Advice please on vintage Eterna chronograph with Third Reich markings

krogerfoot · May 1, 2025

Omega312
I have my answer ( amongst all the weirdo replies ( but appreciated none the less ) Not military issue but worn by a highish ranking person in the German air force as mentioned possibly a Luftwaffe base / aerodrome commander or a very rich cook .

OK, well, enjoy your swastika watch that you imagine was owned by a very rich Nazi cook. It’s surely the rest of us who are the weirdos here.

Omega312 · May 1, 2025

Larry S
I suspect your second theory is more correct, making this basically a cursed object.

So how much did Hitlers watch go for ? Ima collector / investor so anything interesting has value added

krogerfoot
OK, well, enjoy your swastika watch that you imagine was owned by a very rich Nazi cook. It’s surely the rest of us who are the weirdos here.

Best you rub that green paint off

Larry S · May 1, 2025

Omega312
So how much did Hitlers watch go for ? Ima collector / investor so anything interesting has value added

Best you rub that green paint off

We have seen Goering’s Tri Compax here in past years. Lovely watch but I’d not want it in my collection or in my house. Great “Supernatural” Episode on Hitler’s Pocket Watch. Needless to say it was not a happy outcome for those involved.

Waltesefalcon · May 1, 2025

Omega312
why do you ask ??

This watch's history so far is nothing but speculation. On an item like this provenance is everything. If you can't reliably prove the watch's provenance then it is, at best, a defaced watch. Knowing where it came from before you bought it can help trace its history. If you want it to be a high dollar item you need the documentation. Otherwise it might as well be a fake.

krogerfoot · May 1, 2025

Remove my posts if you think I’m the one who’s out of line here, but the discussion of purported Nazi memorabilia on this site needs close scrutiny. Trading in swastika-adorned items comes with a high bar for legitimacy, and in my view being a history buff or collector/investor(!) does not come close to clearing it. @dsio wrote a wonderful and thoughtful story about the topic here.

Omega312
So how much did Hitlers watch go for ? Ima collector / investor so anything interesting has value added

Best you rub that green paint off

Omega312
why do you ask ??

Time was that members here took a dim view of watches-as-investment talk, requesting information and then responding with attitude and insults, or baseless and combative speculation about rarity or provenance. People have gotten chased off the site for more obviously innocent missteps.

I’m sorry to be preachy but this goes to what kind of forum we want this to be. There are established members here whose scholarship and expertise vouches for their character and respectful handling of items from this era. I think a newcomer should present their bona fides if they want to kick off a discussion about Third Reich totems and whatnot. It’s up to us whether to give the OP a chance to do so, but I frankly do not think the window of opportunity should remain open much longer.

pdxleaf · May 2, 2025

Omega312
So how much did Hitlers watch go for ? Ima collector / investor so anything interesting has value added

Best you rub that green paint off

Hitler's bunker was destroyed for a reason. Treating anything associated with him as a crass investment raises green, but it isn't envy, it's bile.

krogerfoot · May 3, 2025

pdxleaf
Hitler's bunker was destroyed for a reason. Treating anything associated with him as a crass investment raises green, but it isn't envy, it's bile.

Thanks—I was wondering what that was getting at.

Dr.Sascha · May 11, 2025

There's so many marvellous historical timepieces (including many WW2 German ones) that aren't adorned with swastikas. I just don't understand why on earth anyone would want one that is, let alone pay a premium for it.

The only excuse I can think of for owning any such defiled object is if a relative who actually fought against the Axis took something as a trophy at one point. Though, to hear my father--a decorated WW2 veteran--talk about it, the last thing he wanted to see around the house was a reminder of all the evil and horror he witnessed.