An unexpected surprise

[Dave Grubb]

I have mentioned before that I have a Rolex that I bought many years ago in Hong Kong and I know it has value and I should try to find it.

Well--this morning I had an eye doctors appointment and while I was gone my wife was going through some things in our bedroom. She not only found the the watch but also the original band and all the original documentation, still in it's original green wallet. The papers are the warranty and the certificate of authenticity. I was not sure the documentation even existed anymore.

The date on the CA is April 1963.

I'm going to take it in to get a price on restoring it and then decide how to proceed.

Added in edit: I just called the US Service Center which is on 5th Ave in NYC---but they are only open Monday through Friday so I will have to call again next week.

I had taken this with me to Switzerland with the intent of having the factory work on it. However, they told me that if I left it without the papers I would end up paying duty (as new) on it when they sent it back. Thus, I took it home with me but never took it back to the factory. I am actually excited that this might have a new (or renewed) life.

[FredK]

[Sandman]

AI bought one like that, only with an all black betzel, on Canal Street in x1995.. bought it as a joke .. worked flawlessly for 7 or 8 years .. sold it at a yard sale after I retired and stopped wearing a watch.. a pawn broker once showed me a real Rolex and mine (named the Rolodex) unders a Jewelrs “eye”.. the numerals on the real one looked to be cut out with a razor, mine looked to be painted with a roller!

The Rolodex betzel scratched up terribly..

But it kept excellent time and had the little “shimmy” in the second hand

Note: Canal street goes across lower Manhattan connecting the Holland Tunnel and the Manhattan Bridge.. separating Chinatown and Little Italy.. it used to be lined with shops selling brand name knockoffs

My New York office was a block off of Canal between ChurchSt. and AOA.. Nancy’s Whiskey bar is still across the street, best hamburger and draft beer lunch in New York.. dining area is a loft with a less than 6 foot ceiling!.. it is a great dive!

[Truckman]

Maybe I should test the market on my Omega Speedmaster...Unlike the one linked here, mine is a pre-moon watch, meaning I bought mine before the astronauts carried theirs to the moon in 1969...After that Omega stamped the backs with a gaudy display announcing the government purchase...I bought mine new in 1967 for $95.00...Maybe I can realize a small profit on it after all these years......Ben

[Honda]

Interestingly I saw a story on the antique show that was almost identical to the story posted here with almost The Identical watch with almost identical story wow what a coincidence

[wacojoe]

I have a drawer of watches, some of them expensive, but through the years have devolved to only wearing my Swiss Army “railroad watch” that I can tell the time instantly, and that I have outfitted with a Velcro band I bought at Walmart that I can adjust infinitely to get just the correct tightness so it doesn’t turn on my arm. If I could attach it TO my arm instead of AROUND my arm, that would be ideal.

I’ve thought about an Apple Watch, but I could not see the tiny information there, so that’s out. Utility is all I care about in a watch. It’s a tool. Like a screwdriver on my arm.

[Dave Grubb]

Interestingly I saw a story on the antique show that was almost identical to the story posted here with almost The Identical watch with almost identical story wow what a coincidence

I ignore most of your posts but on occasion I will hit the button----and you seldom disappoint. So---mr jealous---when I get a chance I will post full photographic evidence of everything I spoke of in that thread, including the papers, the wallet, the original band---and the watch---and I will take that picture at a place seen in other pictures that have been posted here----just so your childish jealousy can be exposed once again.

I just noticed the time on your post---at that again, hey

[Dave Grubb]

OK little feller---I didn't want to wait to do this---so here you go---add this to your hang over sonny

That same location was shown in another thread right here in the past week---so---you might be best off to park your childish jealousy.

BTW---if you can see straight yet you might notice the date on the CA--I had mentioned that in the original post---not that you would remember

The next time you want to insinuate that I am lying you can expect another smack down---you might find that not attacking me is your better choice.

I have told you before to use your ignore button---that would help you stop making a jealous fool of yourself like this again. If you need help in figuring that out, just let me know

[LawDog]

I have mentioned before that I have a Rolex that I bought many years ago in Hong Kong and I know it has value and I should try to find it.

Well--this morning I had an eye doctors appointment and while I was gone my wife was going through some things in our bedroom. She not only found the the watch but also the original band and all the original documentation, still in it's original green wallet. The papers are the warranty and the certificate of authenticity. I was not sure the documentation even existed anymore.

The date on the CA is April 1963.

I'm going to take it in to get a price on restoring it and then decide how to proceed.

Added in edit: I just called the US Service Center which is on 5th Ave in NYC---but they are only open Monday through Friday so I will have to call again next week.

I had taken this with me to Switzerland with the intent of having the factory work on it. However, they told me that if I left it without the papers I would end up paying duty (as new) on it when they sent it back. Thus, I took it home with me but never took it back to the factory. I am actually excited that this might have a new (or renewed) life.

I have several friends who have the "Pepsi" model like yours. To get a real value, you would have to take it to a dealer. A good place to find a ballpark is Wingate Watches online. They have a huge selection of Rolex's used, and you can usually find something close to yours.

[Dave Grubb]

I have several friends who have the "Pepsi" model like yours. To get a real value, you would have to take it to a dealer. A good place to find a ballpark is Wingate Watches online. They have a huge selection of Rolex's used, and you can usually find something close to yours.

I have a lot of research still to do before I commit to any restoration "investment".

I have found, in closer scrutiny, that the watch I linked to on eBay (which was visually correct) is a white gold case----mine is a SS case---obviously a different price point!

From Wingate (thank you) I found this, my model is the one on the left:

[Truckman]

From Wingate (thank you)

Ditto that, thanks Steve...I found mine there too, although the one listed is not a pre-moon watch like mine...In fact I'll bet it would be harder still to find a one owner pre-moon watch......Ben

[Dave Grubb]

Ditto that, thanks Steve...I found mine there too, although the one listed is not a pre-moon watch like mine...In fact I'll bet it would be harder still to find a one owner pre-moon watch......Ben

I'm curious Ben, is the pre-moon worth more---kind of like a pre-64 Model 70?

[Truckman]

I'm curious Ben, is the pre-moon worth more---kind of like a pre-64 Model 70?

From what I've seen of values, yes it is, mostly because prior to October 1968 they used the caliber 321 movement...After that date Omega used the caliber 861 movement with fewer parts (cheaper to produce)...Current Speedy's (after 1997) use the caliber 1861 movement which added a jewel to make the operation smoother...The picture below is of the back with the engraving added after NASA chose the Speedy to go to the moon...Mine is a Speedy Pro which is manually wound, and has the larger seahorsie with Speedmaster above and Omega symbol below...Buyers of used pre-moon Speedy's should verify that the movement is caliber 321 like mine because some were produced after 10/68 but before the moon landing with caliber 861 movements...

I'm pretty sure I have the original box and band tucked away in my duffel bag which I haven't unpacked since I got home from overseas in 1969......Ben

[Truckman]

If you want some detail, here's one accounting of the Speedy history......Ben

[wacojoe]

Is the engraving on that one model of Omega’s only? I had an Omega I bought for diving, although I do not know if it was a Speed Master or not. Cost me a couple thousand back in the Eighties, I think. The thing was beautiful, but had a gold face and gold hands, at which you had to stare to read, so I never wore it. It was also gold and kind of clunky, which I don’t like. I don’t remember the engraving, but I ended up giving it to one of my grandsons a couple of years ago, so I can’t check easily. He has a thin wrist like mine and it fit him without the bracelet links I took out and lost.