Fellows Auctioneers Ltd

Our November Luxury watch sale featured a number of military and service watches. Including, a particularly interesting Special Edition Breitling SuperOcean Heritage. This was a bespoke commission for members of the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Firearms Command.

The Trojans of London

The Specialist Firearms Command (MO19) is a specialised unit within the Metropolitan Police Service in London. The unit is dedicated to dealing with armed incidents and providing armed support to other police units. This elite unit is trained to handle a wide range of situations that involve firearms. From armed robberies to hostage takings and terrorist situations.

Officers undergo rigorous training in marksmanship, tactical operations, and negotiation skills. They are equipped to handle high-risk situations. Particularly, where the use of firearms may be necessary to protect public safety or respond to serious threats. The unit plays a crucial role in countering terrorism and organized crime. They often work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

Members of the Specialist Firearms Command are highly trained professionals who must maintain a high level of fitness, mental acuity, and discipline. They operate with specialised firearms and equipment to ensure they can effectively respond to various scenarios while minimizing risks to themselves and others.

This branch of London’s Metropolitan Police is known as ‘the Trojans of London’. It has been said that this name came from the fact that their Armed Response Vehicles look much like any other police car, yet inside are these elite officers. Others posit that it is related to the helmets that make up their uniform.

Photos included with permission of the original owner.

Breitling and The Trojans

Through Andrew Michael's Jewellers in Hatton Garden, a serving member of the Specialist Firearms Command commissioned a limited run of bespoke Breitling SuperOcean Heritage watches. We are privileged to offer for sale one of these watches. Breitling only produced 40 of these pieces with the edition number inscribed on the case of the watch, as well as the coat of arms of the unit, and the text ‘Specialist Firearms Command’.

Other tailored features of this watch include the iconic Firearms Command insignia, a Trojan Helmet on the dial, and the Roman numerals XIX, referring to the Unit's designation of MO19. There is also a yellow 19 on the chapter ring. This appears to be a reference to the circular yellow stickers placed in the window of all Armed Response Vehicles.

Additionally, the reverse of the watch shows the shoulder number and name of the officer who purchased the piece. The original owner was one of the first responders at the 2017 Westminster Terrorist Attack at The Houses of Parliament and is still a serving officer in this unit. Due to their service, we are not able to publicly display their name or number on our auction listing or this blog.

As one would expect with Breitling, it is a superb timepiece on its own, with high-quality construction and using Breitling’s dependable B20 calibre. Fitted to a signed rubber strap, it makes a sporty addition to any collection. It comes with a box, papers dated to the first quarter of 2022, and a signed letter of provenance from the original owner. Ultimately, the interest in this watch is not in its timekeeping abilities. Its provenance and association with some of the most important members of the Metropolitan Police is what made it a fascinating proposition in our Luxury Watch sale.