Rolex Speedking ca. 1943 With Some History Behind It

[Franks07]

Happy to share the first picture of my Rolex Speedking ref. 4220 with a 245xxx serial number dating it to 1943 that just came back today from ABC Watchwerks.
This little gem has a bit of a convoluted "family history" that includes four generations of deaths, divorces, stepchildren etc. having said that...the story behind the watch was that "Uncle Frank" got the watch when he was a military POW in Germany between 1943-1945.
That and the caseback inscription is all the information I got when I acquired the watch several months ago in non working condition (locked up movement, broken crown, missing lume on the hands and a very badly scuffed and slightly cracked Crystal.
My strong suspicion was and still is that this is one of the POW watches that Hans Wilsdorf provided to American and English POWs held in German Camps during WW2. Unfortunately Rolex Geneva does not have records on watch purchase history dating back to 1943 so absolute verification of my suspicions of the watch's origin as a "POW Watch" remains inconclusive.
The caseback has an inscription that reads "I.V.W. Borchardt". With minimal Google search effort I did find a reference to a "Clarence Frank Borchardt" as an American POW that was shot down 07/26/43 in his B17 Bomber over Germany and was held at Stalag Luft 3 (notorious for "The Great Escape") for 424 days until liberated at war's end.
While not 100% verifiable...I will now only say that this is "very likely" to be a Rolex "POW Watch" that has been very skillfully restored by ABC Watchwerks with a complete movement overhaul including a new main spring,new crown and tube, new crystal, relume of the minute and hour hands and a very light polishing of the bezel and lug tops. To help this 30mm watch wear a little "bigger" on the wrist I have mounted it on a custom Bund strap from Gunny Straps...this adds a bit of irony to the completed "package" due to the origin of Bund Straps being from WW1 German soldiers. I do plan to wear this little gem occasionally and most certainly on military holidays

[offrdmania]

Those military straps really make the smaller cases look much bigger. Looks great!

[Brian HCM#1]

Very cool story!!!!

[donaker]

Very nice. After seeing yours, I might grab a bund for my GG-W-113 which can be seen below.

[77T]

The family history is more important than the Rolex pedigree IMHO.
Maybe ask your aunts, uncles and cousins what they recall about his acquisition during the war.

[Old Expat Beast]

Very nice. I'm also looking for a 17mm bund for my WWII 31mm Oyster.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by 77T

The family history is more important than the Rolex pedigree IMHO.
Maybe ask your aunts, uncles and cousins what they recall about his acquisition during the war.

That would be very interesting provenance

[rootbeer7]

great watch and story

[donaker]

Originally Posted by donaker

Very nice. After seeing yours, I might grab a bund for my GG-W-113 which can be seen below.

Well I took the plunge. I think I like it!

[Franks07]

Very nice!

[donaker]

Originally Posted by Franks07

Very nice!

It's no Speedking but thanks for the inspiration! :)

[JakeBlixx]

My 1942 4220 just got back from the spa also. Love your bund strap. I chose to try to bulk up the watch a bit by wearing her on a cuff...