1
/
of
11
Sammler-Uhren
Rellum Early Arrow Index Pilot's Watch Reichsluftwaffe 1930 WWII Military WW2 II
Rellum Early Arrow Index Pilot's Watch Reichsluftwaffe 1930 WWII Military WW2 II
Regular price
€895,00 EUR
Regular price
Sale price
€895,00 EUR
Keine Umsatzsteuer ausgewiesen wegen Differenzbesteuerung
Couldn't load pickup availability
The subject of this auction is a truly very, very rare piece of military watch history: an original Rellum early aviator's watch of the German Air Force with a rotating bezel and arrow index from approx. 1930 with a knurled bezel and arrow index, the predecessor of the military chronograph as extensively described by Konrad Knirim in the "Bible of Military Watches"
The Rellum is the first, rarest, and most valuable of these pieces of military watch history, known only to experts, and with a powerful 40mm diameter without the crown, it is also one of the largest of its kind.
In almost 25 years of collecting, I have held about 10 of them in my hand or seen them in collections; on 3, the bezel was fixed and no longer movable, on 2 the arrow index was missing, most no longer had the original hands, a l l had identical flat curved lugs, which are so typical for this type of watch, and a l l were 40mm in diameter. This wonderfully rare piece of (military) watch history thus corresponds exactly to what is described in the "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog" by Muser Horlbeck.
The Rellum is considered one of the best-known and most sought-after early aviator watches because it was the first model to feature the typical characteristics of this chronograph predecessor: curved, fixed lugs, a knurled bezel with an arrow index, and indirect seconds on the black dial. In addition, it is the model that was least frequently produced - precisely because the large Swiss and also German manufacturers immediately followed suit and, not least, pushed into the market through pricing.
The "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog" lists, for example, the Natalis with an estimated value of Euro 2,500,-, with a stable value trend.
With a case diameter of 40mm - the later size of the legendary Wehrmacht chronographs and B-watches - significantly larger than "normal" service watches, these early aviator watches of the German Air Force, due to the lack of chronograph functions - for the exact measurement and display of flight duration - were fundamentally equipped with a rotating, knurled bezel and an index marking. Wide, far-extending, curved lugs and attachments, which became a hallmark of these early aviator watches, allowed them to be worn on a long strap over the flight suit.
All models of this era already possessed the typical characteristics that later became the standard for all Wehrmacht service watches: indirect seconds at "6", a black dial, radium-filled hands, and Arabic numerals.
Early aviator watches, all issued unmarked, because according to the Treaty of Versailles, there was not yet allowed to be a Reichswehr, let alone an Air Force, in Germany, were produced by practically all renowned brands such as Omega, Longines, Zenith, IWC (Caliber 83), Breitling, Titus, Helvetia, Tissot, Roamer, Lanco, Rellum, as well as the smaller manufacturers Natalis or Wagner, and supplied to the German Air Force.
As can be seen from the photos in this offer, these pieces were/are traded, according to the "Armbanduhren Klassik Katalog" by Muser Horlbeck, for between Euro 2500,- and Euro 5000,- or achieved corresponding prices at the Muser/Horlbeck auction house.
The super rare example in this offer has an exact and authentic known size of precisely 40mm case diameter without the crown.
Deep black, flawless dial with indirect seconds, Arabic numerals, and a surrounding early tachymeter scale, hands absolutely original (see photos), onion crown typical for aviator watches.
Runs and functions perfectly - accuracy not tested - an unsigned movement with already 15 jewels and early fine regulation is installed. Radium filling in the original hands is completely preserved, flawless, extra thick plastic crystal, possibly still original. No signs of oxidation are visible on the case of the nearly perfectly preserved artifact and piece of military watch history; its condition after almost 100 years is p e r f e c t.
Condition: 1 - fully functional, best collector's condition for its age with few discernible signs of wear, unrestored dial in excellent condition, radium-filled Arabic numerals are perfectly preserved, very thick, flawless protective plexiglass.
