Rolex Found...

[GBJIV]

My good friend is here visiting today. He told me his brother-in-law found a Rolex - not sure yet what model. Apparently, on the back it is engraved "For 30 years of service" or something to that effect.

Someone has to be just sick over losing this.

I have asked my friend to convince his brother-in-law to allow me to take it to the Service Center in Beverly Hills next week. I live about an hour away. If he says okay - does TRF think it would be a good idea? Will they accept it and perhaps look at serial number - see if it has been serviced before? Maybe they will have a name and an address?

I can't imagine how relieved this person would be to get it back.

Any other ideas?

Thanks all.

[Andad]

IMO, taking it to Rolex would be a great gesture.

I am sure that they could track down the owner.

[swatty]

Thats sounds like a great idea. Very nice gesture . Thats why I like TRF, so many nice people here

[GBJIV]

I just hope this guy is up for doing the right thing with it... I am going to be so bummed if he has other ideas for it - keeping it - selling it.

I have met him before. I will see if I can call him tomorrow - get more details. If I get a hold of it - I will post pics - see if anybody can help me with authenticity. I would hate to get that up to Beverly Hills and have them tell me it's fake. With an engraving though - I have to believe it's real.

[astcell]

Call the local police as well and report it to them.

[astcell]

Originally Posted by GBJIV

With an engraving though - I have to believe it's real.

Which begs the question, "What do you get someone for a retirement gift who has been making fake Rolexes for 30 years?"

[0luke1]

A Harmilton or pehaps a Patik Phillip.

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by GBJIV

My good friend is here visiting today. He told me his brother-in-law found a Rolex - not sure yet what model. Apparently, on the back it is engraved "For 30 years of service" or something to that effect.

Someone has to be just sick over losing this.

I have asked my friend to convince his brother-in-law to allow me to take it to the Service Center in Beverly Hills next week. I live about an hour away. If he says okay - does TRF think it would be a good idea? Will they accept it and perhaps look at serial number - see if it has been serviced before? Maybe they will have a name and an address?

I can't imagine how relieved this person would be to get it back.

Any other ideas?

Thanks all.

Very nice gesture. Rolex doesn't alway have the data of who owns which watch. They can authenticate for you. If it is a genuine Rolex, thne a Lost and found ad may help more.

[jdc]

Great to hear you want to do the right thing

[marshallr47]

Hopefully you can find it's rightful owner. Great gesture and good luck.

[Jimbits76]

Taking it back is the only gesture.

Imagine how despondent any of us would feel if we lost one of ours!

On the flipside, imagine how overjoyed you'd be if somebody returned it to you when you thought all hope was lost of ever seeing it again.

I'm sure your buddy's brother in law will be rewarded for his honesty one way or another in the grand scheme of things.

J

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

Taking it back is the only gesture.

Imagine how despondent any of us would feel if we lost one of ours!

On the flipside, imagine how overjoyed you'd be if somebody returned it to you when you thought all hope was lost of ever seeing it again.

I'm sure your buddy's brother in law will be rewarded for his honesty one way or another in the grand scheme of things.

J

Agreed.....taking it back would be a terrific, honest gesture and so worthy of any dedicated TRF member!!

[stevemulholland3]

I must agree with the combined wisdom of the board.
imagine all the good karma points you will rack up!!
it should erase some pretty bad deeds,lol.

[Brushpup]

Please keep us posted on this.

PTB

[BigHat]

I think it would be a good down payment for some good karma coming his way.

[MikeV]

I think Rolex would only know who the watch belongs to if the original owner reports it lost/stolen and provide Rolex with the ser. number. I do agree with everyone though..i remember when I was a kid on vacation with my parents and I lost my wallet with 200bucks in it. When I was searching the beach, someone actually came up to me and asked if I lost a wallet. x100 the happy feeling if you lost and got back ur Rolex

[GBJIV]

I will give an update as soon. Thanks for all of the thoughts on this.

[Leighton]

Three cheers for Jackson!!!

[Terry Newton]

When in doubt; do the right thing.

I had a bad situation the other day happen to me. I told a few friends about it but kept it at that. I chose to take the high road and let it go. Life is too short to carry grudges. In the end everybody has a good side and a bad side. Sometimes people activate one or the other in us and, we in them. There still is basically a good person there.

I hope the guy does the right thing.

Terry Newton

[GBJIV]

Okay TRF here is the latest.

My buddy and I drove over to see the "Found Rolex" - a Yellow Gold Day Date. The individual had found the watch at a self serve car wash. The watch was sitting on a curb. The owner evidently removed the watch while washing their vehicle. The guy who found the watch returned the next couple of days to see if there was a note or some sort or an indication that somebody was looking for the lost watch. After a couple of days, he gave up and decided that it would probably not be possible to find the owner.

He began to wear the watch and consequently did not know that the winding crown was unscrewed. He wore the watch into a jacuzzi allowing water to enter. When I inspected the watch I did not see water under the crystal - However, the individual indicated that there was water under the crystal - he left it outside to dry. So, there is definitely water damage in the case.

When I held the watch - it felt lighter than I would have expected. I of course was wondering the whole time if the watch was authentic. It does have a beautiful look to it and appears to be genuine. I am new to Rolex so, I will need the help of the experts on TRF to validate. I began to think that maybe the links are hollow - therefore making it seem lighter. Unlike my sport rolexes with solid links - definitely a "lighter" feel to it.

He allowed me to take the watch with me - however, he has not given his blessing as of yet for me to take it to the RSC for an attempt to return it to the rightful owner. He did give me permission to take it to an AD and try to authenticate. Not sure right now if his motivation might be to sell it or perhaps try to get a reward. Now, at a minimum it will need to have some money invested into it to get it back into working order. Anybody have any idea what value it might have in it's current state?

I attempted to take several pictures. - I apologize that they are not the greatest - still working on being able to photograph timepieces. The engraving on the back says - "KENDALL 35 Yrs of Service 1976 USGS" (Which I assume means U.S. Geological Survey - but I could be wrong)

I sincerely hope to help get it back to its owner. Obviously, there is only so much that I can do. Thought I would at least give TRF the latest update. Hopefully, the following link will work to view pictures.

http://s326.photobucket.com/albums/k407/Quest4Rolex/

Assuming this person retired after 35 years in 1976 - I believe this would make the owner quite old - maybe too old to still be alive. So, this watch may be worn by somebody that inherited it or somebody that had purchased it along the way. Thoughts?

Thanks,

[Lol-x]

I don't think it looks genuine.
I don't think Rolex ever released this model with a flat bezel as shown.
Also the fonts in the day and date windows look un-Rolexlike to me.

[MikeV]

Did Rolex make that type of clasp in the 1970's and also I though the links from that era was hollow. Looks solid in the pic

[GBJIV]

Other note, Second hand is not running well - i think due to water?? However, when it runs - it is not as smooth as I would think it should be. Certainly not as smooth as my newer models. I have learned on the forum that tick tick appearance means fake. Has Rolex always had smooth movement? Or could older ones be less smooth (does that make sense?) It is not completely tick tick - just not Rolex smooth... I think I can only get away with this description on TRF....lol (I am learning a lot from TRF - Sure love being a part of it)...

I think I would feel relief if it was not authentic. Not sure why - I believe something very symbolic and personal like an engraved watch does not have to be real to matter necessarily - Maybe value is measured in other ways.... However, we all know the amount of money we invest - either way, I will do what I can to get it back to owner.

Thx....

[Phill (UK)]

I think that is a great gesture on your part, however if you do take that watch to any RSC they will probably destroy it.

Such a shame that someone was given a fake watch after 30 years' loyal service.

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by Phill (UK)

I think that is a great gesture on your part, however if you do take that watch to any RSC they will probably destroy it.

Such a shame that someone was given a fake watch after 30 years' loyal service.

I agree.....even the end link looks like it's peeling down to the steel??? Bring it to a jeweler..to open it up....if it's fake...who cares anyway...it's not waterproof..........obviously!


Google Kendall USGS and 1976...you'll find one in Menlo Park Ca.....but I don't know where in Ca. your friend found the watch....

[f16570]

What a sad end to a great story.

[Skippy]

Won't it be a good idea to try to contact the USGS to see if they gave this sort of watch to employees in the first place. Maybe they also keep records of it and know more about Kendall in combination with the 35years of service 1976.

[arttay10]

Originally Posted by f16570

What a sad end to a great story.

I agree - I got right into this story, hoping for a happy ending !!

It look like if your friend was having second thoughts... and not wanting to return it - he'd be getting his 'just' rewards.

[dkpw]

The Rolex coronet on the crown is too fat, plus there are many other signs of fakery. I wouldn't spend any money or time on it. It's a found watch and so should be handed in to the police just in case someone has reported it lost.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by dkpw

The Rolex coronet on the crown is too fat, plus there are many other signs of fakery. I wouldn't spend any money or time on it. It's a found watch and so should be handed in to the police just in case someone has reported it lost.

Very eloquently put