A REAL Special Forces Watch......

[Beef]

I found this on a Special Forces forum that I belong to. The watch is for sale on ebay by the Green Beret's son. I think that he is very optimistic about the price.... It's a 1965 GMT 1675, which is by far the most common Rolex worn by Special Forces in Southeast Asia. It looks like it has a newer bracelet and maybe service replacement hands and dial. The back is engraved with the captsin's name. I think it's sad, but, not for me to say.

http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=231236518208#

[Cesium133]

Love the poses in the ad. Tough watch for a tough Green Beret.

[jjnd08]

Cool ad. But unrealistic asking price.

[ltmgeller]

Great story, but that watch belongs in the family.

[Wesley Crusher]

I really hope that the seller is strapped for cash and is selling the watch out of necessity. If my dad gave me a watch like that, I'd cherish it.

[Beef]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

I really hope that the seller is strapped for cash and is selling the watch out of necessity. If my dad gave me a watch like that, I'd cherish it.

I agree, Wes. Especially since he seems so proud of the watch in the photos.Some of the guys on that forum checked out his FB pages. It seems that he's just after the cash. But, it's his watch to with as he pleases.

https://www.facebook.com/ron.torbert

[Flyjet601]

Did an early 1675 have the tall coronet crown?

[tkerrmd]

Sad

[handsfull]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

Sad

Can we add 'Tragically'....

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by Beef

I agree, Wes. Especially since he seems so proud of the watch in the photos.Some of the guys on that forum checked out his FB pages. It seems that he's just after the cash. But, it's his watch to with as he pleases.

https://www.facebook.com/ron.torbert

Like you said, it's his watch and he can do whatever he wants with it. I'm sentimental so it's hard for me to imagine somebody doing that, but what can you do...

[elcompa]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

I really hope that the seller is strapped for cash and is selling the watch out of necessity. If my dad gave me a watch like that, I'd cherish it.

My thoughts exactly. However, I don't what the boys relationship is/was with his father...nor his opinion.

On the face of it, it seems sad and disrespectful. Then again, the kid could simply be an ungrateful ass. Who knows?

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by handsfull

Can we add 'Tragically'....

x 2 . . .

But maybe or probably it's just a watch for the kid

Reading posts on TRF and trying to get the big bucks . . .

HAGOne

[up2nogood]

Not everyone has fond memories of their father, and it wouldn't be the first guy I've heard of selling a family members watch. And this guy has over 7,000 ebay trades under his belt, so he obviously sells hard.
Kudos to him. He doesn't want it, he sells it. If someone's silly enough to pay that much, ain't his fault.

[sierra11b]

Great photos and thanks for sharing, Beef.

Hopefully the price is a reflection of the seller simply testing the waters with the realization nobody will bite and that he will keep it.

Although the SF Capt. he clearly loved his watch, people tend to forget that watches may not mean much to them. I sold a lot of my Granddad's stuff because he had SO MUCH and all proceeds went to my then alive Grandma so she could enjoy herself in her remaining years. He was retired post office as well as military and had a collection of stamps me and my cousin sold for tens of thousands for her...We sold it for a song to the buyer but he was a collector and we simply were not! Glad we did because his inventory would have taken years to sell and it would have been too late for her. I kept the good stuff along with his medals, journals, etc. Maybe this is the seller's intention and we can't see it being WIS? I hope so anyway...

[nickb732]

Hope he keeps it eventually...

[77T]

Curious about this 1675.
I get the fact a Green Beret Capt. owned it but just can't see why this makes it worth $12K

[Token74]

Originally Posted by 77T

Curious about this 1675.
I get the fact a Green Beret Capt. owned it but just can't see why this makes it worth $12K

Agree entirely. I completely understand why it would have a significance to a family, but not to anyone else. Can't see the price being met.

[sierra11b]

I think beef posted this as a comparison to the SAS watch thread.

[mjclark32]

I hope no one bids and he keeps it, what an heirloom

[s4dan]

I inherited my dads red sub after he passed away. He was in the forces; Parachute regiment and Military Corrective Training Centre (Glass house - naughty service personnel went there for beastings). Dad wore his sub every day and now I do the same. There's an unbreakable attachment to him through this special watch, it's as if his heart is still beating within the workings of the movement. Even if I was down to my last penny/cent I still wouldn't part with it...I just couldn't do it.

[mikkemus23]

Should be kept in the family

[SUBversive]

The price seems to reflects sentimental value for sure. So given that I agree with most that the watch should be kept in the family.

[locutus49]

Let me say from direct knowledge that SF and other elite Army guys wore various kinds of Rolexes (it is true they liked rolexes, and we got them cheap at the Post Exchange). The first solid gold presidential I ever saw was worn by a colleague. I went for the TT DJ.

To me, the watch only has sentimental value to the family. No additional value to anyone else, unlike an association watch worn by a famous person. Just my opinion.

[Beef]

Originally Posted by sierra11b

I think beef posted this as a comparison to the SAS watch thread.

Exactly my point! In the other thread, several people made observations that the watch wasn't used operationally, just a souvenir, basically. This watch was used operationally, with in country pictures to prove it. Based on the photos, CPT Tolbert was assigned to an SF A camp based on the LLDB pocket hanger. And he served with the 1st Cav during the Ia Drang battle period, ( "We Were Soldiers Once") since he wears an Airborne tab above his Cav combat patch. Do I think that it's worth $12,500? No. Maybe a small premium over the going rate with the pictures thrown in. How much? This would have to be determined by the buyer, who would have to have a specific interest in military related items.

I am of a sentimental bent, like Wesley and believe that the watch should stay in the family. But, like Sierra11B stated, sometimes you have to make hard choices to deal with reality.

To compare the SAS watch to the previously posted SRR watch, the SRR edition photos showed the Rolex warranty card which clearly had "Special Reconnaissance Regiment" stamped on the buyer line. And these were stated to be awards for meritorious service, not for sale. I have not seen one offered or photographed since that thread.

[kilyung]

Never mind the price, this guy should be spanked for even thinking about selling his dad's watch IMO.

[Whistlepig1]

Unless his dad wasnt a good dad...I had a mom like that.
Wouldnt want anything of hers in my home.
Bottom line...we dont know the whole story.

S.
j

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by Whistlepig1

Unless his dad wasnt a good dad...I had a mom like that.
Wouldnt want anything of hers in my home.
Bottom line...we dont know the whole story.

S.
j

That's another possibility

That our Green Beret was a bully . . .

HAGOne

[ltmgeller]

According to his Facebook page he loved his dad, and the seller was a Marine. I don't get it. If it were me, I'd never let the watch leave the family. The guy has a nice vette, he should sell that and keep the GMT. I guess he has his reasons.

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by sierra11b

I kept the good stuff along with his medals, journals, etc. Maybe this is the seller's intention and we can't see it being WIS? I hope so anyway...

That's an interesting thought. I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't really care about watches, though that's blasphemy around here.

[brettpaul]

I want what's he's drinking if he thinks 12.5k will happen in this lifetime!