Featured Image Credit: Antiques Roadshow PBS
Topics: Film and TV, Life, Money, US News
Emily Brown
Guests on Antiques Roadshow are always hoping that their items will be worth big money, but it's not often that they collapse when they realize their dreams have come true.
It's not totally unheard of though, as proven by one guest named David; a war veteran who appeared on the show with a Rolex he'd purchased from a base exchange in 1974.
David had enlisted as a member of the Air Force and became an explosives ordnance disposal airman stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
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Towards the end of the war, between 1973 and 1975, David flew on Air America and Continental Airlines and often noticed that pilots were wearing Rolex watches. He also learned that Rolexes were supposed to be good watches for divers, which fit with his interest in scuba diving.
It seemed one of the luxury watches ticked all the boxes, so David decided to splash out $345.97 for a Rolex - almost a month's salary at the time. In today's money, that's approximately $2,290.64, according to Amortization.org.
He ultimately decided the watch was 'too nice to take down in the salty water', so instead of diving with it, he kept it in a safety deposit box.
David kept it safe for 45 years, until he ultimately decided to present it to appraiser Peter Planes on Antiques Roadshow when the show stopped at the Bonanzaville USA history museum complex in West Fargo, North Dakota.
After taking a look at the timepiece, Planes revealed how much a watch 'like' David's would be worth.
According to Planes, at the time the episode was filmed the Rolex could go for as much as $400,000 at auction - a revelation that prompted David to fall to the ground in shock.
Planes checked that David was okay, then revealed he was 'not done yet'.
The appraiser went on to point to all of the documents that David had kept alongside the watch, including its original brochure and warranty paperwork.
All of this worked to increase the watch's value, allowing Planes to value it at between $500,000-$700,000.
"It's one of the rarest Paul Newman models, and in this condition, I don't think there's a better one in the world," Planes said.
David described the number as 'unbelievable', though he at least managed to stay on his feet this time.
"I can't thank you enough for bringing me one of the greatest watches to ever see on Antiques Roadshow," Planes added.