Antiques Roadshow expert leaves army vet | TV Shows

A army veteran visitor on Antiques Roadshow US was left surprised when he found the true worth of his “very collectible” Nineteen Sixties Rolex watch.

Antiques expert Peter Planes welcomed the army veteran to the PBS show, who had introduced his 1960 GMT Master Model Rolex for appraisal.

The visitor explained how he acquired the watch, saying, “I brought my Rolex GMT Master that I bought 55 years ago.

“I bought it in Germany in Zweibrucken at a PX while I used to be serving in the army there,” reports The Express.

“I purchased the watch just before I returned to the States. My sergeant really helpful that before I got here back to the States, buy a Rolex watch.

“He believed it was the best watch ever made. And he said ‘make sure you get one before you go home’ and this is the one I liked,” the army veteran continued.

He added that he hadn’t “heard or seen” a Rolex before and now views it as more of a “keepsake”, often carrying his “cheap watch,” and saving the Rolex for particular events.

Planes expressed his pleasure about the merchandise and famous that it was the “first model GMT Master that Rolex ever made.”

He then admired how his visitor had not only saved the watch in immaculate condition but also preserved the unique box, papers, gross sales receipt, dangle tags, and authentic brochure.

When questioned about his resolution to protect every part, the veteran merely replied: “I don’t know. I’m just lucky, I guess.”

The timepiece was created during the opening quarter of 1960 and, based on his buy receipt, the visitor acquired it in April 1960.

He had bought two timepieces, one for his father costing $104 at the time, which “wasn’t as special,” and the Rolex for $120.

“It was a lot of money. My salary in the army was just under $100 a month,” the visitor revealed.

Planes could not control his enthusiasm any longer as he revealed: “I’m very pleased to tell you that this watch today at auction is a very, very collectible watch.

“Just the watch on its own advantage can be price today between $35,000 and $45,000. But this watch is price a lot more.

“Because you saved the box and all the paperwork for it, easily today it’s $65,000 to $75,000 in the market.”

The army veteran was left almost speechless, clearly shocked by the unbelievable valuation.

He responded: “Wow. I had no idea. I’m speechless. If you would have told me $1,500, I would have been happy.”

Antiques Roadshow US is accessible to watch on PBS.