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Rolex Explorer II Watch, ca. 1980

Value (2019) | $21,000 Retail – $24,000 Retail
Watch  

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:
And 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, 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 probably made 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.

GUEST:
Really.

APPRAISER:
From a collector value, everybody would rather have a watch that was absolutely original. From a value standpoint, any idea?

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

APPRAISER:
Well, this particular watch, it's, 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 in the retail level for somewhere between $12,000 to $14,000.

GUEST:
Really?

APPRAISER:
Right.

GUEST:
Wow, that's amazing.

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

GUEST:
I, I 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... I believe I do.

APPRAISER:
Okay.

GUEST:
I believe I do.

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

GUEST:
Okay, great, great-- I will. (laughs)

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Paul Winicki
Jewelry, Silver, Watches
Radcliffe Jewelers
Towson, MD
Update (2019)
$21,000 Retail – $24,000 Retail
Appraised value (2012)
$12,000 Retail – $14,000 Retail
Featured In
Myrtle Beach, Hour 2 (#1708)
The Gen X Years (#2325)
Event
Myrtle Beach, SC (June 23, 2012)
Category
Watches
Period
20th Century
Form
Watch
Material
Glass , Metal

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.

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