Scots man finds ultra-rare Rolex worth around £120,000 'sitting in drawer'

14.06.2022 - 09:59 / dailyrecord.co.uk

The auction of an ultra-rare Rolex which had been sitting in its owner's drawer for decades could bring in as much as £120,000 when it goes under the hammer on Wednesday.

A Perthshire diving enthusiast, who wished to remain anonymous, took the government-issued Rolex 5513/5517 Military Submariner dive watch to Crieff-based antique dealer Nick Brewster, who said on "first sight of this exquisite watch, I felt that there was something about it".

The watch, known as a MilSub, was issued to a former Royal Navy diver in the 1970s by the Ministry of Defence and was bought from him by the current owner in the early 1980s.

From then on the rare item became his go-to dive watch until the bezel fell off in a dive in 1996 and it was then stored in a chest of drawers.

But on Wednesday, the MilSub will go on sale at Bonhams, in London's New Bond Street, with an estimated price of between £80,000 to £120,000.

Mr Brewster, of Nick Brewster Art and Antiques, said: "The market for exceptional watches is buoyant at the moment.

"The last original MilSub to reach the Bonhams London saleroom made £180,000, back in February."

It is thought between 1971 and 1979, only 1,200 of the watches were issued as standard basic equipment by the MoD, mainly for use by Navy submariners and their leading divers and mine-clearance personnel.

Today it is estimated there are only 120 to 180 that still exist.

Mr Brewster said: "It is really fantastic when customers bring in their antiques and art for me to value and sell, even better when it is something so special.

"Although not a jewellery or watch dealer, on first sight of this exquisite watch, I felt that there was something about it that made it stand out.

"After a wee bit of research, I realised that it was an

Tags: art man Rolex Scotland London Beyond

See showbiz news on dailyrecord.co.uk

The website popstar.one is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.

Scots mum's anguish as young son left waiting three years for mental health support

A Scots mum whose nine-year-old son had to wait three years for specialist mental health support said she was “left to her own devices”.

Scots man finds ultra-rare Rolex worth around £120,000 'sitting in drawer'

Scots mum's anguish as young son left waiting three years for mental health support

Man seriously injured amid 'disturbance' in Scots street as cops launch probe

Concerns growing for missing Scots man who vanished three days ago

Man airlifted to hospital after 'stabbing' in Scots home as two men arrested

Two men arrested and charged after man 'attacked' at Scots golf course

Ryanair announce ‘rescue flights’ from Scots airport amid cancellations

Man seriously injured in ‘hit and run’ on Scots street as forensics comb scene for evidence

Scots mum 'diagnosed' own with skin cancer with app from smartphone

Scots mum claims Primark bowl nearly suffocated tot when it became ‘stuck’ to her face

Scots man who 'can communicate with aliens' has 'absolute proof' of UFOs

Scots mum's abusive ex branded 'M' for Mark into her skin to 'prove he owned her'

Lorry driver who killed Scots mum in horror smash fails to overturn prison sentence

Violent Scots prisoner who slashed inmate from mouth to ear caught with another homemade weapon

Scots mum's heartache as young daughter who lost power in leg and arm diagnosed with brain cancer

Public asked not to approach Scots man missing for almost two weeks

Scots mum hit police officer with glass bottle during Rangers title party

Cops return to Scots wind farm construction site as probe continues into death of young man

Scots man tells how hot flush turned out to be early symptom of multiple sclerosis

Saturday's headlines: Scots mum's machete attack terror and Andy Goram given weeks to live

Scots mum's machete attack terror as thugs slashed her open in front of crying kids

Popular Celebrities