Sotheby's has announced that it will offer at auction this autumn "a unique Victory Watch" commissioned for Sir Winston Churchill, the British prime minister during the second World War.
Described as an "exquisite masterpiece of horology", it is one of four individual watches created for the Allied leaders – the others were presented to French leader Charles de Gaulle, the USSR's Joseph Stalin, and US president Henry Truman.
Sotheby’s made the announcement to coincide with VE Day yesterday – “Victory in Europe Day” – which marked the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Allies in 1945.
The watch will be auctioned on September 22nd and has a pre-sale estimate of £60,000-£100,000.
The yellow gold watch features a distinctive enamel dial showing St George slaying the dragon, with a trident as the hour hand.
“V” for victory is engraved on the back of the case together with a personalised dedication: “1939 – Prime Minister Winston Spencer Churchill – 1945”.
It was commissioned by a group of prominent Swiss citizens as a gift to Churchill. They described him as: “The Happy Warrior, he inspired England with courage and endurance when she was alone, defenceless and in great peril, and led her through five years to victory”.
The watch was designed by the leading watch-maker Louis Cottier, in collaboration with the manufacturer Agassiz and Co.
Sotheby’s did not announce the name of the vendor.
