Dwight D. Eisenhower was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe.

Before becoming the 34th President of the United States (in 1953), Rolex gifted him an 18K yellow gold Oyster Perpetual Datejust with the engravings “DDE” which are his initials, as well as five stars and the date “12-19-1950” which is the day he became NATO’s first Supreme Allied Commander.

Notably, this was the 150,000th Rolex ever made and was part of a tradition where Rolex gives military leaders each 50,000th watch they produce. Winston Churchill received the 100,000th Rolex.

He is seen wearing the watch (pictured above) on the cover of Life magazine in 1952. The auction will be held by RRAuction in Boston on September 17, 2014, and will include other items Eisenhower used to own such as a leather jacket and binoculars. Eisenhower’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual is “expected” to command upwards of $1 million, according to RRAuction.

 

Photos by RR Auction.