Appearing on Antiques Roadshow with a long gray beard and a camouflage headband holding back his hair, A US Air Force veteran, only identified as David, was shocked to learn how much the Rolex watch he had purchased in 1973 at a base Post Exchange (PX) was now worth. It wouldn't be a exaggeration to say that he was floored when appraiser Peter Planes informed him that his watch could now fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. He bought the watch for $345, which was about one month's salary at the time.
Back in the 1970's, David's draft number was 7. Knowing he would be drafted, he decided to enlist in the Air Force and serve as a explosive ordnance specialist. While stationed in Thailand, he became interested in SCUBA diving and heard that Rolex watches were great for such outdoor activities. He purchased a Rolex Oyster Cosmograph at the Post Exchange but ended up feeling it was too nice to take SCUBA diving and never actually wore it.
Taking his watch to the popular PBS show Antiques Roadshow, Planes explained to David that he had an extremely rare watch made more so by the fact that he had kept it in pristine condition and had also saved all of the paperwork that came with it. When he told him that a watch like this would normally sell at auction for $400,000, David fell down in disbelief.
"Don't fall, I'm not done yet," the appraiser informed him.
Because David's watch was in such good condition and included all the paperwork, it could sell at auction for somewhere between $500,000 to $700,000. David was visibly stunned by the revelation.
"Thank you for bringing me one of the greatest watches seen on Antiques Roadshow and thank you very much for your service," Planes told the nearly speechless Vietnam veteran.