WG 116519 lost in Beijing

[BASSETHOUNDS]

This is a horror story : I just got my uncle on the phone and he told me that earlier on about 19h local time in the Yansha district of Beijing he realized his WG 116519 was gone . He is pretty sure he still had it when he got out of the "Taxi" and when he checked his wrist at the hotel it was no longer there . He did go back on his steps but NO Rolex laying waiting on the floor for him . Some lucky bugger has a free WG Daytona tonight . Most likely the strap had come of the lugs or at the clasp . I guess I know where he will go on his stop in Hong Kong this weekend ... He seemed OK about it , I'd be gutted like hell . Couldn't happen to me .... haven't got a 116519 . What a bastard ! Has anybody else had the misfortune to loose a Rolex like that ?

[mic6]

sounds horrible...

i am sorry for your uncle

[Watch Professor]

Terrible event. Was he sure that it wasn't stolen? Thieves have been known to slice the strap.

[siggen7]

That is terrible! It is very strange that the band come loose. I have never heard about a Rolex band that brake without a realy hard knock. I am sorry for your unckel lost.

[dukester]

Uh oh.....I don't even want to imagine what I would feel like if I lost one of my watches!!

[newmedia]

I hope it was insured, The leather strap is less secured than bracelet.

What can he do now, nothing!

[moviefreak]

Sorry for his loss...

[Gerardus]

Sorry indeed, this is horrible.

[anonymousmoose]

One of my worst nightmares... I am sorry to hear. And such an expensive watch too.

I am sure there is a very happy Chinaman at the moment. But its likely whoever picked it up will think its a fake and who knows where it will end up.

BTW; my wife is from Beijing, very interesting city. Even though its such a horrible experience I hope your uncle can try to enjoy his stay there.

[kcmo]

Wow, that is HORRIBLE. I also hope it was insured.

[anonymousmoose]

Originally Posted by Watch Professor

Terrible event. Was he sure that it wasn't stolen? Thieves have been known to slice the strap.

That is likely. Although I have never had any problems in China. I do take precautions. I split my money between two front pants/jeans pockets. Putting smaller 'spending' notes into one pocket and keeping larger bills in the other. I never leave my wallet in the back pocket and use a money clip. I was caution the first time going there with my Omega SMP on but I just couldn't take it off (its my favourite watch) and never had an issue.

[submariner16610]

i'm sorry to hear that..

[newmedia]

Originally Posted by anonymousmoose

That is likely. Although I have never had any problems in China. I do take precautions. I split my money between two front pants/jeans pockets. Putting smaller 'spending' notes into one pocket and keeping larger bills in the other. I never leave my wallet in the back pocket and use a money clip. I was caution the first time going there with my Omega SMP on but I just couldn't take it off (its my favourite watch) and never had an issue.

I do the same thing when I travel to other countries and take my travel watches, never take expansive items while traveling outside US.


and timex digital watches as back up.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BASSETHOUNDS

This is a horror story : I just got my uncle on the phone and he told me that earlier on about 19h local time in the Yansha district of Beijing he realized his WG 116519 was gone . He is pretty sure he still had it when he got out of the "Taxi" and when he checked his wrist at the hotel it was no longer there . He did go back on his steps but NO Rolex laying waiting on the floor for him . Some lucky bugger has a free WG Daytona tonight . Most likely the strap had come of the lugs or at the clasp . I guess I know where he will go on his stop in Hong Kong this weekend ... He seemed OK about it , I'd be gutted like hell . Couldn't happen to me .... haven't got a 116519 . What a bastard ! Has anybody else had the misfortune to loose a Rolex like that ?

That is very distressing news, Tristan.

First off, you mention the word "strap".......hope you mean original bracelet. Don't know how the bracelet could snap as it's pretty strong, even in WG.

Secondly, hope the watch was insured, in which case I'm sure it would be covered against loss.

Good luck to your uncle - JJ

[tkc324]

Sorry to hear that... i have never heard of any watch broken from the band, let along a Rolex.

[novae500]

hopefully he had it insured!!!! yikes for loosing a Daytona!!!

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

That is very distressing news, Tristan.

First off, you mention the word "strap".......hope you mean original bracelet. Don't know how the bracelet could snap as it's pretty strong, even in WG.

Secondly, hope the watch was insured, in which case I'm sure it would be covered against loss.

Good luck to your uncle - JJ

Yes J.J. , the word strap wasn't well chosen . You immediately think "NATO" strap don't you ? No worries he would not put such thing on his watch let alone a WG Daytona . He had that watch for over 8 years and rarely wore it and it must have had the original leather band on it . He is more into Hublot ( he has 3 of them ) but he did buy the SDDS about a month ago because I talked him in to it and the one he just lost was a gift from his ex-wife , so it maybe therefor he didn't sound too upset about . To be very honest I always thought I could get it of him fairly cheap if I gave it a try ... guess that's just gone out of the window or the the taxi in this case . No hope to see that thing ever again .

[sea-dweller]

I hope he finds it ! Good luck.

[jameshe]

That is terribly unfortunate, and an experience I hope none of us here will ever have to endure.

All being well it will be covered by insurance, and it is a great excuse to get another! (Sentimental value aside of course)

I heard of a method they use in italy in the streets/through car windows where they grab the rolex by the case and twist HARD and the clasp falls open... I would expect your uncle to notice this though, but there are some incredible thieves out there, especially where $30,000 worth of stealing potential is on the table!

All the best to you and your uncle, i hope everything turns out ok, keep us informed

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BASSETHOUNDS

Yes J.J. , the word strap wasn't well chosen . You immediately think "NATO" strap don't you ? No worries he would not put such thing on his watch let alone a WG Daytona . He had that watch for over 8 years and rarely wore it and it must have had the original leather band on it . He is more into Hublot ( he has 3 of them ) but he did buy the SDDS about a month ago because I talked him in to it and the one he just lost was a gift from his ex-wife , so it maybe therefor he didn't sound too upset about . To be very honest I always thought I could get it of him fairly cheap if I gave it a try ... guess that's just gone out of the window or the the taxi in this case . No hope to see that thing ever again .

If it was the original Daytona strap, those straps are very strong and are fitted with metal end links which hold the strap very firmly between the lugs. Still surprised how that watch could have come off.

Anyway, at least hope it was insured!!

JJ

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Knowing my uncle he will come out of this without too many scars financially , if it wasn't insured it will somehow become insured ... . It is indeed strange that it would have come off like that , no way the leather was worn at that point . Unless the clasp was not tightened or closed properly and slipped of this wrist . Someone slid it with a cutter ? Anyway it's gone and most likely for ever ! Some chinaman's lucky day is what my uncle said .
Anyway , if there is a new member joining tonight with a YG black bracelet 116519 as avatar and he is based in Beijing ... I will ask him for the serial number

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by Watch Professor

Terrible event. Was he sure that it wasn't stolen? Thieves have been known to slice the strap.

Sorry to hear that but my uncle had his cheap quartz watch taken by slicing the strap right off his wrist and he diidn't even feel it till he realized later that it was gone.

[novae500]

i'm sure if someone found it on the street, they would think its aknockoff that was sold to a tourist and tossed. Or would go into an AD to get it authenticated.

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

Sorry to hear that but my uncle had his cheap quartz watch taken by slicing the strap right off his wrist and he diidn't even feel it till he realized later that it was gone.

But how does he know it was sliced off ???? I he didn't feel it nor saw it happen , did he ???

[Wolfgang427]

Originally Posted by BASSETHOUNDS

But how does he know it was sliced off ???? I he didn't feel it nor saw it happen , did he ???

He realized later that someone had brushed up against him a few minutes earlier while walking. No way they could of unbuckled it as he was walking and he would of felt it. was told by the cops later that the pick pockets and gypsies are so good with a razor that they can just slize it off your wrist with out you feeling it.

[SDDS]

sorry to hear that