Press release -
Rolex Watch from the Vietnam War
A sought-after Rolex which a military backstory will be sold at this summer's Live Auction. The model in question is a model GMT Master that has been worn by the helicopter pilot Captain Ernest D. Sprinkel during the Vietnam War in 1967.
The highlight at this summer’s Live Auction for wristwatches is a Rolex GMT Master ref. 1675, a wristwatch that was worn during the Vietnam War by Captain Ernest D. Sprinkel, Commander of the U.S. Headquarter and Headquarters Company. He was a helicopter pilot for the 269th Combat Aviation Battalion “Black Barons”. Activated for deployment to Vietnam from Fort Bragg in July 1966, the 269 arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in January 1967 and was responsible for key airmobile operations conducted in the III Corps’ tactical zone.
The watch presented is accompanied by Captain Ernest D. Sprinkel’s 269 battalion helicopter pilot’s helmet, Rolex box, original certificate and original receipt of purchase from Cu Chi, Vietnam the 29th of April 1967. It was this year that the battalion, under the leadership of Captain Sprinkel, earned the distinction of repeatedly flying more combat hours, conducting more combat assaults and hauling more troops and cargo than any other combat aviation battalion at the time.
It is unlikely that a watch of this calibre will come to market again, and together with the additional memorabilia, this remarkable gilt dialed, ref. 1675 has an estimate of DKK 100,000–150,000. Read more about the watch
Preview & Auction
In addition to the exclusive Rolex watches, the auction also offers timeless classics from Audemars Piguet, Breitling, IWX, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Panerai and Patek Philippe. You can see and try on all the wristwatches at our preview at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen from 23-27 May. The auction will be held on Thursday 6 June at 6pm.
View all the lots of the wristwatch auction
Topics
Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers is one of Scandinavia’s leading international auction houses, and one of Denmark’s oldest. It all started on 6 October 1948, when Arne Bruun Rasmussen conducted the first traditional auction in the saleroom at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen. Today, Jesper Bruun Rasmussen stands at the helm of the family-run business together with the third generation of the family, his son Frederik and daughter Alexa, and the company’s CEO Jakob Dupont.
In 2004, the first online auction was launched, and today the auction house has expanded to include departments in Copenhagen and Aarhus and representations in Sweden, Germany, England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain, Italy, Thailand and the US. About 100,000 lots are put up for auction each year at the traditional auctions, the daily online auctions and - the latest edition - direct auctions. Here you can bid on everything from art, antiques, modern design and jewellery to books, coins, stamps, wine and weaponry.
