Rolex Explorer II Watch, ca. 1980

Appraised on: June 23, 2012

Appraised in: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Appraised by: Paul Winicki

Category: Clocks & Watches

Episode Info: Myrtle Beach (#1708)

Originally Aired: February 25, 2013

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (2:09)

GUEST: Well, my father gave it to me for graduating high school. His father gave him one. It's been my everyday watch. I wear it all the time.

APPRAISER: In what year did you graduate high school?

GUEST: 1984.

APPRAISER: Was the watch new at the time?

GUEST: New in a box.

APPRAISER: The watch is called a Rolex Explorer II. Rolex is one of the finest watches in the world. It's made in Switzerland. The model is the 1655, and it started out as a watch with a 24-hour hand. And that's it right there.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: It also glowed so that spelunkers and cave explorers could use that watch when they were down for two or three days at a time. In a cave, they'd be able to tell whether it was day or nighttime with the 24-hour hand. Your watch was actually made probably right in the year of 1980.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: What's really interesting and nice about yours is from 1980 until today, the dial, the bezel, the hands are all original. So many times when these went into service, Rolex themselves would actually change for new parts. From a collector value, everybody would rather have a watch that was absolutely original. From a value standpoint, any idea?

GUEST: I have no idea other than seeing what an Explorer II goes for on the market today, which is what, $2,000?

APPRAISER: Well, this particular watch, it's very collectible today, and it's a pretty desirable model.

GUEST: Really?

APPRAISER: So at an antique show, this watch would probably sell on the retail level for somewhere between $12,000 to $14,000.

GUEST: Really? Wow, that's amazing.

APPRAISER: And you're just wearing it as the everyday, beat-around watch.

GUEST: I've dove with it, I've been in caves.

APPRAISER: Oh, you have?

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: Now, do you still have the box and the papers?

GUEST: I believe I do.

APPRAISER: Okay. And that sometimes adds a little bit of extra value from a collector standpoint. So if you do, go home and dig them out.

GUEST: Great, I will.