What is the saddest watch story you've heard?

[patek5107]

A good friend of mine and his wife asked my assistance in finding a good (read cheap) local watch store. The wife wanted to buy him a watch for an anniversary present (and had been trying to get him to pick one out for 5 years!) As I was querying them on what he wanted (omigod a Tag Heuer!) I mention that he was really meant for a nice Patek at his age and station in life. (Sorry folks, he knows I love Rolex, but no way would he do the wild thing, Rolex style).

He then mentioned to me that he already had a Patek, it was given to him by his in-laws on the couples wedding day! It had been in a safe deposit box these past (well, somewhere between 25 and 50) years. After I picked my jaw up off the floor I asked him why in the world didn't he wear it. "Oh, I wouldn't have felt comfortable wearing it, what with Patek's being so expensive and all!"

I did get him to promise to take it out of hiding and have it cleaned by a good watchmaker.

But the idea that a watch meant to be worn, to make a statement about the sophistication of the individual wearing it, to give a positive success signal to the people who make or break your working career, instead lying dormant and hidden away.... well, the old adage about not hiding your light under a bushel comes to mind.

Obiously his in-laws knew which signals he should be sending when they gave him that watch, and while he had a good career, how much better might it have been had he sported the secret signal to those in the know that HE knew, he was one of them.

I think it is a waste of any good instrument not to use it. And while that particular Patek will be cherished by the family in rememberance of that special day for generations to come, it's instant promotion from thoughtful wedding present to pedestal'ed icon, without ever seeing a day's work in it's intended purpose of useful business tool, can't help but bring to mind the sad lament "what might have been!"

That's my "sad" story, and I'd love to read any similar experiences that you would care to share.