Wristwatch melted by Hiroshima atomic blast up for auction

By Dean Murray via SWNS

A wristwatch melted by the Hiroshima blast is up for auction.

The timepiece was recovered by a British soldier frozen at the moment of detonation of the atomic bomb, according to Boston-based RR Auction.

The artifact, retrieved from the ruins of the devastated city, offers a haunting glimpse into the human tragedy of the August 6, 1945 attack.

The auctioneers have put an estimate of £16k ($20k) on the lot.

RR Auction explains: "According to the consignor, a British soldier recovered the wristwatch while on a mission to provide emergency supplies and survey post-conflict reconstruction requirements at the Prefectural Promotion Hall in Hiroshima.

"The soldier discovered the timepiece amidst the ruins, its poignant testimony preserved in its melted and scorched form. "

Despite the cloudiness of the crystal resulting from the blast, the small brass-tone watch's hands are unmistakably halted at 8:15 AM - the precise moment when the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb.

RR Auction says the anonymous consignor was moved by the 2023 film Oppenheimer to make the historical artifact available to the public.

Bobby Livingston, Executive Vice President at RR Auction, says: "Auctioning artifacts like these is not just about the items themselves; it's about preserving the stories they carry and ensuring that the lessons of history are not forgotten.

"This wristwatch, for instance, marks the exact moment in time that history changed forever."

The watch is offered as part of the Remarkable Rarities auction by RR Auction, which is set to conclude on 22 February.