Watch Find Stories

[drockadam]

Amazing stories mates!

[The Archer]

A couple of years ago I found an IWC Portuguese. This was at school, I was in the library, and BAM; there it was on the table. I located the owner ( A teacher, oddly) who struck a conversation with me about how he let his students photograph it for a project. The project was you were given a list of objects and had to to find them around the school and take a picture of it. I guess his students forgot..... But Man, that was a nice watch! Me and him now talk more frequently, about what else? Watches. I'm pretty sure he has a Breguet as well.

[Michael M.]

Cool story Adam!

[aleiberman]

My story isn't that big of a find, but two years ago I purchased a complete set 2000/01 14060M. The complete set even included the original sales recipt.

Anyways, after sometime of owning the watch, decided to have a look at all the paperwork and Rolex papers, and found it was purchased on 9/11/2001.

Not a major find by any means, but I thought it was still very interesting.

[Rags]

Those are some great stories.. I'll have to start keeping my eyes open at those garage sales my wife takes me to.

[Michael M.]

Anyone else??

[harry in montreal]

Not watch related but very funny

Someone at the bank deposited 70,000$ into a family member's account about 15 years ago. Of course, I am asked what should be done. I said wait 30 days and then tell the bank manager. He let my relative keep the interest and was very appreciative. Keypunch entry error. Apparently the employee was later fired.

[Davew833]

Not my story, but I belong to AudioKarma, a forum about stereo equipment and related topics as well. There's a thread there for "thrift store finds" that a member posted this to:

"I found a vintage Rolex Speed King with the OEM Oyster expansion bracelet on a Goodwill junk jewelry rack a couple years back, I think I paid somewhere around $0.50 or $0.75 for it. Needed a couple hands and crystal and overhaul and now running nicely, it does happen."

I myself was happy to find my 1970 red Sub about a year ago at a dealer who knew they had an authentic Rolex but didn't realize the value of a Red. Without getting too specific, I'll just say I paid Tudor Sub money for it.

[Grissom]

I have a few.......let's start with this one.....my ex-wife found a SS Bubbleback in a thrift store, for $0.25, in the late 1970's. The crown was screwed in, so they couldn't wind it, and as such, they threw it into the $0.25 bin, assuming it was broken. She had not idea it was not broken, but as she knew I liked old Rolexes, she thought I would have fun fixing it up. When she showed it to me, I simply unscrewed the crown, wound it a bit, set the time, and it ran flawlessly! She wore it for a while, and ultimately ended up trading it towards some other stuff she liked, years later, at a trade value of $2500.00.

[dddrees]

I just re-read this thread.

Some real great stories, hope to read some more.

[xjeeunitx]

The other day, I bought a F serial Sub for $4K. A month ago, I bought a BNIB Panerai 176L for $3.7K. Two months ago, I bought a P serial AirKing for $1K. Couple months ago, I bought a GMT Master 16753 for $2K.

These were all found on the bay... If you get lucky and search at the right time, you never know what you may find.

[HERITAGE82]

Originally Posted by Rikki

Okay I just purchased a certy sub 05 story goes guy was riding his motorcycle in 07 and was forced off the road as he was hitting the quardrails his watch smacked the quardrail sending the bezel to Mars or points north then he proceeded to fly through the air into a drainage marsh. Of course the crystal was shattered but still on the watch which flooded instantly. Good news he survived the crash was layed up for a few months. He brought it to one of my wholesale accounts for repair but the damage was extensive and beyond his pocketbook so I purchased it and am almost finished with the resto. I am looking for an original 18k bezel and so far no luck but I am patient. I'll be posting befores and afters as soon as it's done. Rik

Can't wait to see that restoration job....

[HERITAGE82]

Originally Posted by grissom

i have a few.......let's start with this one.....my ex-wife found a ss bubbleback in a thrift store, for $0.25, in the late 1970's. The crown was screwed in, so they couldn't wind it, and as such, they threw it into the $0.25 bin, assuming it was broken. She had not idea it was not broken, but as she knew i liked old rolexes, she thought i would have fun fixing it up. When she showed it to me, i simply unscrewed the crown, wound it a bit, set the time, and it ran flawlessly! She wore it for a while, and ultimately ended up trading it towards some other stuff she liked, years later, at a trade value of $2500.00.

talk about return on your investment....great story!!

[Sweramic]

More stories pleeeeease

[Eric88]

This is one of my favorites. Not sure I found the full details as I was posting responses to this almost 3 years ago. As the story goes, a guy finds a vintage Speedy Pro in the mud while hiking and has it restored. I thought it was pretty cool.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f20/196...ed-303740.html

[Sweramic]

Originally Posted by Eric88

This is one of my favorites. Not sure I found the full details as I was posting responses to this almost 3 years ago. As the story goes, a guy finds a vintage Speedy Pro in the mud while hiking and has it restored. I thought it was pretty cool.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f20/196...ed-303740.html

What a transformation! Thanks for sharing Eric

Do any old-time members remember the guy who found a diamond studded platinum Day-Date Masterpiece on the sidewalk? If I remember correctly it was somewhere near Las Vegas.

[Neillnads]

Not a fascinating story but whilst looking for my dads service medals I came across his watch that has sat in a drawer for 12 years. I knew he'd had a Rolex but assumed that as the army had issued it to him whilst he was learning to dive it would not be unique. A little reading and couple of posts on here and I found that I was very wrong. It was a Milsub 5513. Nice!!

[Sweramic]

Originally Posted by Neillnads

Not a fascinating story but whilst looking for my dads service medals I came across his watch that has sat in a drawer for 12 years. I knew he'd had a Rolex but assumed that as the army had issued it to him whilst he was learning to dive it would not be unique. A little reading and couple of posts on here and I found that I was very wrong. It was a Milsub 5513. Nice!!

Nice! Any pictures of the watch more than in your profile picture?

[Neillnads]

I posted some pics in the vintage section on a thread titled Milsub 5513 service cost ior something like that.

[RC2]

After reading these I plan to hit a huge neighborhood yard sale this summer. My wife thinks I am nuts to go and with the odds low for a Rolex find ... She is probably correct - ill try anyway. Rich

[lakeros]

Originally Posted by Sweramic

What a transformation! Thanks for sharing Eric

Do any old-time members remember the guy who found a diamond studded platinum Day-Date Masterpiece on the sidewalk? If I remember correctly it was somewhere near Las Vegas.

I remember the story as well. I am trying to hunt it down.

[Beaudog]

Not nearly as exciting as some others, but it was a cool find for me. At an estate sale in Memphis, TN a few years ago I purchased a 1978 Tudor Oysterdate in the box with original rolex bracelet. The watch is the full gold shell model and my wife wears it everyday. I also purchased a large J. Peterman leather duffel bag that I travel with all the time, which with the watch, cost me a total of $100. My best find so far.

[fusionstorm]

Originally Posted by Beaudog

Not nearly as exciting as some others, but it was a cool find for me. At an estate sale in Memphis, TN a few years ago I purchased a 1978 Tudor Oysterdate in the box with original rolex bracelet. The watch is the full gold shell model and my wife wears it everyday. I also purchased a large J. Peterman leather duffel bag that I travel with all the time, which with the watch, cost me a total of $100. My best find so far.

Even if both items were counterfeit (I'm not saying they are, by any means), that's a deal already for $100. Nice score!

Did the Tudor come with paperwork/booklets as well?

[gregorpal]

Since I was a kid, 11/12 years old, I am fascinated by watches, but specially Rolex. As many of you this comes from having someone in the family wearing one. In my case, my older brother had a manual winding 6694 with a beautiful silver linen dial. I loved that watch. When we went to the Sports Club and he had a football match he gave me his watch to avoid any accident. Then , there I was, sitting on the grass watching it in every detail (actually not quite different from now), and wishing to have, someday, one for me!
Well, leaving old memories aside, the following is my story, and it happened many years ago, in 1977. At that time, I was 16 years old and after a long time saving money (plus selling my Wilson “Jack Kramer” tennis racquet) I went for a used stainless steel and silver dial ref. 1500, (perpetual date). From all the shops I visited that day, I could only afford, for the money I had, an Air King ref 5500. The one I was offered did not looked well, blue dial, plexi looked horrible, and completely unpolished!! so it looked old!! (some things have changed!) but after all it was a Rolex! Believe me, at that time, (no internet, not Rolex Forums, not many magazines) the only way you could learn about watches was just looking at the different models through the window shop, and from time to time (actually every week) asking to the Rolex AD salesman “Please, can you show me that one”, (obviously I did not have the slightest idea of what a serial number was).
Well, coming back to my story, the shop salesman noticed that I was not very happy with the Air King then he said “If you don´t like it, I can offer something completely different but… manual winding…(of course, manual winding watches were not modern and well seen at that time, watches ought to be automatic! Then, he opened a wooden box full of watches, bands, and parts of ordinary watches and as he said to me “do you like sports watches?’” he showed me…. a 6239, Daytona, silver dial, and I just said… It´s too big! I just wanted a Rolex and Rolex to me was not chrono, they had to look simple, and not too big! But anyway I liked it more than the blue Air King, and after all, that day I wanted to get my own Rolex!. Then I bought it, went home, put it on my wrist and after watching it a long time I said to myself: This is not a Rolex as I always wanted, and it does not look as a Rolex! Well, as far as I remember, in order to buy the 1500 I have to add usd100 (which was a lot of money then). After a couple of months, I saved the money (plus obtaining a long term loan from my brothers) and went after my holy grail: a ref. 1500!!!. Well, this is coming to its end. I came back to the shop, with the same salesman took the Daytona as part of payment, I gave him usd100 and got my grail! and believe me: I was very happy!! I loved that watch and I keep it many years with me. Probably you all know that Daytonas, at the seventies were not popular. As you may see I was not born for doing business, but for enjoying a lot every watch I had, and still have. Of course, now my holy grail is a 6239. As soon as I get it I will let you know!!
Kind regards

[T5AUS]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Great story Phil, and the you did such a marvelous job getting it restored.

A bit late in responding to your kind remark Dan, my appologies, not sure how I missed it, many thanks though

[The Archer]

I think it's time this thread was revived.

[azguy]

Originally Posted by The Archer

I think it's time this thread was revived.

sounds good, the yard sales will be packed this weekend

[ICARO]

Hi Buddies, I live in Middle East,here there are quite a few of used watches dealers.
The locals just walk in,take the thing out of the wrist a swap it for something else.
The thing is that I ask the guy to show me anything really old and he pulls out a 5513 in a very bad condition and a 1665 Great White,with new bezel but otherwise mint condition ,original bracelet,correct end links,etc,so I look at it and say.....well you have nothing really fancy but maybe tomorrow I come back to see if you bargain more...so he did...and I got my new Sea dweller from 1979 in mint condition for a very nice price....