This Guy's Dive Watch is Worth a Fortune on Antiques Roadshow!

[KathyV]

He was in the US Air Force in Thailand during the Viet Nam War and he spent a month's pay ($345) on a new Rolex "Paul Newman" Oyster Cosmograph Watch that he bought for diving - but he decided that it was too nice to let it get wet and so he put it away and never wore it.

Antiques Roadshow | PBS

 

[Diver below 83]

That’s cool.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Oh man! I'd better dig out my G-Shock!

 

[axluba]

It’s part of the “Paul Newman” type of Daytona which are really highly valued especially since Paul Newman’s one was sold for US$15.5 million (not including the 12.5% fees from the auction house) end of October 2017...

I believe that they were selling for barely a couple of thousands during their production time... edit: 6 time less according to the OP!

If you find one in your attic and it is in any acceptable conditions, with its original parts and you happen to have its papers... congrats, you’re rich!

Other models are also highly valued but the Paul Newman Daytona is the king (at least right now)

 

[KathyV]

It’s part of the “Paul Newman” type of Daytona which are really highly valued especially since Paul Newman’s one was sold for US$15.5 million (not including the 12.5% fees from the auction house) end of October 2017...

I believe that they were selling for barely a couple of thousands during their production time... edit: 6 time less according to the OP!

If you find one in your attic and it is in any acceptable conditions, with its original parts and you happen to have its papers... congrats, you’re rich!

Other models are also highly valued but the Paul Newman Daytona is the king (at least right now)

The owner ordered it through the post exchange at his base in Thailand in 1975 and the price included a 10% discount. He still has the original order form and receipt and he paid $345 - that was a lot of money for him back then - but now it's really worth a lot of money!

 

[Fastmarc]

It's a pretty cool story, for sure. Good for him.
However, being a mechanical watch fan, I would have been wearing that sucker, so it would be in good condition, but worn.

 

[axluba]

It's a pretty cool story, for sure. Good for him.
However, being a mechanical watch fan, I would have been wearing that sucker, so it would be in good condition, but worn.

Not as a dive watch though

 

[Fastmarc]

Not as a dive watch though

Definitely not that watch. If it was a dive watch, it would be though.

 

[axluba]

Definitely not that watch. If it was a dive watch, it would be though.

Agreed! I’m diving my modest dive watches !!

 

[KathyV]

It's a pretty cool story, for sure. Good for him.
However, being a mechanical watch fan, I would have been wearing that sucker, so it would be in good condition, but worn.

That occurred to me, too. It's great that his watch is so pristine that it is now worth so much money - but kind of a shame that he never took the opportunity to wear and enjoy it. He said that he got the watch because the Air America pilots in Thailand during wartime preferred Rolex watches. I guess he just wanted to admire it but not wear it. His job during the war was clearing unexploded ordnance - so I think that he should be admired!