Anyone ever had a lost/stolen Rolex returned?

[marselluswallace]

I lost my partners Pearlmaster to a stolen bank cheque a few years back.I reported it to the Police and put the watch on the Rolex lost and stolen register however I am fully aware there is little chance of ever getting it back.
I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had a lost or stolen Rolex returned to them?

[BarkMaster]

Looks like someone did here: http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/stolen.html

[Black Bay Dan]

When I was at prep school in England in 1977, one Sunday I went with some friends to the local village shop for some sweets (or tuck as we called it back then) after Chapel. This trip involved a several mile walk across fields and countryside. On our return, just outside the village, some local village boys spotted us and began to chase us, with nothing but handing out a good pasting on their minds. After about half a mile and leap over a style, I noticed that my Air-King was missing. On telling my comrades of the lost watch, we returned to the outskirts of the village and met our pursuers. I told them of them of my plight, and in a fit of being English, we all put or differences to one side and started to look for the missing watch. To my amazement one of the locals found the watch and gave it to me, with not a hint of aggression. I still have that watch to this day and never forget this incident or my lucky escape.

Dan

[HappyAngel]

Originally Posted by Air King Dan

When I was at prep school in England in 1977, one Sunday I went with some friends to the local village shop for some sweets (or tuck as we called it back then) after Chapel. This trip involved a several mile walk across fields and countryside. On our return, just outside the village, some local village boys spotted us and began to chase us, with nothing but handing out a good pasting on their minds. After about half a mile and leap over a style, I noticed that my Air-King was missing. On telling my comrades of the lost watch, we returned to the outskirts of the village and met our pursuers. I told them of them of my plight, and in a fit of being English, we all put or differences to one side and started to look for the missing watch. To my amazement one of the locals found the watch and gave it to me, with not a hint of aggression. I still have that watch to this day and never forget this incident or my lucky escape.

Dan

Wow, I can't believe you have found your watch......I am so surprised that the local village boy return the watch to you. He could have just take it...but I am so happy it's a happy ending at last.

[Speed]

Wow Dan. Perhaps only in England...and maybe Japan could that story be possible.

I went to university in an urban environment here in the states. If the local "toughs" had chased me and my friends - with bad intent - I would have been found riddled with bullets or stab wounds...AND they would have likely taken my CASIO. Which is what I was would have wearing back in the day!!!

[Sub'erman]

A friend og mine bought his own watch 3 months after it was stolen.
He finally got the insurance money and went to a watch shop to buy a pepsi gmt as he had stolen. It turned out to be the very watch he had had stolen. The Police looked into the matter. And no one was accused as there is no database in Denmark.

[DadsWatch72]

I think you would be better off to part them out. Is the serial number only on the case (sometimes the caseback also)?

[InVision]

I have found 3 Rolex watches with my underwater metal detector.

One was a Sub which was crusted up in a big black clump and I restored it and gave it as gift to a dear friend.

One I found in Destin Florida just off the beach which was a 18K datejust with the person's ID on the clasp. I returned the watch to gentleman from Alabama and he presented me with $1200 cash and said he had the watch for sometime and figured the reward was in leu of paying insurance for all those years.

The other watch was a "diamond studded thing", I mean you could not even tell what it was. The guy lost it parasailing off of Destin and hired me for $100 per hour and $1000 if I found it. It took a whole 15 mins to find it, in the sand just off the beach. It was crazy because his insurance folks took 3 months to get me a check, at one point I just figured I got scammed after a few weeks.

I often thought of engraving my watches, but I am sure that would considerably devalue the watch since I am not a celebrity.

Mike

[seafarer]

On a business trip from Canberra to Sydney i had left my Perpetual Date at the customs whilst going thru the body scanning machine. Arrived Sydney 1-2 hours later, rang up to Customs Office at Canberra and watch was returned via courier 3 days thereafter. Had to pay $50 for courier though.

[sakuraba]

Originally Posted by InVision

One I found in Destin Florida just off the beach which was a 18K datejust with the person's ID on the clasp. I returned the watch to gentleman from Alabama and he presented me with $1200 cash and said he had the watch for sometime and figured the reward was in leu of paying insurance for all those years.
Mike

Very cool of you to return it, Mike.

I really appreciate the quality of people on this forum.

[Willi]

Mike,

Nice work you do, well done. I can only imagine what one would find with an underwater metal detector.

[greentea]

[QUOTE=Speed;1477117]Wow Dan. Perhaps only in England...and maybe Japan could that story be possible.

I would say only in England in the 1970s. Not so sure the story would have the same ending nowadays.

[everose]

Originally Posted by Speed

Wow Dan. Perhaps only in England...and maybe Japan could that story be possible.

I went to university in an urban environment here in the states. If the local "toughs" had chased me and my friends - with bad intent - I would have been found riddled with bullets or stab wounds...AND they would have likely taken my CASIO. Which is what I was would have wearing back in the day!!!

I guess you have not visited England for a while!!!!!!!!!!

[ersnyder]

Originally Posted by InVision

I have found 3 Rolex watches with my underwater metal detector.

One was a Sub which was crusted up in a big black clump and I restored it and gave it as gift to a dear friend.

One I found in Destin Florida just off the beach which was a 18K datejust with the person's ID on the clasp. I returned the watch to gentleman from Alabama and he presented me with $1200 cash and said he had the watch for sometime and figured the reward was in leu of paying insurance for all those years.

The other watch was a "diamond studded thing", I mean you could not even tell what it was. The guy lost it parasailing off of Destin and hired me for $100 per hour and $1000 if I found it. It took a whole 15 mins to find it, in the sand just off the beach. It was crazy because his insurance folks took 3 months to get me a check, at one point I just figured I got scammed after a few weeks.

I often thought of engraving my watches, but I am sure that would considerably devalue the watch since I am not a celebrity.

Mike

Cool stories Mike. Who says you're not a celebrity!?

[sea-dweller]

Fortunately, I have not had one lost or stolen yet. I hope you get yours back.

[Safetrends]

Rolex has put out a book on the adventures of Rolex watches.

One watch was lost in someones yard and ten years later the new owner found it took it to Rolex to have it cleaned up and that is when the old owner was found.

A explorer lost his watch on a stream near some falls and it took the guy a couple of hours to locate the watch.

One story that was cool was a guy was climbing up a cliff, and when he slid down the cliff the watch got caught and kept him from falling however it broke his wrist.

[robsteve]

Originally Posted by marselluswallace

I lost my partners Pearlmaster to a stolen bank cheque a few years back.I reported it to the Police and put the watch on the Rolex lost and stolen register however I am fully aware there is little chance of ever getting it back.
I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had a lost or stolen Rolex returned to them?

In the odd chance it goes in to a Rolex service Depot, it will get returned.

A local camera dealer had some Leica gear stolen in the 1980's and about twenty years later it was returned to him by Leica service, when the items showed up for service. In the case of a Rolex, there are more independent watch makers that work on them and the likelihood of it going to a Rolex owned shop with the stolen database is probably a bit less than in my camera example.

BTW, the 1953 Explorer in my avatar was on my Dad's wrist when he died in a head on automobile accident. Two days later, it was found on the side of the road and turned into the police. It was without strap, so I assume the spring bars probably broke from the impact and the bracelet came off.

Robert

[The GMT Master]

I had a gentleman come into the shop recently, and had his two tone DJ returned to him a couple of months ago after it was stolen 7 years ago. They'd changed the dial, and he'd lost a link, but I think he was just happy to get his watch back. Nice to know the system works

[PeteNYC13]

BTW, the 1953 Explorer in my avatar was on my Dad's wrist when he died in a head on automobile accident. Two days later, it was found on the side of the road and turned into the police. It was without strap, so I assume the spring bars probably broke from the impact and the bracelet came off.

Robert[/QUOTE]

__________________________________________________ ______________

Robert, I am sorry to hear that... I hope you cherish your dad's Rolex!
I know that a Rolex is made of metal and other precious materials etc... but it is stories like this that make them worth so much more than the resale value to so many of us.

I am quite certain that for many of us, there is no $$$ that can replace the bond and memories your Rolex represents.

-Pete

[robsteve]

Originally Posted by PeteNYC13

Robert, I am sorry to hear that... I hope you cherish your dad's Rolex!
I know that a Rolex is made of metal and other precious materials etc... but it is stories like this that make them worth so much more than the resale value to so many of us.

I am quite certain that for many of us, there is no $$$ that can replace the bond and memories your Rolex represents.

-Pete

Pete:

It was a pleasant surprise when I was talking to the investigating officer a week or so later and he told me he had a watch that had been turned in a few days after the accident. It was missing the bracelet and the the crystal was badly scratched, but nothing a trip to the local watch maker couldn't fix. This watch was my Grandfathers, so I am now the third generation wearing it.

I also have an Oyster Perpetual Date that my Mother gave me a little over twenty years ago that I cherish as well.

All my Rolexes have a sentimental attachment, so I just can't see myself selling or trading them. For me a Rolex has always had a family history, rather than just a time piece.

Robert

[timmovitz]

Originally Posted by InVision

I have found 3 Rolex watches with my underwater metal detector.

One was a Sub which was crusted up in a big black clump and I restored it and gave it as gift to a dear friend.

One I found in Destin Florida just off the beach which was a 18K datejust with the person's ID on the clasp. I returned the watch to gentleman from Alabama and he presented me with $1200 cash and said he had the watch for sometime and figured the reward was in leu of paying insurance for all those years.

The other watch was a "diamond studded thing", I mean you could not even tell what it was. The guy lost it parasailing off of Destin and hired me for $100 per hour and $1000 if I found it. It took a whole 15 mins to find it, in the sand just off the beach. It was crazy because his insurance folks took 3 months to get me a check, at one point I just figured I got scammed after a few weeks.

I often thought of engraving my watches, but I am sure that would considerably devalue the watch since I am not a celebrity.

Mike

i admire your goodwill & honesty!

[timmovitz]

Originally Posted by Safetrends

Rolex has put out a book on the adventures of Rolex watches.

One watch was lost in someones yard and ten years later the new owner found it took it to Rolex to have it cleaned up and that is when the old owner was found.

A explorer lost his watch on a stream near some falls and it took the guy a couple of hours to locate the watch.

One story that was cool was a guy was climbing up a cliff, and when he slid down the cliff the watch got caught and kept him from falling however it broke his wrist.

awesome stories... can one see the adv. online?

[timmovitz]

Originally Posted by seafarer

On a business trip from Canberra to Sydney i had left my Perpetual Date at the customs whilst going thru the body scanning machine. Arrived Sydney 1-2 hours later, rang up to Customs Office at Canberra and watch was returned via courier 3 days thereafter. Had to pay $50 for courier though.

My heart would have stopped...!

[1000ftSub]

Originally Posted by Air King Dan

When I was at prep school in England in 1977, one Sunday I went with some friends to the local village shop for some sweets (or tuck as we called it back then) after Chapel. This trip involved a several mile walk across fields and countryside. On our return, just outside the village, some local village boys spotted us and began to chase us, with nothing but handing out a good pasting on their minds. After about half a mile and leap over a style, I noticed that my Air-King was missing. On telling my comrades of the lost watch, we returned to the outskirts of the village and met our pursuers. I told them of them of my plight, and in a fit of being English, we all put or differences to one side and started to look for the missing watch. To my amazement one of the locals found the watch and gave it to me, with not a hint of aggression. I still have that watch to this day and never forget this incident or my lucky escape.

Dan

Thats pretty cool

[timmovitz]

Originally Posted by robsteve

In the odd chance it goes in to a Rolex service Depot, it will get returned.

A local camera dealer had some Leica gear stolen in the 1980's and about twenty years later it was returned to him by Leica service, when the items showed up for service. In the case of a Rolex, there are more independent watch makers that work on them and the likelihood of it going to a Rolex owned shop with the stolen database is probably a bit less than in my camera example.

BTW, the 1953 Explorer in my avatar was on my Dad's wrist when he died in a head on automobile accident. Two days later, it was found on the side of the road and turned into the police. It was without strap, so I assume the spring bars probably broke from the impact and the bracelet came off.

Robert

Wow a sad but intriqueing story about your dad's watch. Do you still have it?

[robsteve]

Originally Posted by timmovitz

Wow a sad but intriqueing story about your dad's watch. Do you still have it?

I still have it. I wear it a few months a year. Brought it out again just before Christmas. I started doing some research on the model and ended up here.

Here is a shot of it from last week. It is in at the watch maker now getting a chipped crystal replaced and the movement regulated. It was running a bit slow.