Rare WWII Luftwaffe Fallschirmjager (paratrooper) ARCTOS wristwatch

Offering for sale an authentic and historically important Arctos Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger service watch, issued during WWII to German airborne troops. This piece is one of several types produced to strict military specifications for the German Luftwaffe, and is part of the rich legacy of wartime German service watches.


Background:

Arctos was one of several German manufacturers (alongside A. Lange & Söhne, Hanhart, and others) tasked with supplying timepieces to various branches of the Wehrmacht. This particular model was intended for the Fallschirmjäger, Germany's elite paratrooper forces, who earned distinction during operations such as Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium and the Battle of Crete (Kreta).




Specs:

- Case Size: 35mm (excluding crown)



- Lug Width: 18mm

- Case Material: Chromed brass - in exceptionally preserved condition, with minimal wear and none of the common bronzing/patina often seen on these cases



- Dial & Hands: Original, with matching patina - never refinished



- Crystal: Clear, with only minor wear

- Movement: UROFA 58, manual wind - it winds, sets turns, is fully functional although a service would be recommended

The movement inside is a UROFA (Uhren-Rohwerke-Fabrik Glashütte) Caliber 58, a correct and period-appropriate caliber for Luftwaffe-issued Arctos watches. That said, this particular movement is possibly a wartime or immediate post-war replacement—entirely plausible and common in issued military watches that saw field service and depot-level maintenance.

Technical specs of the UROFA 58:

- Manufacturer: UROFA, Glashütte, Saxony, Germany
- Caliber: 58
- Type: Manual wind
- Jewels: 15
- Frequency: 18,000 A/h
- Power Reserve: Approx. 35–40 hours

UROFA (and its partner UFAG) were part of the prewar German watchmaking cluster in Glashütte and played a crucial role in supplying raw movements during WWII. The cal. 58 was used across several military watch types and was prized for its reliability under combat conditions.



Condition:

Overall, the watch is in excellent historical and cosmetic condition, with correct wartime components and an uncommon state of preservation—particularly the case, which retains nearly all of its original chrome finish.




Payment: Wire transfer or PayPal Friends & Family preferred; PayPal G&S accepted with fees covered by buyer
Shipping: Worldwide, fully insured at cost
Returns: Accepted if not as described



Many references available here and on other forums. Happy to provide additional photos or video upon request.


Thanks for looking—and thanks to OF for the space.

Some backstories on the Fallschirmjäger corps:


And on Luftwaffe-issue watches overall, including the same category of watches as this ARCTOS:

Reduced $100, new price $800

Another more in-depth look at the Fallschirmjäger:

It is the largest German service watch (36mm, most other are around 30-32mm) from an elite corps and in near perfect conservation state.

A badass watch and a piece of History!

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You’re absolutely right @Larry S :

Should there be any doubt in anyone’s mind regarding authenticity- this watch was show to Konrad Knirim (author of the reference book on German milwatches) himself who identified it as a Luftwaffe issue fallschirmjager watch.

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don’t miss out on this opportunity - these larger size 35mm service watches are the German equivalents of the Dirty Dozen!

And this one is in outstanding condition.

This now comes with a new taupe bund strap!

Bump!

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Bump, an amazing watch on a beautiful leather taupe Bund strap. A piece of history in EXCELLENT condition.

Bump!