125: The Lost Watch of D-Day: How One Paratrooper Inspired an Entire Brand | No Lowballers

This week on the No Lowballers Podcast, we step slightly outside the gun safe — but not far. Because if you know anything about collectors, you know the Venn diagram between gun guys and watch guys has a lot of overlap.

Logan Metesh of High Caliber History and Allen Forkner from GunBroker sit down with Oscar Chabrat of Praesidus Watch Company, a brand built around honoring American veterans through historically inspired timepieces that incorporate real battlefield materials.

And yes — we’re talking actual sand from Normandy and Iwo Jima, aircraft aluminum and more.

🔹 The Lost Watch of D-Day

Praesidus began with a story.

World War II veteran Tom Rice — who famously re-jumped into Normandy at 97 years old — had lost his A-11 service watch during his original D-Day jump. Praesidus recreated that watch, launching the brand with a faithful homage to the U.S. military’s A-11 specification timepiece.

From that first collaboration grew a company dedicated to honoring veterans through meaningful design.

🔹 Watches with Real History Embedded

Praesidus doesn’t just replicate history — they integrate it.

Some of the standout pieces discussed in this episode include:

• Utah Beach 80th Anniversary Watch
  • Dial split between a Normandy invasion map and real sand from Utah Beach
  • One of the brand’s most iconic designs
• Iwo Jima & Pacific Front Collection
  • Volcanic black sand from Iwo Jima embedded into the dial
  • New “Pacific Front” version features a mapped progression of the entire Pacific campaign, from Pearl Harbor to Okinawa
• C-47 Skytrain Edition
  • Dials punched directly from authentic C-47 aircraft aluminum
  • Offered in varying levels of patina
• Neptune 44
  • Watch cases submerged in the tides off Utah Beach for 60 days
  • Naturally aged by salt, sand and surf
• Veteran Tribute Pieces
  • Bud Anderson (P-51 “Old Crow”)
  • Diz Laird (Ace of Two Oceans)
  • Vince Speranza (101st Airborne, Bastogne)

Each piece balances commemoration with responsibility — something Oscar emphasizes repeatedly throughout the conversation.

🔹 Why Watches Matter in Military History

We talk about rifles, machine guns and sidearms all the time.

But battlefield coordination depended on accurate timekeeping. The A-11 specification watch was critical to synchronizing attacks, artillery and navigation across land, sea and air.

Praesidus is shining a spotlight on that often overlooked but essential tool of war.

🔹 What’s Coming Next?

Oscar shares some exciting developments:

• Hand-painted Utah Beach dial scenes
• A Willys Jeep hood project in development
• Potential B-17 and B-25 aircraft collaborations
• Official U.S. Army licensed watches
• Modern field watch concepts designed with active duty use in mind

The challenge now? How do you top D-Day sand and Iwo Jima volcanic ash?

Praesidus is trying.

If you appreciate military history, collectible firearms, aviation lore or meaningful craftsmanship, this episode is right in your wheelhouse.

👉 Check out the latest Pacific Front collection at Praesidius
👉 Drop a comment and tell us: Which design is your favorite?
👉 What historical material should they work with next?

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Follow No Lowballers on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ for behind-the-scenes content, historical deep dives and weekly drops every Thursday. Find Logan at ⁠⁠High Caliber History⁠⁠ and Allen at ⁠⁠GunBroker⁠⁠.