This Rolex, bought for 90 dollars, sell for 250,000 dollars at auction

Oct 26, 2020,23:28 PM
 

From VOGUE


Gardiner Houlgate has just auctioned off an ultra rare watch that belonged to a British coal miner: the Rolex Submariner “Explorer Dial”.

56 years ago, for his fortieth birthday, a coal miner from Nottinghamshire, England bought a Rolex Submariner “Explorer Dial” 5512 for a whopping $ 90. After his disappearance in 1995, the watch was passed on to his daughter and son-in-law. How did this Rolex, bought for 90 dollars, explode the auction and be sold for 250,000 dollars?

A unique watch
The owner of this watch was part of what are known as the Bevin Boys, those young Britons enlisted to work in the coal mines of the United Kingdom from 1943 to 1948 in order to skyrocket the rate of coal production. , weakened during the Second World War. Why is this time stamp so valuable? Because it is equipped with an explorer dial 3-6-9, extremely rare, produced only at the beginning of the 60s. All the more so as few watches of this type survive with their original dial. The lot also included photographs of the owner wearing his precious Rolex Submariner “Explorer Dial”. One thing is certain, this watch has stoked the fever of collectors as it should.

Images are from : © Courtesy of Gardiner Houlgate











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Fascinating story, thanks for sharing. [nt]

 
 By: westrop : October 26th, 2020-23:34
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;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : October 26th, 2020-23:57
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I understand why this watch is so rare and the auction price is high... BUT....

 
 By: descartes1 : October 27th, 2020-05:51
Would anyone else be worried about paying so much with the hands deteriorating like this. Isnt it just a matter of time until that lume flakes off and then what will the devaluation be? Also, I am no expert whatsoever about this reference but I can’t help... 
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