Saw a Double Red Sea Dweller in the wild today

[Tinbender]

First post here, but I have been lurking and reading and trying to learn for a while now, but thought this was an interesting story so I wanted to share.

My neighbor talked me into going with him to an auction this morning, mostly just junk in a run down area of a small run down town next to mine, wasn't really interested in anything but I like vintage tools so thought there might be something there. It was probably the last place I would have expected to see anyone wearing a nice watch.

So as the auction was happening, a very disheveled man and his wife come through right in front of me. Totally impoverished looking, as were most of the people there. Had to have been in his mid to late 70s at least. He was wearing an old USMC trucker type hat, an old sweatshirt with the sleeves pulled up and walked with a cane, had a USMC tattoo on his forearm and I only got a quick look but saw an oyster bracelet, diving bezel, and some red writing on the face. I kinda positioned myself to get a better look, first I thought it was a red sub, but then realized there was no cyclops, so I was confused as to what it was.

A few minutes later he was off looking at stuff by himself, So I walked over and asked him if that watch was what I thought it was. He responded yeah it's a Rolex, then told me that had purchased it at a pawn shop in Southern California in the early 70's. It was sitting there in the original box with the hang tag still attached and all. The owner of the pawn shop had told him that it belonged to a doctor whose wife found out he was having an affair with his receptionist so the wife brought it to the pawn shop to get back at him. Which is where this guy found it, said he paid $800 for it. He never took it off but held his arm up so I could see better, and I saw it was the sea dweller. I mentioned to him that the model he had with the red font was extremely desirable as far as I knew, it wasn't just a standard Rolex. He said yeah we was aware, he had it serviced about 15 years ago and the owner of the shop tried to trade him for a brand new model but he wasn't interested, and over the years many people have grabbed his arm and tried to buy it from him but he was planning on having it until he died. Said it was the only possession of his that lasted through the years and it stayed on his wrist every day.

He went on to tell me about having been a diver in the military, which is what attracted him to the watch, and that he had used it extensively while diving, which just made it that much cooler to me to hear it had been used as it was intended.

All in all I thought it was a cool story, amazing watch, and great guy wearing it. Thought someone else might enjoy hearing about it too.

[Daytonaman799]

GREAT STORY....thanks for sharing.

[Boaters]

Love those stories ... Thanks for sharing

[Jfullm42]

So awesome! Thanks for sharing

[sgmgolf]

Great story....thanks for sharing. Love the DRSD......currently my Grail watch.
Cheers

[J!m]

Awesome.

"Don't judge a book by the cover" as the saying goes. I hope you thanked him for his service- He may have sacrificed a lot for our freedom...

[brandrea]

Thanks for sharing, a rare sighting indeed

[Tinbender]

Originally Posted by J!m

Awesome.

"Don't judge a book by the cover" as the saying goes. I hope you thanked him for his service- He may have sacrificed a lot for our freedom...

Yeah I made sure to. He told me a few things about what he did that I won't get into, but it sounded like he did a lot while in the military and I do appreciate it.

[JimSnyder]

These stories are what it's all about! One watch for many years

[UNLVino]

Awesome! Used as intended - makes you wonder, how many really are?

[Aceldama]

$800 was a lot of money in the 70's. Cool story!

[datejust24]

Awesome story

[Gasoil4ever]

Great story !

Came across that little beauty in the wild, purchased by its owner while being a contractor in the oil industry in the 70's.

The owner was nice enough to let me take a side by side picture with mine.

[bubbaK]

Great story!!!

[watchpatina]

Thanks for sharing! You should've busted out your phone and snapped a picture! Love seeing watches (that we covet) just nonchalantly being worn by their original owners...

[Loevhagen]

Strange story.

Buying a watch that a cheated wife triggered for sale.

I guess those "divers" did it deeper in the old days...