So here's the scoop...

[pdoukas]

Sorry folks, there was a lot of beer and meat involved last night, and I'm paying for it today. Good times......living the dream.....lol!!

I love some of the stories on here! I find it really cool when someone finds a watch and there's a backstory with some history. It makes you wonder, what was going on when the original owner was wearing the watch.

I don't have much of a backstory yet, but i hope to have more soon. Here's what happened:

About a week ago I got wind of an estate auction in Maryland. There was a 1966ish Omega Seamaster300 listed and no one had too much interest in it. I did a little fiscal research and decided I was going to go after it because of all of the Seamasters of that era I had seen, this one looked really clean. The problem is all I could rely on was pictures, and the word of the auctioneer. He told me that it was in great shape with the original band and running. In my mind, I was thinking, worst case scenario, its been serviced a few times but at least the dial and hands seem original with really nice patina. Case looked thick so maybe one polish at some point in time.

Boy was I wrong.......and yet, excited like you couldn't believe. I started perusing the rest of the estate listing and noticed a lot of Vietnam era memorabilia. I called the auctioneer and surfed the Internet and this is what I found out. The owner was the late LTC George Aikemen Finter. He died in Vietnam in 1970 while on an aerial recon mission. His remains and possessions were sent home and his wife left them boxed until..........February 2013. She had actually passed away years ago and the last remaining daughter was a bit of a hoarder. She passed away in February. When I found all of this out I decided to go after his memorial burial flag with the letters of condolence from President Nixon, General Westmorland, and others. I also decided decided to go after a lot that contained all of his correspondences and pictures of him while he was in Vietnam. I wanted to add as much history to the watch as possible. Maybe there was a picture of him wearing, who knows......but it'll be fun going through all of it. On top of the Seamaster, he had a few other neat watches. He had a Jaeger LeCoulture Memovox, but the case looked a little corroded around the crystal. But he also had an Angelus Chronodato that he picked up when he was a young officer while stationed in Germany. That one I picked up because it looked really cool and all my "quick" research told me that they made their own movements and were ahead of the time when they came up with the triple date chrono. Cool poop huh!

Well, I'm waiting anxiously for these items to get to me, but as soon as they I'm going to determine what I have. In the meantime, here are the pictures from the story. Oh, and for the record, the auction was literally held in a barn!

Pete

[HL65]

Very nice and great catch Pete...Congrats again!

[s4dan]

Know they're not Rolex, but wonderful vintage pieces anyway and great associated story...Loving the Seamaster. Hope you're just as pleased when you've got them in the flesh.

[pdoukas]

Originally Posted by s4dan

Know they're not Rolex, but wonderful vintage pieces anyway and great associated story...Loving the Seamaster. Hope you're just as pleased when you've got them in the flesh.

No, I'm aware this post may be in the wrong forum, but since this is the forum I live in, and I associate with all of the folks in here 99% of the time, I fugure they'd like a good story and some pictures.

[s4dan]

Originally Posted by pdoukas

No, I'm aware this post may be in the wrong forum, but since this is the forum I live in, and I associate with all of the folks in here 99% of the time, I fugure they'd like a good story and some pictures.

100% to that

[pdoukas]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Very nice and great catch Pete...Congrats again!

Thanks so much Ken!!

[Mark020]

Well: an extremely nice SM! Good buy!

[964RS]

Gorgeous SM, well done!

[Mike1066]

Looking good, Pete. I love those vintage SMs. Great catches.

V/R

Mike

[Frogman4me]

Awesome Pete! Man this was in Maryland, I wish I knew. That sm300 looks nice ;)

[hdrazor251]

Nice find. I don't know anything about it but the Angelus looks really cool.

[cop414]

Looks like a great vintage Seamaster, congratulations!

[Beaumont Miller II]

That's the stuff dreams are made of. Pete how do you find out about these auctions?

[bonbonson]

I love that Omega you got there! Milsub hands and dial is simple. I like them more than most of the modern seamasters

[miamiman]

Pete ,that man died serving his country a long time ago ,it's an honor to own those pieces. And they were stored away all forgotten ,wear them with pride.

[springer]

Great story Pete. The Omega is outstanding and with all the history that goes with it - what a great find.

jP

[mikkibarry]

So nice that they aren't going to waste.

[Vincent65]

very cool!

[MP5]

That SM is choice!

[andromeda160]

Can't wait to see how everything turns out, I'm sure you'll find him in the seamaster. going to be one of the coolest watch collections I've seen posted. such great history.

[cruvon]

Congrats, a great mix of an awesome story and beautiful vintages, always a welcome combo! Love the patina on the Omega, the Angelus is also a very unique triple date chrono!

[datejust24]

that vintage Seamaster is saweet.

[lhanddds]

Neat stuff Pete, love the Seamaster

[yld2rob]

Cool story

[Knappo 1307]

Great story, and nice watches....

[pdoukas]

Thanks folks, I'm really excited about these watches, especially the Omega. I've gotta be honest, know nothing about the Angelus, so if anyone wants to educate me I'd appreciate it. As soon ask receive everything I'll post better images.

[greekbum]

Pete nice find! I love that OMEGA also

[kngzfrd]

Great story! Congrats!

[Robbyvm]

we all dream of these kind of finds.... the SM is a beauty ! Congrats