The year was 1974. A pilot in the Vietnam War, who was stationed in Thailand, decided to invest $345 (which was nearly his monthly salary) into a Rolex Oyster Cosmograph watch. Adjusted for inflation puts that total to approximately $1,275.
After noticing fellow pilots wearing Rolex watches, he became inspired to own the illustrious timepiece. In addition, his love for scuba diving coupled with Rolex’s reputation as an ideal watch for divers, cemented his desire to make the purchase.
This is where “fate” intervened. After making the purchase, he determined the watch was too nice to take in the depths of salt water, opting to instead preserve its condition by stashing it in a safety deposit box for 45 years.
Fast forward to 2022, the man decided to showcase his beloved watch on the TV series “Antiques Roadshow” and was literally floored by what happened next. Appraiser Peter Planes, told the man that not only did he take meticulous care for the watch, but this Rolex was a Paul Newman model, and likely in the best condition than any other in the world. He then estimated the worth to be upwards of $700k!
