I was gifted an old watch by my uncle decades ago – I was startled when Antiques Roadshow told me it’s worth $50k

A MAN has discovered his family heirloom was worth thousands more than it was initially bought for.

A guest on Antiques Roadshow brought a watch he was given by his uncle to get appraised by host Peter Planes, only to find out that his watch was worth a jaw-dropping $50,000.

Antique Roadshow PBS

Antique Roadshow PBS

Antique Roadshow PBS

The guest brought a Rolex watch purchased in the 1960’s for less than $300.

“It was a gift given to me by my uncle back in 1975,” the guest said.

“He purchased it from Tiffany’s in New York…right before I was going to go to college he noticed I didn’t have a watch on my wrist. He literally took the watch off his wrist and gave it to me.”

The man said his uncle was a physician who traveled to Amsterdam for work.

When asked why the uncle chose to buy that specific Rolex, the GMT-Master, the guest said he had no idea.

“Unfortunately he passed away a few years back, but he was always one of those people who always liked the newest things.

“I had no idea [it was a Rolex]. I sat down on a plane on time and I was next to a jeweller. He asked me how I liked my GMT-Master, and I had no clue what he was talking about until he goes, ‘Oh you’re Rolex,’” the guest said.

Planes continued to ask the man about his vintage watch, and the guest said he’d never taken it off.

The man said he’s worn the watch almost every day for 40 years.

A couple of years back he tried to get the Rolex serviced, to help fix some minor problems that happened over time.

When asked what the Rolex dealer told the guest when he tried to get it serviced, the man revealed that if he were to have the watch fixed it would’ve changed everything.

“About 18 months to two years ago I took it in to get it serviced at a Rolex dealer.

“The person at the jewelry store told me that if I did take it in to Rolex to get serviced, they would remove the face, put a new face on the watch, and then keep the old face. I didn’t want to do that so I took it to a different watch repair shop.”

Planes informed the guest that the reason Rolex removes and keeps the old parts from a watch is to avoid counterfeit watches from being made.

“[Criminals] can take a real dial and put it on a fake watch,” Planes said.

“In this case I’m glad you didn’t change the parts on the watch.”

Antiques Roadshow best finds

Antiques Roadshow has helped people put a price on their treasures since 1979. Here are some of the most interesting finds

• A hand-me-down ring that had been in the family for generations was valued at $595,000
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• A Rolex that cost just $120 is now worth $45,000

Planes asked the guest why he chose not to refurbish the watch, and the man pointed out the unique watch face.

His Rolex not only had the Rolex logo on it but the Tiffany and Co logo, a rare double branding.

“It was especially interesting to me that the watch was purchased at Tiffany’s…and I knew that if they replaced it, it wouldn’t have [the logo].”

The Rolex GMT-Master the guest owned was made around 1963-1964 and was most likely bought between $275 to $350, Planes estimated.

The host noted that if the guest were to have had the watch serviced then it would be worth around $10,000-$12,000.

“I’m very happy that you did not have it serviced. Collectors like things totally original…Today in the retail market your watch is worth $50,000,” Planes told the guest.

The man was shocked as he responded, “Good grief!”

“That is absolutely stunning to me.”