A Mythical MilSub – Issued To The Special Forces Of Iran By The British Government replica watches

Rolex Milsubs are among the most desirable watches to bear the Rolex coronet and perhaps the most desirable military watches ever made. Of course, we have told you about them. The vast majority were made for the British Ministry of Defense (MoD). Yet a small number, some estimate about 10, ended up in the hands of members of Iran’s Special Forces. Coming up for auction at Sotheby’s on December 6 in New York City is one of these Iranian Milsubs.

Back in the years preceding the revolution in Iran that overthrew Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1979 and saw Ruhollah Khomeini rise to power, the Iranian military had a strong relationship with the British and US militaries. In fact, a number of Iran’s elite soldiers were trained by the British Special Boat Service (SBS) and reportedly desired the same watch that their British counterparts were wearing: the special fake Rolex Submariner reference 5513 ordered by the British MoD for use by the Royal Navy.

According to Sotheby’s, “Like the models issued to the British Royal Navy, the dials were marked with an encircled “T” to indicate the use of the luminous material tritium. The outside case backs were marked with the military broad arrow sign, Ministry of Defense issue number and unit number. As well as being marked with the serial number 3826402 between the lugs, the inside case back of the presently offered watch is marked with the same serial number.”

The watch is, “Accompanied by a service letter from Rolex confirming that serial number 3826402 was supplied to the Iranian Army in May 1975.”

To see the Iranian Milsub coming up for sale, click here. For more information on Iranian Milsubs, click here.