One Submariner rescued. Two went into the garbage!

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Duracuir1

·Jun 22, 2020·Never Used A Kodak

Last year a colleague told me that when he was a boy, he, his brother and dad all bought Rolex watches. He is now in his sixties. He did not know the model but told me he had the boxes, papers and even a little anchor. I figured Submariner and without any further info or photos I made him a solid offer. He told me that the watch had no date complication and that he had it serviced by Rolex (oh no!) in 2000. He assured me that the dial had not been changed but that they had cleaned the movement. Only issue with the watch is that he was so young when he bought it that he had a link removed and does not know where it is. Last week, my colleague told me he was bringing the watch in and that it was a done deal. I’ve got it now and am extremely pleased. I have not looked at the serial number but suspect that it is from the early 1970s and possibly a 5513. Either way, my wrists are not that big and the watch fits. It could be a tad looser however. I love it so much that I asked about his dad and brother’s watches. “They threw them out a long time ago” he replied. By the way, the receipt may be in the booklet, but it’s jammed in there tight and brittle. I am afraid to pull on it! I wonder which landfill holds the two discarded subs...

 

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Archer

·Jun 22, 2020·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

Nice find!

 

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Duracuir1

·Jun 22, 2020·Never Used A Kodak

Oh and I unjammed the booklet. All of this was in there... 5513 it is!

 

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YY77

·Jun 22, 2020

Congrats, still makes me wonder what they where thinking throwing a watch in the garbage.

 

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Dan S

·Jun 22, 2020

Congrats! Looks like a serif dial. Not a big deal to buy a link on eBay.

 

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GuiltunderGlass

·Jun 22, 2020

Serif dial indeed, your estimate on the range of years should be correct (serial should fall roughly in the 2.5M to 4M range).
Love this configuration of 5513 and this is a beautifully example, super jealous!

 

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rkman11

·Jun 22, 2020

Amazing find!!!

But... but... garbage? Rolex??? I mean, even if you’re not a watch person everyone surely knows there is value in Rolex. I just... I can’t think about the other two watches and will instead only focus on your awesome find. For my own sanity!

 

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markie916

·Jun 22, 2020

Lovely creamy yellow patina on that dial. With the paperwork its a real beauty. Great story

 

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Larry S

·Jun 22, 2020·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

A Rolex was still a big investment back then so I must conclude that the seller comes from a family of plutocrats. Great catch!

 

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DaveK

·Jun 22, 2020

Larry S

... I must conclude that the seller comes from a family of plutocrats. Great catch!

 

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eugeneandresson

·Jun 22, 2020

Stuff dreams are made of. The only Rolex I am interested in (but will never find a 1 owner piece like this). Splendid! Congratulations and hope it gives much pleasure...not sure it has yet, but dibs 😀

 

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ATWG

·Jun 22, 2020

Gorgeous Serif dial. I see on the paper the first number starts with a 3, which could be a fit for the dial. Assume the watch will need an overhaul, but everything seems to be there for you.

Nicely done!

 

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Duracuir1

·Jun 22, 2020·Never Used A Kodak

Larry S

A Rolex was still a big investment back then so I must conclude that the seller comes from a family of plutocrats. Great catch!

I was about to look up the meaning of plutocrat but then I saw @davek’s illustration! This truly is an educational site! Thanks @DaveK

 

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Duracuir1

·Jun 22, 2020·Never Used A Kodak

Update. Watch is running perfectly - to the second! I have put it on one of my baseball glove straps until I find a link to extend the bracelet. Thanks @GuiltunderGlass and @Dan S for help with correct link and S/N check. S/N puts it in 1973.

View attachment 1013746 Even better! Black strap with silver stitching that I made last year.

Edited: Jun 22, 2020

 

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Fritz

·Jun 22, 2020

Just before my Dad passed away we were talking watches, he was an old railroader and watches were an important part of his life. Anyway, i asked what happened to the Omega Mom bought him in the mid fifties, a plain gold filled manual wind, I’d love that watch since I was a wee lad, after all it was Dad’s watch. He said he threw it out a couple of years earlier, it had stopped working and one of my brothers had bought him a nice “railroad” style quartz watch that was amazingly accurate. I was pretty sad about that but what can you do.

about a year later we moved Dad into a senior’s residence and I found the old Omega in his stuff. Pleased as hell I turned it over to my watchmaker who had it running like new in no time. Unfortunately Dad passed just before it was done so he never saw it running again, but it takes pride of place in my collection!

 

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ExpiredWatchdog

·Jun 23, 2020

I wonder how many "Throw Away"s are just "I forgot where I put it"? Going through my dad's stuff, we found a .38 caliber pistol with a patent number from the 1800s. He never mentioned it and it wasn't in a place that would have been useful from a home defense standpoint. I wonder if he even knew where it was in his last days?

 

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JimInOz

·Jun 23, 2020·Melbourne Australia

YY77

Congrats, still makes me wonder what they where thinking throwing a watch in the garbage.

Why not. It was just a watch that may have stopped working or they just didn't like.

It was in the age before the output of the Rolex advertising machine became embedded in the subconscious lobes of the human brain.

 

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YY77

·Jun 23, 2020

JimInOz

Why not. It was just a watch that may have stopped working or they just didn't like.

It was in the age before the output of the Rolex advertising machine became embedded in the subconscious lobes of the human brain.

Still, throwing away is such a definitive step to take. Don't know whether it can be put on that age as for example the Rolex from that veteran was supposedly never worn and stored till it turned up in a TV show recently.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Jun 23, 2020

Incredible catch! As said-this is the thing watch collector dreams are made of. It yet again is another example of why “small talk” with work colleagues, friends of friends- etc can be so important.
A friend of mine was at a dinner party and the topic of vintage stereo came up (conveniently as it was one of his and my hobbies). Someone at the table he didn’t know mentioned his father was a contractor and had a system he had pulled from and embassy in DC 20 years ago and just threw it in his basement. Turns out it was a pair of Klipschorns and a full compliment of Scott tube equipment- I have the Klipschorns in my living room now.
And second in line dibs.

 

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STANDY

·Jun 23, 2020·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

JimInOz

Why not. It was just a watch that may have stopped working or they just didn't like.

It was in the age before the output of the Rolex advertising machine became embedded in the subconscious lobes of the human brain.

Bought a 18k Longines watch off a guy at work who got it as a 25 year watch and didn’t like it and had it in a draw since the day he got it.
Only mentioned it when he heard I was into watches, said I could have it for $200.
Paid him $400 and sold it that weekend for a few $$s more.
(2001 gold was only $400 a ounce)

I would say a lot of people get watches they don’t like each year.