Vet Goes On 'Antiques Roadshow' To Get Rolex Appraised And Falls Over After Learning Its Value

Feb 12, 2020 by apost team

It happened on the Antiques Roadshow. The guest, a veteran, on the program was so overwhelmed by the estimated value of their treasure, he fell to the ground from surprise. It occurred when the show was being filmed in Fargo, North Dakota.

The man was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He brought his old Rolex watch to the show to get it appraised. It was a 1971 Rolex Oyster Cosmograph. At the time, he intended to wear it when he went scuba diving. The man purchased the watch in November 1974 and paid approximately $345.97 for it. This was his entire salary for a month during this time.

He ordered it through the Air Force base exchange. After the man purchased the Rolex watch, he never wore it. He felt it was much too nice to take down into the salty water, so he put it inside a safety deposit box. The watch sat inside the safety deposit box for four decades. He stored it there to keep it in pristine condition, reports Inside Edition.

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The make and model of the Rolex brought to the Antiques Roadshow by the man was extremely rare. The veteran was able to provide the people on the show with the original packaging, warranty paper, receipts as well, as brochure describing the watch. The name of the appraiser was Peter Planes.

He was extremely impressed by the Rolex. He told the veteran during the show it was an absolutely fabulous find. This Rolex is one of the rarest Paul New models. Planes was also very impressed with the condition of the watch. He stated he didn't think there was a better Rolex of this make and model in the world.

Peter Planes carefully appraised the veteran's Rolex and initially told the veteran the Rolex model was worth about $400,000. This caused the veteran to fall back in shock. His legs flung upward. The best was yet to come. Planes was about to tell the veteran even better news.

The man was able to provide such complete documentation for the watch like its original foil sticker on the back and more, the video chronicles. This makes it extremely well preserved and essentially unused. Planes told the veteran the value of the watch combined with its documentation had a value between $500,000 and $700,000. The response to the revised valuation had to be bleeped from the broadcast. It is considered one of the greatest watches ever seen on the show.

An executive producer for the Antiques Roadshow said the Rolex watch met the appraisal trifecta, reports CNN. It was a very rare item that came with a good personal backstory. When this is combined with the original documentation, it becomes a fantastic find.

What is your thought on this wondrous find and the veteran's comical response to his discovery? This is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face. Be sure to send links of this article and video to your friends and family to share the joy.