OT- Sentimental Value

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

mark nowicki

I had my Seiko Chronograph 6139-B "White Helmet"

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f21/vintage-seiko-buying-guide-6139-7100-white-helmet-2706786.html

repaired two years ago, for about the same price by this guy:

http://watchtyme.net/

It is a watch that I bought in Ceuta in 78, my first year in the merchant marine.

My son wears it now.

I remember an article in Playboy about investing $200 vs. spending $200.

Invested at 7%, the money would double in 10 years, spent on a night with a blonde of one's dreams would leave a memory for a lifetime.

Seiko on the Indian Ocean, ( the first and only ship I encountered between Bombay and Aden)

(Message Deleted by Poster)

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

Roy

Well, when I was younger and more stupid than I am now, I bought an Omega Flightmaster probably because it looked nifty with all the dials and knobs. After almost 50 years, I thought it would be nice to refurbish it but then I found out what the approximate cost would be. Much more than I spent on it in the first place. What to do.

Roy

Re: Playboy has articles?

mark nowicki

They even had the Braille edition, not joking.

Personally, I have more memories than money and, at 63, I wonder if I have enough time left....

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

Dick Coers

My story involves two watches that should NOT be repaired. These two watches belong to my Uncle (who I was named after) and my paternal Grandmother. In April, 1942 their home caught fire. The time of the fire is frozen on the watches, based on the position of the hands on the watches. The hands will not move. My Grandmother was in the home, my Uncle Rich and my Dad were outside. I assume the watches were warm and then hit with the fire hose, or just the fire hose and the watches both stopped at the same moment. I cherish the watches as both of them died before I was 9 years old.

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

Barry Irby

When I was a little kid my father promised to buy me a gold watch if I did not smoke when I turned 21. Since he smoked I somehow interpreted this as important. He was also a fan of $10 Timex watches. About once a year I would check to make sure the deal was still on. So, he gave me a Rolex, not gold, but a very tough stainless steel Rolex. Exactly what I wanted. I have worn it everyday for 49 years. I have already lived 3 years longer than my Dad. Smoking took him and my mother.

I told this story to a friend with COPD and he said I should have bought him the watch.

This deal has cost me a fortune. I made the same deal with my two sons and have bought each of them a Rolex.

If the watch needs fixing, I will get it fixed.

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

Virgil Johnson

My dad had a run of the mill Elgin watch (non running) that stayed in his closet for as long as I can remember. 50 yrs at least. It was worth about 50 bucks if it worked. I spent 200 to get it fixed so that I could give it to my brother for a Christmas present. No regrets fixing it. I was able to carry it for a few days before wrapping it.

Re: OT- Sentimental Value *LINK*

Jim Dillon

Barry, tell your sons to hang on to that Rolex! Here is a link to a video that shows a a $425 dollar Rolex now worth $700,000!!. Having said that, I am somewhat suspicious as most Rolex's on ebay sell for $3,000-$5,000. But, hey, I saw it on the internet!

https://www.insider.com/antiques-roadshow-veteran-learns-rolex-is-worth-700000-video-2020-1

As a side note, I actually purchased a Rolex in 1968 for $125. I think it was the cheapest Rolex ever manufactured. But, I was a student at the time and it was a serious investment. Plus James Bond (who I was really into at the time) wore one!!

Still have it, and it runs like a ...Rolex! Jim


http:////www.insider.com/antiques-roadshow-veteran-learns-rolex-is-worth-700000-video-2020-1

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

Barry Irby

I chose the Rolex because a jeweler who did not sell them told me that if I wanted a great watch tough enough to stand up to working in construction I should get a Rolex and not the premium brand watch he carried. It was $325, seemed an enormous amount at the time. OTOH the ones I bought for my sons were a combined total of over $12,000. My son in the army does not wear his daily and certainly not on his two tours. Keeps for the special occasions. My other son works in a company where wearing a Rolex is standard dress. That worked out well.

I find it difficult to believe my $300 watch is really a several thousand dollar watch.

Re: OT- Sentimental Value

AZ in Colorado Springs

"I find it difficult to believe my $300 watch is really a several thousand dollar watch."

That watch (even before it was manufactured) kept you & your sons from a lifetime of smoking. Try counting the savings in cigarettes and medical bills. Try quantifying the value of good health.

That watch is priceless.

Hats off to your dad!

Re: Sentimental Rolex

Hank Knight

My father bought a new Rolex in the late 1950s or early 60s and wore it until he died in 1989. I inherited it. It sat in my dresser drawer until 2011 the I decided to have it serviced and put back into commission. I did some research and the watch turned out to be a Submariner model 5508, AKA the "James Bond watch" that is prized by collectors. The official Rolex service centers no longer carry parts for watches of that age and wouldn't service it. I found a guy in Dallas who is supposed to be one of the world class Rolex gurus. I contacted him and sent the watch to him. He had parts on hand and did whatever was needed to put it in working order, including replacing one of the jewels that was worn. It cost a small fortune, but the value of the watch made it worth doing. I wore the watch for six years, until it needed a routine service. I called the Dallas guy to arrange for him to service it and sent it to him. He quoted a high price for the service and told me that old watches were expensive to maintain because parts were difficult to obtain and expensive. I thought about it for a long time and decided that I would be better off selling the watch. As much as I enjoyed wearing an original "James Bond" collector's watch, the continuing cost of maintaining it was more than I was willing to bear. I ask the Dallas guru if he would broker the watch for me. To my surprise, he offered to buy it himself. We negotiated over there price and settled on terms. He got my classic Rolex. I got a brand new Rolex and a nice 5 figure check that I tucked into my retirement fund. Sometimes economics overcome sentiment. It did for me. I liked the panache of the old Rolex, but I prefer having a newer Rolex of the same style that I can wear without reservation and that can be serviced by Rolex USA for pennies on the dollar compared to to cost of maintaining the collector's watch.