Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

I brought you my father's Rolex watch. It was something that we found in his estate sale. And I gave it to my husband and said, "Oh, you keep this safe." So we put it away.

APPRAISER

What did your dad do?

GUEST

He was a pipe fitter, but for pleasure he was also a diver.

APPRAISER

So that's how he got a diver's watch, I guess, then. As you know, it's a Rolex stainless steel watch. It's called a Submariner, the model. And this particular one was made in 1950.

GUEST

Oh.

APPRAISER

The dial is all original. We know the band has been replaced on it. But it has a special dial. It says meters first before the feet. They generally did this for the European market. In the American market they would put the feet first. It also has a special feature on it. The guards that protect the crown are pointed. So it's an earlier version of the Submariner, and it's a quite collectible model. I see you have the original box that has part of the paperwork still there on it. Did you have any idea of the value of the piece?

GUEST

I know that Rolexes are a fairly expensive watch.

APPRAISER

Yeah.

GUEST

So I was guessing about $500, maybe $1,000.

APPRAISER

Right, right. I would tell you that this watch in the market today, $12,000 to $15,000.

GUEST

No way!

APPRAISER

Oh, yes way. (laughing)

GUEST

That is so not what I was thinking. Wow.