1946 Rolex Pre-Daytona Chronograph (Ref. 3525) "POW" W/ Original Owners Military Mess Card

Produced during the 1940s, the Rolex Pre-Daytona Chronograph reference 3525 is nicknamed the “Prisoner of War” or “POW” due to the fact that it was one of the models made available to captured Allied soldiers during World War II. While most Swiss watch brands maintained neutrality during the war, Rolex famously supported the Allied forces and even provided timepieces to captured Allied troops in POW camps, who had their previous watches confiscated from them. Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf personally oversaw a program in which detained troops could write to Rolex and request a wristwatch that would be sent to them entirely on the honor system, with no payment required whatsoever until after the war.

While a handful of different Rolex models were provided to the Allied prisoners of war, easily the most famous is the Rolex Oyster Chronograph ref. 3525. Fitted with a manual-wind Valjoux movement, the reference 3525 features a two-register chronograph layout with both tachymeter and telemeter scales printed along the periphery of its dial. The ability to precisely measure time was invaluable to captured Allied forces, and Rolex ref. 3525 chronograph watches were famously used by the soldiers who escaped the German Stalag Luft III POW camp, which later served as the inspiration for the 1963 Steve McQueen Film, The Great Escape. This particular example comes with military provenance and is accompanied by the official army-issued mess card from its original owner, who was required to present it in order to be served meals during the war.