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Rolex Opal Bracelet-watch, ca. 1950

Value (2018) | $10,000 Retail – $15,000 Retail
Watch  

APPRAISER:
So tell me what you brought us in today.

GUEST:
An opal bracelet.

APPRAISER:
Opal bracelet? And how did you get it?

GUEST:
I inherited it from my great-aunt.

APPRAISER:
Where was she from?

GUEST:
Chicago.

APPRAISER:
Chicago.

GUEST:
She had a collection of opals that I inherited.

APPRAISER:
Have you opened up the opal?

GUEST:
I haven't. I didn't know it opened.

APPRAISER:
Yeah, it...

GUEST:
It was too small for me to wear...

APPRAISER:
It opens... It opens right up here like that.

GUEST:
Oh, cool.

APPRAISER:
And it exposes the face of the watch underneath there.

GUEST:
Awesome.

APPRAISER:
It's a very nice watch. It was made by Rolex.

GUEST:
Really?

APPRAISER:
Yes.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
Manufactured around 1950.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
It's all 18-karat gold. The condition of it is really incredible. It shows very little wear at all. The bracelet of that watch has no damage to it. We look at the dial of the watch, and on the face of the watch right there, it's all original, untouched. You have a cabochon opal here, and it's really a nice shape, too. And sometimes opals don't really survive the time, but this one has done very well. I gotta tell you, I've never seen a Rolex with an opal on it. I'm going to take it off for a minute. And you see, there's the Rolex crown right there.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
On the dial. And on the buckle right here, you've got the Rolex logo, the Rolex crown right here.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
But look at the iridescence of the opal on that. Isn't that great?

GUEST:
Yeah, it's gorgeous.

APPRAISER:
Look at the colors. I mean, you've got flashes of green, red. Red is really the most desirable color in opals. So it's a really exceptional opal. There's no crazing on it. It's just really wonderful. Any idea as to the value?

GUEST:
I don't know. Maybe $1,500?

APPRAISER:
Your watch is very collectible. The market on these are not so much in the United States, it's more in Asia. And your watch today would easily retail for approximately $10,000 to $12,000.

GUEST:
Okay. (laughing) Awesome. Wow.

APPRAISER:
Insurance, easily a minimum of $15,000 should be put on it for insurance valuation.

GUEST:
Okay. Terrific, thank you. That's surprising.

APPRAISER:
Good surprise?

GUEST:
Very good surprise. That's cool.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Peter Planes
Jewelry, Silver, Watches
Luxe Auctioneers
Palm Beach, FL
Appraised value (2018)
$10,000 Retail – $15,000 Retail
Featured In
Ca' d'Zan, Hour 1 (#2304)
Event
Sarasota, FL (April 12, 2018)
Category
Jewelry
Period
1940s , 1950s , 20th Century
Form
Bracelet , Wrist Watch
Material
Gold , Opal

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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