Lost Rolex from 26 years ago - Reward

[flowers75]

I am listing this post for my father in law with hope that somebody has the watch !

His message to you all is below:

My 21st birthday was on 9 November 1965, and my parents gave me a splendid stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Superlative Chronometer, serial number 1713975, movement number 7/58104. The back of the watch was engraved as follows:

DAVID R PHILLIPS
9 November 1965

I fully expected that this watch would last me a lifetime but, with regret, all I now have left is the original Watch Rate Certificate, a copy of which is now attached. I lost my watch whilst riding a borrowed motorcycle between Coventry and Stratford on Avon on 5 September 1995; I had felt what I thought was a stone chip hitting my left thigh, but when I reached my destination I found to my horror that my watch was gone. I searched the road long and hard, I twice returned with a metal detector and searched again, and I even advertised in the local press with a generous finder’s reward, but all to no avail – my lovely watch was gone forever. I did contact Rolex at the time, but they were unable to help me so, with some reluctance, I bought myself a replacement watch. But even to this day, whenever I am in the vicinity of Stratford on Avon, I make a point of calling in to a couple of antique shops that have second hand Rolex watches for sale, and although I am always hopeful, I have never been lucky enough to find my watch. I would very much like to be re-united with my Rolex wristwatch, and I will offer a reward to anyone who might be able to assist me in its recovery. I do, of course, realize that I might now have to purchase the watch from whoever might have been wearing it as his own these past 26 years!

[Little machines]

That’s a tough one to forget. Hopefully you will get a answer . Good luck !

[Spectre38]

The odds are long... but I hope you are successful in being reunited with your watch. Best of luck.

[Ginsu_]

Wow

[SN13]

OP,

To be clear, he's looking for a Rolex Datejust, but what bezel?

1600? (PICTURE FOR REFERENCE)



1603 ? (PICTURE FOR REFERENCE)



Or a 1601? (PICTURE FOR REFERENCE)



What color dial?

We have to assume someone swapped the caseback to a plain one...

Thanks!

[jimcameron]

Have you recently checked with Rolex to see if that serial number had ever been serviced?

[PA Zu]

Interesting post. Good luck to you and your father!

[mimariani]

oh man, i hope you get it back.....that would be a great story!!

[NachoNeal]

I'm sure it will turn up.

[Speedbird-1]

Your watch won't have escaped unmarked from falling onto the road.
Hopefully, whoever repairs it , will register it....somewhere, and who knows, if you contact Rolex, they should inform you, if it turns up 'in the system'.

Maybe contact the local newspaper, again, it's a good 'human interest' story and
the reward offer won't do any harm.

Good luck!
I've got a feeling, somehow, it's going to turn up.

[ltmgeller]

Good luck, I hope it turns up.

[Endoscopist]

maybe I am being a skeptic, but does anyone else think this reads a lot like one of those internet chain letters?

[Jackie Daytona]

Delete. Sorry

[flowers75]

If any dealers come across it please let me know too.

[Nikko1967]

that sucks! I have a friend who has lost 3 Rolex Subs in his lifetime all the same way. he gets so drunk he passes out in a bar. wakes up and Rolex is gone...no joke!

[PepsiMan]

Reminds me of a story of a fellow GMT owner told me. He has a 1675, I have the 16710. We spoke about our watches and he told me how it was lost and then found: in England, 1975, he was riding a motorcycle on the countryside and crashed. He picked himself up, scraped and injured but made it home to find his watch missing from his wrist. It was night so he went back looking for it the next day. Three weeks later he was in a pub. He spotted guy with his arm around a girl's back wearing his watch. He rushed up to the person and almost yelled "that's my watch!" The guy immediately took it off and gave it back.

[watchtabs]

Oh man hope you find this...