A rare watch worn by German frogmen during WW2 has gone up for auction. 

The piece, which was made for the German and Italian Navy, is expected to fetch thousands of pounds when it goes on sale today. 

It has attracted interest from across the globe, with auctioneers at Great Western Auctions in Glasgow expecting bids from collectors from as far afield as Japan, America and Switzerland. 

The watch was discovered by auction manager and auctioneer Claire Godwyn, who was visiting a house in Lanark to value the estate of its recently deceased owner. 

Their neighbour, who arranged the valuation, then asked Claire to take a look at some of her belongings. 

It was there that she discovered the watch, and despite its fairly plain appearance, she had a feeling she had found something special. 

Claire, 42, said: "It was initially a deceased estate. The lady dealing with it was her next door neighbour. She asked me to look at a few things. 

"Then she pulled out this watch and said, 'is this anything?' 

"Military watches are interesting but I didn't know anything about it. 

"When you find something like that you get a feeling, but it's only when the information starts coming back from interested parties who are very excited that it starts a buzz within the auction house." 

After doing some research, they discovered the watch was made by Italian company Panerai using Rolex movements and is one of only 618 made between 1941 and 1943. 

Frogmen, or assault swimmers, wore the watches as part of their kit while carrying out operations to blow up Allied ships towards the end of the war. 

Claire said: "When you see it most people wouldn't give it a second thought. They're very plain lookingwatches. 

"There's nothing on it to say it's a Rolex - it's only when you open it up all that information is revealed." 

Saleroom manager David Convery said they hoped bidding could reach up to £30,000. 

He added: "The watches were given to frogmen as part of their military kit. 

"They tried to slow up the Allies winning the war. 

"It's the first in Scotland. Two were up at auction elsewhere and raised £55,000 and £46,000. 

"Interest will be massive and viewing is by appointment only. We've had interest from Japan, America and Switzerland. It appeals to lots of different collectors." 

The reserve price on the watch is £5000 to £8000. 

Frogmen - specialist divers - operated manned torpedoes, which were used to sink Allied ships during WW2. 

There are 840 lots up for sale at Great Western Auctions' two day event. 

Other items up for grabs include two decorated wooden panels made by German prisoners of war at a PoW camp in the Borders in 1916. 

One features a Dutch scene with a boy and girl standing in front of a sail boat and windmills, while the other shows deer in a forest. 

David said: "Prisoners of war were allowed to create and make panels out of anything they could find. 

"Any scraps of wood they got they used. British forces allowed them to make things." 

Made at Stobs PoW camp, one of the panels has been made from an old tea chest. 

The PoWs were allowed to sell their arts and crafts to the local population, visitors and guards, giving them local currency for extra rations. 

David added: "These were brought in to us. The social history of them makes it a bit more interesting. 

"The panels show possible connections with home - a Dutch connection, maybe from a girlfriend, and possibly the Black Forest." 

The panels are expected to sell for between £80 to £100.