Winston Churchill’s 18 carat gold pocket watch set for auction

An 18-carat gold pocket watch which Sir Winston Churchill, the former British prime minister, received as a gift from Herbert Henry Asquith in 1905 is set to be sold at an auction towards the end of this month.

According to the BBC, the historic pocket watch is engraved with the United Kingdom’s former Conservative prime minister’s coat of arms.

Edward Langmead, watch specialist at Dawsons Auctioneers, said that he felt “truly connected to history” while “delving into Sir Winston Churchill’s past”.

According to the report, the watch will go up for sale at the auction house, in Maidenhead, Berkshire, with an estimate of £20,000-£30,000 on 23 May.

The case features an inscription inside which reads: “To Winston with gratitude H. H. Asquith Xmas 1905.”

According to the auction house, the gift was believed to acknowledge Churchill’s “bold move” in 1904 when he famously crossed the floor to the Liberal party, due to a disagreement with the Conservative leadership over its stance on tariff reform, said the auction house.

Churchill served as the UK’s prime minister twice between 1940 and 1945 and then again between 1951 to 1955.

Langmead said: “There are certain moments in life when you feel truly connected to history and having the opportunity to delve deep into Sir Winston Churchill’s past, both politically and personally has been a privilege.

“To hold a minute repeating pocket watch with the Armorial bearings of Sir Winston Churchill, believed to be a gift from another former Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith in 1905, is nothing short of surreal.”