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Evitzee
·Yeah- there’s your answer of what happened. Now you just need to follow the trail to when and where were they sold
Help: Needle in a haystack search for my in-laws Datejust's
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janice&fred
·This is an exercise in futility, a feel good exercise.
The only chance for them to turn up is if someday the things are offered on Ebay. Those watches are probably long separated, gone through a few owners and now owned by someone clueless to their history.
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Evitzee
·The only chance for them to turn up is if someday the things are offered on Ebay. Those watches are probably long separated, gone through a few owners and now owned by someone clueless to their history.
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STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collectorEven if you did find a dealer that sold them, they wouldn’t divulge who to.
Couple of watches that look like them will save you a fruitless search in my book.
Couple of watches that look like them will save you a fruitless search in my book.
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janice&fred
·And that creates its own problem. Say they have been sold two or three times and the current owner bought them in good faith, who has title to them? The original owner doesn't even know when they went missing, or if they were even stolen, it is quite possible the father-in-law did sell them for whatever reason and never told mama, that kind of stuff happens every day. It's even possible his MIL sold them, didn't tell her hubby, and now feels a bit nostalgic about them, and that's why she really doesn't want to proceed. The mother-in-law would really have no claim to them, there is no reported police report regarding theft. Just having the original box and papers wouldn't prove current ownership. In the very unlikely chance they turn up is the MIL going to repurchase them? This is an exercise in futility.
I agree. The only move the OP could make is purchase the watches from whoever has them, if found. No police report means no crime.
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JwRosenthal
·And that creates its own problem. Say they have been sold two or three times and the current owner bought them in good faith, who has title to them? The original owner doesn't even know when they went missing, or if they were even stolen, it is quite possible the father-in-law did sell them for whatever reason and never told mama, that kind of stuff happens every day. It's even possible his MIL sold them, didn't tell her hubby, and now feels a bit nostalgic about them, and that's why she really doesn't want to proceed. The mother-in-law would really have no claim to them, there is no reported police report regarding theft. Just having the original box and papers wouldn't prove current ownership. In the very unlikely chance they turn up is the MIL going to repurchase them? This is an exercise in futility.
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janice&fred
·Although my suggestion of Ebay is an obvious method to track them down, I remember a story on Hodinkee's "talking watches" where a famous TV chef managed to find his dad's stolen and long lost Omega by keeping an eye on Ebay listings for years. He managed to win the auction and bought his dad's watch back. However, in that particular case the Omega was an unusual model so not many Ebay listed examples had to be scrutinized over the years.
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JwRosenthal
·Although my suggestion of Ebay is an obvious method to track them down, I remember a story on Hodinkee's "talking watches" where a famous TV chef managed to find his dad's stolen and long lost Omega by keeping an eye on Ebay listings for years. He managed to win the auction and bought his dad's watch back. However, in that particular case the Omega was an unusual model so not many Ebay listed examples had to be scrutinized over the years.
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YY77
·It happens today someone posted an unbelievable (literally) story on a local watchforum about his Rolex Submariner.
He bought it new in May '12 wore it once and 3 weeks later couldn't find box and content, it wasn't inshured and after a few days agonizing went on with his life.👎 He found it this week in the attic of his parents' house while cleaning up.
How the hell could someone not have searched every corner in the last place he still had the box and a 6k watch.🤨
I'm not buying it.
He bought it new in May '12 wore it once and 3 weeks later couldn't find box and content, it wasn't inshured and after a few days agonizing went on with his life.👎 He found it this week in the attic of his parents' house while cleaning up.
How the hell could someone not have searched every corner in the last place he still had the box and a 6k watch.🤨
I'm not buying it.
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Evitzee
·Yes, it’s an impossible treasure hunt, but no need to throw a wet blanket on the fantasy quite yet.
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janice&fred
·Everyone seems to know that yet some are still egging him on. Face reality, it ain't gonna happen.
It could be that some of us are just trying to be nice to mask our true thoughts on what really happened to the watches. The mother in law knows but she ain't talkin 😁.
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JwRosenthal
·You assume HE sold them, but perhaps she sold them for her addiction to the ponies and a hot weekend in Atlantic City! 😗
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OneTwo
·Woah! This one got a little momentum, just seeing these all and thank you all for the responses. I'll try and reply to those that I can.
From what I got from her, the hesitation spawned more from the fact that there was no proof of anyone in particular stealing and that my MIL, from the sound of it, still thinks fondly of each of people the had help over the years.
While I get this was said in jest, my FIL was a mentor to me in many ways and I still have an immense amount of respect for the guy and how he handled it all. He was no old guy by any means, was a stand up guy that put his family first, helped build a very successful company out here and unfortunately succumbed to a health condition that had been dormant for some time which reappeared and he then passed within a year later(last year) in his mid-sixties.
Agreed with many of the points above. As mentioned in my original post, there is no interest in involving the authorities for any punitive measures. If we have to file a the police report in order to be able to file the "Rolex Missing Watch Report" so be it. In an ideal world(which I'm fully aware we don't live in) I merely would like to find the exact watches on her behalf to purchase them back and give them to her as a surprise gift.
Ironic thing is my MIL is keen to find the exact one as it is sentimental but is completely aware, as am I, of the almost impossible success. As for another similar reference Rolex I can here her now saying "spend it on my daughter and both of your futures rather than getting me a gift."
To the question of either of them selling the watches my MIL has stated that she definitely never sold them and is 100% sure here husband wouldn't have as he was always very sentimental about the fact that they both, unbeknown to the other, gave each other a watch as a gift on the same Christmas. Additionally, as I understand it, at the time the watches went missing there was no financial instability that would have been the cause for the watches to be sold without the other spouse knowing.
And on the futility of the exercise. I'm very much aware of the slim to nil chances this search proves fruitful. @Evitzee I hear your words of caution and agree with having open eyes about the most likely zero rate chance of success. My hope in creating this thread were twofold. One that someone who had a similar impossible search with a positive outcome shared there experience giving me some hope and maybe a search route to go on. Which many of you have and I am thankful for that! Second hope was to have a place on the web to park the serial numbers in the extremely impossible chance that the current owner of these watches read this and felt the urge to reach out.
Yeah- there’s your answer of what happened. Now you just need to follow the trail to when and where were they sold
Or friends/relatives. Anyone who spent considerable time in the house would be likely candidates. I still say the old man was a degenerate gambler and offed the watches to avoid broken legs. 😁
Any such trail is now over 20 years old, even if they were sold locally to a jeweler or pawnshop they likely aren't going to be remembered by the buyer...OP is more keen for this quest than his MIL, take the lead from her and drop it, she doesn't sound that enthusiastic about it.
The only chance for them to turn up is if someday the things are offered on Ebay...
And that creates its own problem...or if they were even stolen, it is quite possible the father-in-law did sell...It's even possible his MIL sold them...This is an exercise in futility.
I agree. The only move the OP could make is purchase the watches from whoever has them, if found. No police report means no crime.
I agree with you- it is a hopeless endeavor- but the OP knows this and is just doing the mental exercise- which I have no problem entertaining. We (and the OP) all know the reality- they may not just be 5 owners on but may just be scrapped and parted out at this point. Yes, the only realistic option if the MIL wants a Rolex like she had is just track down another one of the same reference- but as you said, she doesn’t seem to jazzed about having a Rolex- she was just waxing about the one she once had. Yes, it’s an impossible treasure hunt, but no need to throw a wet blanket on the fantasy quite yet.
Agreed with many of the points above. As mentioned in my original post, there is no interest in involving the authorities for any punitive measures. If we have to file a the police report in order to be able to file the "Rolex Missing Watch Report" so be it. In an ideal world(which I'm fully aware we don't live in) I merely would like to find the exact watches on her behalf to purchase them back and give them to her as a surprise gift.
Ironic thing is my MIL is keen to find the exact one as it is sentimental but is completely aware, as am I, of the almost impossible success. As for another similar reference Rolex I can here her now saying "spend it on my daughter and both of your futures rather than getting me a gift."
To the question of either of them selling the watches my MIL has stated that she definitely never sold them and is 100% sure here husband wouldn't have as he was always very sentimental about the fact that they both, unbeknown to the other, gave each other a watch as a gift on the same Christmas. Additionally, as I understand it, at the time the watches went missing there was no financial instability that would have been the cause for the watches to be sold without the other spouse knowing.
And on the futility of the exercise. I'm very much aware of the slim to nil chances this search proves fruitful. @Evitzee I hear your words of caution and agree with having open eyes about the most likely zero rate chance of success. My hope in creating this thread were twofold. One that someone who had a similar impossible search with a positive outcome shared there experience giving me some hope and maybe a search route to go on. Which many of you have and I am thankful for that! Second hope was to have a place on the web to park the serial numbers in the extremely impossible chance that the current owner of these watches read this and felt the urge to reach out.
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OneTwo
·Even if you did find a dealer that sold them, they wouldn’t divulge who to. Couple of watches that look like them will save you a fruitless search in my book.
Although my suggestion of Ebay is an obvious method to track them down, I remember a story on Hodinkee's "talking watches" where a famous TV chef managed to find his dad's stolen and long lost Omega...
Saw that one too- amazing story. But as you said, rare model and he was dogged in his search.
It happens today someone posted an unbelievable (literally) story on a local watchforum about his Rolex Submariner. How the hell could someone not have searched every corner in the last place he still had the box and a 6k watch.🤨
Is there a rule of etiquette as to how long an impossible treasure hunt has to go on before somebody slaps the hunter, calls time and tells him the quest is pure fantasy and will come to nought? If it's impossible now it will not get any more possible going forward. This is a romantic exercise, nothing else. Everyone seems to know that yet some are still egging him on. Face reality, it ain't gonna happen.
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OneTwo
·It could be that some of us are just trying to be nice to mask our true thoughts on what really happened to the watches. The mother in law knows but she ain't talkin 😁.
You assume HE sold them, but perhaps she sold them for her addiction to the ponies and a hot weekend in Atlantic City! 😗
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JwRosenthal
·Hahaha that would have made for too good of a story for her to not be excited to tell us about!
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OneTwo
·hahaha no argument there!
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blueteg
·Have you posted the serial number(s) on RolexForums.com ?
It will help with casting a wider net for SEO.
A humble suggestion...if I may: I would simplify the story with providing the background of the watches as it relates to your family and that you're looking to purchase them back. Alluding to the possibility of theft will just cast the wrong type of attention on the thread. I would encourage you to ask forum members there to bump the thread to futher increase the odds that google will pick it up in a search. Good luck!
It will help with casting a wider net for SEO.
A humble suggestion...if I may: I would simplify the story with providing the background of the watches as it relates to your family and that you're looking to purchase them back. Alluding to the possibility of theft will just cast the wrong type of attention on the thread. I would encourage you to ask forum members there to bump the thread to futher increase the odds that google will pick it up in a search. Good luck!
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OneTwo
·Have you posted the serial number(s) on RolexForums.com ?
A humble suggestion...if I may: I would simplify the story with providing the background of the watches as it relates to your family and that you're looking to purchase them back. Alluding to the possibility of theft will just cast the wrong type of attention on the thread. Good luck!
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bananapeanut
·Another option is to list the Rolex papers for both watches on eBay and let the current owners reveal themselves.
