudor. This piece and the SAS Explorer IIs and Submariners are some of the greatest examples of modern unit watches.
- This watch was earned. While it is unfortunate that some operators choose to part with these meaningful timepieces, we also understand that life circumstances change, and the astronomical secondary market can be irresistible. That said, it is a shame that this operator's great-grandchildren won’t be able to treasure it.
- I understand the attraction of these watches for collectors, but I also think it is a little strange to wear a modern watch like this that you didn’t earn. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is “stolen valor,” but something about it doesn't feel right, at least for me. From a collector's standpoint, there is a difference in my mind between new “unit watches” and vintage military-issued watches.
- For me, when a watch like this comes up for auction, the life is sucked out of it. I am naive about the auction world but from the outside looking in it appears to be champagne and caviar with the secretary—a part of the watch industry I don’t relate to. The fact that an earned watch can be acquired by the highest bidder just doesn’t pass the smell test.
That said, I believe in the basic principles of capitalism and do not fault anyone involved. We see the world as it is, not how it should be. What do you guys think?
-W.O.E.
