A Rolex Military Submariner (MilSub) worn during military diving operations including the Mary Rose sold for £29,348 at Fellows Auctioneers this afternoon.
The historic watch belonged to a diver in the Royal Engineers. The corporal served in many diving missions throughout the 1980s.
It was worn during military service around the globe, including in the Falklands.
We sold it alongside the diver’s log book, certificates, and service photographs. In addition to these, a Royal Engineers diving jumper belonging to the individual is being sold with the lot.
It is believed around 1,200 Rolex MilSub watches were issued, and only a few hundred have surfaced to this day.
The watch for sported a 5513 reference, and was issued in the mid-seventies by the British Ministry of Defence, before the diver acquired it a few years later.
There were six different bids on the watch which sold for a hammer price of £23,000 (£29,348 including fees). The winner of the item was via the Fellows Live internet platform.
Featuring as Lot 148 in Fellows’ Luxury Watch Sale, the auction took place in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on Monday 16th August. Moreover, it had an auction estimate of £18,000 - £26,000.
The Diver
Peter Melhuish, from Tunbridge Wells, completed his course at the Royal Engineers Diving School in 1978, he received a further diver’s certificate of competence from the Royal Engineers in 1981.
Enlisted by the Army in 1979, Melhuish requested one of these watches from the Royal Engineers in 1980. He then spent the following decade diving in various military operations around the world.
Melhuish’s full list of diving operations is documented in his log book, which is also included in the lot.
In September 1982, one of Melhuish’s operations included the Mary Rose prior to it being raised, which is currently on display at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Melhuish, recapping his military service, said: “A salvage operation such as the Mary Rose was new to us Engineers. The operation was physically very strenuous, each day there we spent a few hours in the water. It was very easy to pick up ear infections whilst cutting through the mud with the amount of it that was being picked up.
“I remember we had to deal with ripping currents and we had zero visibility. It is very hard to have any visibility in UK waters, so we couldn’t actually see the ship until it came back up.”
After leaving the Royal Engineers in 1990, Melhuish continued to wear the Rolex until recently. It has been sat in a sock drawer for the last five years.
Steven Yambo, our Senior Watch Specialist, said: “We are delighted to have received so much interest for the remarkable Rolex Military Submariner. The history of this watch is amazing, it was worn during various military operations around the globe including during the raising of the famous Mary Rose.
“The Rolex Military Submariner is without a doubt one of the most exciting watches we’ve ever had the privilege of selling. It is a sheer delight to see military watches such as this receive so much attention at auction.”
The MilSub
The automatic movement still works. The MilSub, which formerly sported a bracelet, now features a dark green nylon 'NATO' strap.
As a result of luminous hour markers placed in the timepiece, the watch can aid with underwater use.
It went under the hammer alongside just under 300 lots in the Luxury Watch Sale. London and Birmingham offices hosted viewings days for the high-end watch auction on selected dates.
We offered free shipping on the purchase of the timepiece.
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