The Most Valuable Watch In My Collection

[JohnBaker3]

Dear Friends:

I love this site and truly appreciate the craftsmanship in my 2 Rolexes. However, the most valuable watch in my collection is a simple Timex.

About a year ago, I went digging through my drawers to find some old watches to "practice" on. Over the years I had worn out a few Seikos and Citizens and put them away for sentimentle reasons. Near the bottom of the stack was this old Timex that wasn't even mine.

The watch had belonged to my father-in-law. Bill was a farmer/rancher by trade and had worn this piece for many years before he retired. After his passing, the piece somehow made its way to my watch drawer.

Anyway, I thought I would give it a shot to see if I could get it running again and clean it up a little. A new battery was placed in the back and it roared to life. I cleaned and moisturized the leather bracelet with some stuff stored under the kitchen sink. Next I tackled the old scratched acrylic crystal. That required some fine steel wool to start with, then 30 minutes using some paste type silver polish.

I have to admit it, but that old watch now looked spectacular. I could hardly wait till I showed my wife the results.

I never really expected what happened next. She cried. She cried a lot. I was unable to grasp how much that simple watch meant to her. Her father was a great man; he raised her well and took good care of his family. All of that was summarized by an inexpensive TIMEX watch.

Now she wears that watch on special occassions. My job is to keep it running and looking good. Pretty easy when you think about it. When stored next to all the other watches in my collection, it really stands out. Not because of its value in dollars, but of its "real" value.

It looks as good as a Patek Philippe Calatrava to me.....

Be safe.