GUEST: This watch was handed down from my
great-grandfather. He was the owner of the "St. Paul Pioneer
Press and Dispatch" back in 1914, when he received this watch. And it was handed down from him to my father,
and then he gave it to me. APPRAISER: It's manufactured by the Patek
Philippe Company of Geneva, Switzerland. This is a photocopy of the original warranty
depicting some of the complications of this watch. The front of the watch has the hour and minute
hand and the second hand. It also has a split chronograph, so you can
time two things. It also has a minute register for the chronograph. Off to the side is a slide for chiming the
watch. It's called a minute repeater, where you lift
up the slide and it'll chime the time to the minute. GUEST: Okay. APPRAISER: When we flip the watch over, you
have the day, the date, and the month, along with the moon phase. It's also a perpetual calendar, which adjusts
for leap year. GUEST: I’ll be damned. APPRAISER: It's a very complicated watch. In excellent, excellent condition, with the
original box. It also has two extra main springs and an
extra crystal underneath. GUEST: Okay. APPRAISER: It has the original crystals and
original 18-karat gold engine turn case. Have you had any appraisals? GUEST: I had an appraisal done probably 15
years ago. They told me at that time it was probably
worth about $6,000. APPRAISER: They were a little low. GUEST: (chuckling) Were they? APPRAISER: Yes. Patek Phillipe is now purchasing those watches
for their museum. This watch, at auction, I suspect would bring
close to a quarter million dollars. GUEST: (laughing) No. APPRAISER: Yes. GUEST: A quarter million? APPRAISER: This is one incredible watch. I've never held a watch like this in my hand. GUEST: What? You're kidding. APPRAISER: That is one incredible watch. GUEST: (laughing) It can't be. APPRAISER: Yes. GUEST: No way. APPRAISER: It is an incredible watch. GUEST: Oh, I can't believe it. (laughs) APPRAISER: It's the finest watch I've ever
held in my hand. GUEST: Are you serious? APPRAISER: I've never seen anything like it,
other than photos. GUEST: Oh, my gosh, how do I get it home? (laughs) APPRAISER: Carefully. Do not drop it. GUEST: That is unbelievable. APPRAISER: Keep it in a safe deposit box. GUEST: Well, that's where I have had it all
this time. APPRAISER: Good. GUEST: But I... oh, my gosh. That is incredible.
This is an 14 year old episode that was basically impossible to find until it was recently uploaded on the official Antiques Roadshow channel today. I have to say, I wish there was something this unique and historical passed down in my family. Not just that his grandfather bought the watch in the first place, but that the family kept it in such immaculate condition across three generations. Original warranty card and spare parts to boot. Since the original appraisal it's now estimated to be worth $2-3 million.
discovers watch is worth 40x original appraisal
"Oh gee gosh."
Not saying I'd sell it, but I'd be doing backflips and screaming at the top of my lungs if someone told me that.
When he flipped the watch over to show the perpetual calendar and moon phase I was like, oh shit this dudes a millionaire without even knowing it
Nice.
My dad just recently picked up a 1910s Hamilton railroad grade pocket watch inscribed "From SR to JR 1952". Our theory is that it probably passed from grandfather to father to son, all in the railroad industry. It's kind of sad that it got sold out of the family it belonged to.
It used to be one of my fav shows. Had not seen a lot of watches on it though.
This is one great story!! For a 100+ year watch, it looks better than some of the 10+ year watches I have :)
Incredible
Thanks for posting! I could watch these kind of videos all day.
Those last 5 seconds
Watching this, I kept shouting out loud “oh my god” hahaha insane watch