Fiona Bruce presented tonight’s episode from Floors Castle in south east Scotland, home of the Duke of Roxburghe.
However, when a gentleman visited Richard Price’s stand for a valuation on his watch, he was left with quite a shock.
Presented with a Rolex watch, Richard asked: “So, looking at that mark on your wrist, is this Rolex watch your daily watch or not?”
The owner then laughed: “No, I don’t wear it at work, but I wear it when I go out. Somewhere special, like Antiques Roadshow,” as Richard probed: “Good. How long have you owned it for?”
He then revealed: “About 40 years, 1978. My brother bought it for me. He worked for P&O and on his second world cruise I asked him if he would get me a watch and that’s what he came back with.
“It was more than I could actually afford. So he gave it to me as a gift so long as I paid the duty.”
Richard then smiled: “Nice gift, and a very good decision. I mean, he could have bought you something fairly insignificant. But that is a pretty good watch. So, do you know what sort of Rolex model it is?”
Believing it to be another model, the collector replied: “Yeah, it’s a Submariner, isn’t it?”
However, Richard then revealed the true details about the watch, saying: “It’s not a Submariner, no, because the Submariner has a rotatable bezel. This is a two-button chronograph.
“This is the Cosmography which is Rolex’s really lovely, if you like, stopwatch. Running seconds at nine o’clock, 30 minute totaliser there and then a 12 hour totaliser at the bottom.
“Because it’s such a rare model, they are highly desirable and collectable. And I’m going to tell you that It’s actually quite a useful sum of money.”
The owner could not believe his luck, but then revealed he had already left it in his will for his son.
He chuckled: “Is it? I told my son I’d left it to him in my will and he went away and he came back and said it was very collectable. But he didn’t tell me it was worth a lot of money.”
Richard then mused: “I bet he didn’t. I wonder if he discovered what it was worth? He gave you no clue at all? In this state in auction, £25-30,000. Don’t die too soon!”
As the owner gasped and looked utterly gobsmacked, he then said: “I’ll be scared to wear it now. Wow.”
Richard smiled: “It’s a lovely thing, and it’s a great watch,” as the collector added: “It’s lovely to wear. It’ll feel even better now!”
Viewers instantly took to social media following the price bombshell, with one viewer tweeting: “Rolex wristwatch £25,000 plus. Just goes to show that quality is like cream, it rises to the top. #antiquesroadshow.”
“Getting really hard to believe anyone can be ignorant to the value of their rare Rolex with that little thing called the Internet in existence. #antiquesroadshow becoming a brag fest,” posted another.
A third noted: “Two minutes on Google would get a valuation on that Rolex. And he didn’t know what it was worth? #antiquesroadshow.”
“I thought this #Rolex watch was going to be valuable, although it looks well worn #AntiquesRoadshow,” said another.
Antiques Roadshow continues next Sunday on BBC One at 8pm.
