Looking for my lost watch

[joeames]

I had a Rolex Mariner 1963,
I let a friend use it on a trip, in 1972 he fotgot to retun it to me, so stole it. It has my name engraved in the back plate from new, JoeWiltonAmes.
I am 85 now and would like a picture of my first Rolex watch.

[travisb]

Sorry to hear but that sounds like a huge Hail Mary and would need A LOT of more details.
All those years ago, what happened when you tried to contact your so called friend?

[MrMercedes]

Watches, women and money should never be borrowed!!

[996marty]

Sounds like a very big ask

[hojlund]

let go of it.

[1st amg]

Oh boy...this could get interesting

[ChuMpion3]

Welcome to the site. Good luck.

[THC]

Do you still have any papers it came with way back when? (Serial number)

[Calatrava r]

Hope you find what you're looking for. Good reminder never to lend a watch to anybody. Anything can happen, intended or not.

[Krash]

So sorry to hear about this.


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[harvey]

…after 50 years… fuggedaboutit.

[Michael1968]

Originally Posted by MrMercedes

Watches, women and money should never be borrowed!!

This

[OTX]

I witnessed a not so close family member ask his sister if he could borrow her gold chain for a night out. She gave it to him and he never returned it even years later and they fought a lot over it. Another example is a friend of mine asked to see my GMT so I took it off and let him see it. He checked it out and then placed it on the table pretty hard putting a scratch on the side.

The lesson I learned is you can admire my watch as much as you want while it’s on my wrist!…that’s it!. Not lending my watch to anyone!.

[SudiYunus]

Originally Posted by MrMercedes

Watches, women and money should never be borrowed!!

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by MrMercedes

Watches, women and money should never be borrowed!!

and your car and weapon

[Krash]

Originally Posted by OTX

I witnessed a not so close family member ask his sister if he could borrow her gold chain for a night out. She gave it to him and he never returned it even years later and they fought a lot over it. Another example is a friend of mine asked to see my GMT so I took it off and let him see it. He checked it out and then placed it on the table pretty hard putting a scratch on the side.

The lesson I learned is you can admire my watch as much as you want while it’s on my wrist!…that’s it!. Not lending my watch to anyone!.

There is another active thread in the general topics section about letting others wear your watch. Obviously, the guys posting in that thread have never met some of the people in my family (extended family that is).


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[OTX]

Originally Posted by Krash

There is another active thread in the general topics section about letting others wear your watch. Obviously, the guys posting in that thread have never met some of the people in my family (extended family that is).


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Yep!. I have a lot more stories from extended family but I wanted to keep it short. My watch is staying on my wrist :-)

[Pop Art Suzy]

Wow from 1972 you expect to get your watch back? Whatever happened to this so-called friend of yours? I assume you knew where he lived, why not go and get it back?

[DTNSS]

If you ever want to lose a friend, loan him $50 🫢. Anyways, if this is real, if you have the serial number/papers report it stolen to Rolex and maybe might get lucky. Not sure if that works since so much time passed. Otherwise just buy another from that year


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[rootbeer7]

FR bro?

[Polarexplorerii]

Some friend..

[ltmgeller]

Welcome to the forum. It's a big ask. What happened when you contacted the so called friend of yours?

[TunaTuna]

Try the lost and stolen register at Digital Watch Vault. The owner is a stand up guy in the community

[Bxtek]

Sorry to hear about that! Definitely wasn't a friend. I know this is a LONG shot to find it, but I guess it never hurts to ask, as you never know where a piece like that may pop up at.

Just out of curiosity, is this the first time you have tried to seek out your watch since 1972? Or, have you launched efforts before? I am curious on why you didn't really press your "friend" to give it back right after he got back from his trip? Even back then, a watch like that was something of higher value and worth working hard for to get back.

[thesharkfactor]

Get onto Facebook, search for your friend or known relatives, reach out. He can’t hide in the 2020’s.

[garyk]

No response today from Joe?

[Pop Art Suzy]

Originally Posted by garyk

No response today from Joe?

Obviously another one and done.

[nighthawk77]

Sorry to hear, and good luck with your search but I would move on if I were you.

Although you had the watch engraved, there’s a high chance that whoever owns the watch had the case back replaced - assume it will have been serviced in the last 50 years.

Perhaps you have further info on the watch you could share - serial no etc - this may help

[GGGMT]

Joe, I for one stand with you on this quest! Notwithstanding apparently no efforts to previously retrieve the watch, the possible death of the thief in the past 50+ years, the seeming lack of photos, paperwork, or serial number, and the paucity of details as to location of the loan tx or identifiers of the thief, I believe in the power of miracles! If I see this watch, I will alert this thread!


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[77T]

Originally Posted by joeames

I had a Rolex Mariner 1963,
I let a friend use it on a trip, in 1972 he fotgot to retun it to me, so stole it. It has my name engraved in the back plate from new, JoeWiltonAmes.
I am 85 now and would like a picture of my first Rolex watch.

Well Joe, it might’ve looked like this:



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