My Bargain Basement 14060 Story.

[FloridaSam]

I had chosen not to tell this story on this Forum as it has some FAKE content in it. As well I did not want to come across as solely interested in price or appearing "cheap" as my passion is for watches in general no matter what their cost. However, a couple of people had PM'd me asking about how I came about my 14060 so rather than responding directly I thought I might as well spill the beans.

I've been collecting watches for about 10 years and have been intrigued by watches from a very early age. Unfortunately my income does not allow me to collect the masterpieces I have dreamt about and that's ok. One of my hobbies is hunting thrift stores and pawn shops in south Florida. Unlike many parts of the county (or world) south Florida has a unique population of retirees, tourists, and people living above their means. This makes for some great finds. I also collect vintage Hi-Fi equipment and have a storage unti full of amazing pieces I've collected from nothing but thrift stores. That bring me to my 14060 Submariner.

There is a pawn shop I frequent mostly looking for hi-fi and electric guitar related items. The owner is in a local band and often rotates his own collection through the store so there are usually some high end and unique pieces for sale. Not the usual Made In China student grade instruments found in most pawn shops.

On this day I commented to the owner that I noticed he no longer had any watches for sale in the jewelry case. He told me he will no longer take watches in pawn as last month he two supposedly genuine Breitling in pawn. The Breitling were both sold to someone who also thought these were genuine, had correctly marked ETA moevments, etc. Both watches were sent to Breitling for service and both were confiscated as being fakes. The pawn shop owner had to refund the customers their money and to put it lightly he was not happy.

He told me he had one last watch in the back that he had to sell but he was pretty sure it was a Franken watch of real and fake parts. I asked him to humor me and let me take a look. He brought out a 1999 A series 14060 Rolex Submariner. I knew a thing or two about these watches and other than being a bit too generously polished it looked spot on to me. I coyly asked why he thought it was a fake? He told me that since he was bruned on the Breitlings the only way to tell as fake was to use a digital caliper and measure the thickness, bezel diameter, dial etc. and this one just didn't measure up.... at this moment I turned my ears off as I knew exactly what was going on here. He was measuring the specs of a 14060 against a DATE Sub!!!! He told me that the bracelet was real, the movment was Rolex but everything else just didn't "measure" up. I asked what he wanted for it. He told me $1699.00 and not a penny less. I raced home, got the cash and flew like a bat out of hell back to the shop. I put the watch on, pretended to be very casual about buying this over priced fake from him.

On the way home I went to no less than 3 AD. Tournou, Hamiltons and my local authorized Rolex Repair guy. All three shook their head, called me some choice explitives and told me to enjoy what might be the best score you'll ever get collecting watches.

It hasn't left my wrist in 38 days and won't ever leave if I have anything to say about it. Its not perfect, it needs a new crystal as there are lot of VERY VERY faint scratches, most likely from florida beach sand. The crown on the clasp is heavily worn and needs replacing and the watch has been polished. All problems I can gladly and eagerly forgive.

So, to answer the PM's.... this is how to find a $1,700.00 14060. Easy? Nope. I hit dozens of pawns shops and thrifts every week. Like anything else its a law of averages, that one day I skip....that'll be the day the shop gets a Red Sub and doesn't know what it is....it happens. Really.





And the receipt.