Alexander Historical Auctions, a specialist in historically significant artifacts, is selling a wristwatch said to have been owned by Adolf Hitler with a pre-sale estimate of $2-4 million.
The gold Andreas Huber reversible wristwatch was likely given to Adolf Hitler himself most likely on April 20, 1933, his 44th birthday.
It was discovered by a French soldier who seized the watch as ‘spoils of war’ on Friday May 4, 1945, when his unit became the first Allied force to arrive at Hitler’s retreat at Berchtesgaden in the mountains of Bavaria.
The watch and its history have been researched by watchmakers and military historians, all of whom have concluded that it is authentic and indeed belonged to Adolf Hitler, the auctioneer describes.
But Jaeger-LeCoultre has issued a statement saying it does not recognise the authenticity of the watch.
“Any inference that this is an authentic Jaeger-LeCoultre watch would be a falsehood and the company would take action accordingly,” the company states.
“The company is committed to the protection of its intellectual property and is prepared to take all necessary legal action to prevent the sale of frauds and counterfeits.”
No wartime documents can be obtained from Andreas Huber – their factory was bombed and subsequently burned down during World War II, Alexander Historical Auctions says.
Click here to download the auctioneer’s research on the watch.
SPECIAL REPORT: Shifting tides in the secondary watch market
I’ll start the bidding at nein thousand!
It is amazing to see how the companies that worked for the Nazis have now lost their memory and are all victims of Alzheimer’s!!!!
The discovery of this watch is extraordinary and I laugh when I see the warning from the Jaeger Lecoultre company …. what is the point of behaving like this 77 years later, no one is fooled and every watch lover recognizes a mythical model of the brand which was very fashionable in the 1930s, manufactured by one or the other.
It is incredible that this family is putting this watch on sale it brings a new testimony of the history of what were the 30s and the magnificent gifts that Mr Hitler had to receive from each other in order to obtain the right to work and collaborate for this regime.
Trying to hide the truth is useless especially 77 years later….Mercedes, Hugo Boss etc etc many other companies were in this case…no watch lover in the world is fooled.
jaeger Lecoultre did recognize the authenticity of the parts of the watch … you have to understand that its a ANDREAS HUBER WATCH with JLC components assembled in Germany in Munich in A.HUBER ateliers ….but they preffer to deny publicly the possible JLC paternity we can easily understand why ….
the Ex director of Patrimonial department of the JLC brand wrote : I think that this watch is important because it carries with it a historical testimony. As you know, neither we nor you,
are responsible for the vagaries of history… it says everything
How can you dare to put this comment by Jaeger Lecoultre everything proved by the documents of the auction house that they sold the movement produced there as well as the case to the Manufacture Huber, you are guilty of forgery!!! it is not a JLC but a Huber watch with components sold by Lecoultre.
You are guilty of lying this watch is authentic and they are not able to recognize that they also participated in the Nazi war effort with other parts for the benefit of the Lutwaffe… do not make yourself guilty of lying it’s a shame for the people who fought this nazi regime and this piece is proof that Swiss manufacturers like lecoultre also worked with germany in the 1930s.