Me too! Mine’s an eco-drive, and I’ve never bothered learning how to set anything but the time, since I can’t see it anyway without a magnifying glass lol. Some watch guy I am, right? Haha

Thanks! I just posted about how I found my $5 Rolex if you want to read a crazy story lol.

Hi everyone, I’m new to watchcrunch, and love it that watches in all price ranges are represented. All the watches in my small collection are either cool cheap watches, gifts, family heirlooms or watches I found at thrift stores or pawn shops at ridiculously cheap prices. When my mom died, I inherited her jewelry to distribute to my daughters and wife, and she had I’d guess 40-50 mostly cheaper watches, with a few nicer ones, but nothing expensive. Well I had to replace the batteries on most, and bands on some, so one day as I was looking around in a thrift store I noticed they had all their watches priced either 2.99 or 4.99. I was just looking for nicer bands for some of her watches, but I saw 2 men’s Fossil watches with the wide leather bands for 2.99 each, so I got them. Then I see an old men’s watch on a speidel band. I didn’t have my reading glasses on me and couldn’t tell what it was, but I wound it up and it ran, so I bought it too for 4.99. When I got back in my truck I grabbed my glasses to see what it was, and it said Rolex! I thought, gotta be fake, but I was still happy with it. Then about halfway home it hit me- would anyone really fake an old plain looking watch like this? It doesn’t look like a Rolex, doesn’t even have the date. And then I thought well, it’s mechanical too, I had to wind it. So I get home, look online, and almost have a heart attack when I see what it is. A 1956 6556 Tru-Beat! After a little more research I know that the dead stop complication rarely worked very long, and it wasn’t automatic, so it probably had a 1030 movement instead of the 1040. When I removed the back I saw the automatic parts were there, and it said 1040, and that’s when I figured out that the stem was unscrewed lol. I screwed it back in and the auto winder started working. Remember, I’ve never held a real Rolex in my life, so I didn’t know. I put a nice leather band on it and stuck it in my safe. I still need to have it authenticated and serviced, and I’d like to find at least a period correct Rolex band and box, and I’m hoping this will be a nice thing to leave my family when I’m gone. Here are a few pics, I’m pretty positive it’s real, but if anyone sees anything wrong, please let me know. Also, I don’t have any paperwork, not even the thrift store receipt, so I probably should have the serial number ran to make sure it’s not stolen, but I seriously doubt it is. Thanks to anyone that read all this haha

Just about every watch I own was given to me or found at a ridiculously low price at a thrift store or pawn shop. I don’t think I’ve ever paid more than $50 for a watch.

Actually watches are more of my son’s thing, but I’m a collector/hoarder by nature, so he’s gotten me into it. I collect guitars (been playing 40+ years), I’ve got a lifetime’s worth of 45s, 78s and albums, and 50s R&B, soul and funk are my favorite genres. Also old pocketknives, handmade pottery, depression glass and old china (thanks mom lol), sports cards and antique bottles. Those are the main things, anyway haha